HP Compaq non-system disk error

[bwithers]

Hi,

 

I cannot start my laptop it says non-system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready.

 

There is no disk in the cd rom, no usb attached and no floppy drive.

 

I have gone into the boot sequence and made the hard drive the first boot priority in case the cd rom isnt working correctly. Still get the same error.

 

I have run the ram check under the bios menu and the ram is fine. The hardrive checker was greyed out so cannot check that.

 

I suspect the harddrive is corrupted, but how can prove this?

 

Thanks,

[Match]

Hi bwithers

 

is the Hard Drive being recognised in the Bios?

[bwithers]

Hi,

 

Could you tell me what I am looking for?

 

Thanks,

[Match]

without knowing what machine and Bios you have I can't be specific,

 

But there should be something that refers to attached devices or drives, and it should list your hard drive as ether Sata or IDE and then the serial number, under or above it should also list the Optical or DVD drive in the same way,

 

It sounds to me like it's not finding the HDD and defaulting to the DVD drive, and as the DVD drive is empty it's throwing up the none system disk error

 

or Its finding the HDD but the Boot files are corrupt and its not seeing it as a bootable disk.

[bwithers]

it looks like all of the bios functions relating to the harddrive are greyed out... i.e.

 

disk sanitiser

drivelock passwords

hdd self-test options

 

Which suggests it is not seeing it.

 

Anything I can do?

[Match]

If you have a bootable windows disk to can try that and it should throw up an error after loading the windows files,

 

you could try removing the HDD and blowing the connections (Tin of Compressed air is best but lungs and mouth work as well) to make sure they are free of dust.

 

you could try re-seting the cmos (Would need to know make and model to help further on this)

 

But can you hear the HDD working or trying to read? and are the HDD led's on the front working?

 

sorry about being vague but I am getting to a point where I need to know the Make and model to be more specific ;)

[bwithers]

Hi,

 

HP Compaq nx 7400 is the make and model. The HDD light comes on (but doesnt flicker or make a noise) and remains lit while its asking for the non-disk error. It goes off after 30 secs or so.

 

Need to hunt down a windows disk to try and use that to boot it.

 

Thanks for your time so far! hang in there

[bwithers]

Just tried using a vista home premium disk in the hope it would be a boot disk, the cd rom made some noises but still came up with the same non-disk error.

[Match]

:) did you remember to set it to boot from DVD in the bios?

 

here is a link to the HP support page just in case I have to go or anyone else wants it for reference ;)

 

HP Compaq nx7400 Notebook PC- Error messages - HP Business Support Center

[bwithers]

yep!

[Match]

OK Damn lol that's what you get for assumptions this is what you find with research :)

 

HP Compaq nx7400 Notebook PC- HP Notebook PCs - "Non-System Disk Error or Disk Error" Error Message Appears On Black Screen - c00832290 - HP Business Support Center

 

let us know how you get on please

[Match]

Sorry that might be a bit misleading I was referring specifically to the "test the Hard drive" section

 

that hopefully this link will take you straight to

 

HP Compaq nx7400 Notebook PC- HP Notebook PCs - "Non-System Disk Error or Disk Error" Error Message Appears On Black Screen - c00832290 - HP Business Support Center

[bwithers]

those options are greyed out, have taken out the hd and put back in. no change.

 

I found a section in the bios which enables booting from cd rom so enabled that, now its loading from the boot disk, but stalls on the loading page with the sliding bar with the microsoft corp underneath it.

[RandyL]

There is a high probability that you can run a hard drive test in the BIOS. Look for something like Diagnostics, Tools or SMART. It sounds like a bad drive to me.

[Match]

I think we have come down to the last two options that I can think of!

 

1 buy a new drive and try that.

 

2 try connecting the drive to another machine as a secondary drive and see if you can get a back up copy of it before running chk disk on it.

[bwithers]

Yep, I think its stuffed.

 

Thanks for your time and advice.

 

Cheers,