"Operating System not found" error

[spectr17]

I've got an old Gateway 450mhz P3 that suddenly stopped working. It locked up while scanning some docs. Windows 98SE.

On rebooting after the lock up, I get the POST and a long beep, then the error message "Operating System not found"

I swapped in another backup hard drive and same error.

I swapped in another power supply and same thing.

I can't even boot to a start up or rescue floppy. Hitting F8 or control key on start up no good either.

I can get into BIOS setup and everything looks okay.

Motherboard took a dump?

Thanks for any help

 

[T3C]

spectr17,

Tried clearing the cmos? Check the board for visible damage. " especially the capacitors"

If I had to take a guess it sounds like your board is bad.

_.-TechITguy-._

If you have any questions feel free to PM me

 

[spectr17]

Thanks for the reply TechITguy. Board has no blownn caps. I see a reset for CMOS. Do I need to write down all the BIOS settings in case I have to manually input them on the reset?

Thanks.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Doesn't hurt, but normally a motherboard will default to failsafe (read, lowest performing, but most likely to work) settings. It won't hurt to write down the time or something though, seeing as how that will probably be erased

Personnaly, I just do a twice-over look. Reset the CMOS, and reenter data as necessary. If you don't think you can remember what's important, you can write it down.

 

[spectr17]

Thanks for the help JAAG,

I found some info on the BIOS recovery. It says a disk is needed in the floppy drive. I don't have this disk. Do I need to search out the BIOS info from Phoenix or just wing it without a disk?

Recovery mode

This mode is for recovering BIOS data. Remove the jumper from the configuration jumper block, so that no pins are connected, to enable this mode. After the computer is turned on, the BIOS attempts to upgrade or recover the BIOS data from a disk in the floppy disk drive. If the recovery fails with a disk in the boot drive, a beep code indicates that the recovery failed. If a disk is not in the boot drive, the BIOS attempts to run the power-on self-test (POST), does not start up the operating system and displays a message that the jumper is not properly installed.

For the configuration changes to take effect after a successful recovery, turn off the computer, set the configuration jumper to normal mode, and then start the computer.

 

[RustyNale]

Usually resetting the bios means moving the jumper from pins 1-2 to 2-3 for 10 secs or so then setting it back to 1-2. You then go into the bios and enable/disable the settings as it was before. Looks like what your recovery mode is talking about recovering the bios program itself.

 

[spectr17]

Thanks for the help RustyNale.

I moved the CMOS jumper to 2 & 3 for BIOS recovery.

I put the jumper back in for normal op and reset my BIOS settings and still the same problem. Slow boot, I get a POST, then long beep and "Operating System not found" error message on monitor.

Change the CMOS battery maybe? I'm out of guesses now. There is a Promise Ultra 100 controller card that runs the HD. I have an older Ultra 66 card from when I upgraded to a 160g WD HD. Swap out the controller card maybe?