Boot disk failure

[Hustler]

Every morning I boot up my machine but the last 3 mornings I have been confronted with the boot disk failure message, insert boot disk dah de dah ..
A simple power off, power on has fixed the problem each time but is there anything I need to check bearing in mind that -
a) I don't really understand PC's.
b) I haven't got a boot disc or if I have it will be many, many years old and will be something like Windows 98.
c) If the power on, power off doesn't work I'm pretty much paddleless in the creek.
Thank you kindly.

 

[cookie]

back up your hard disc now. sounds like it's about to expire.

 

[Riders Rest]

The Boot disc is usually your Hard Disc Drive (HDD) know as C:\ perhaps you have seen it in your file explorer.

If this is the only HDD you have and you do not have a CD or Floppy disc in your drives then I assume your PC is refering to this.

*How old is the PC
*What operating System are you using.
*Have you installed any New Software or Hardware recently.

Many things can cause the message...

Your HDD breaking down and becoming unstable - Back up your data... you may need to replace your HDD in the near future.

Your Bios is loosing it's information on the physical location of your HDD but finds it on the second power up (Common) - it it worth checking in your Bios (You may need someone to physically do it for you if you do not know what you are doing) The problem might simply be that the Bios Battery has given up.


If it packs up Hustler put it in your motor and bring it over

 

[Hustler]

Oh dear, not looking good.
Thank you Cookie. Riders Rest I've tried to answer your questions below -

The Boot disc is usually your Hard Disc Drive (HDD) know as C:\ perhaps you have seen it in your file explorer.

If this is the only HDD you have and you do not have a CD or Floppy disc in your drives then I assume your PC is refering to this.
>>>Nothing in the drives.

*How old is the PC
>>>It was first built by a chap at work 10+ years ago although has obviously evolved since. When we lived in the UK, up until a couple of years ago, a geek friend used to pop over and maintain it on a regular basis. But he's been most inconsiderate and flatly refused to pop over here at 6 monthly intervals.
*What operating System are you using.
>>>Windows XP. Service Pack 3.
*Have you installed any New Software or Hardware recently.
>>>No, but the last few days I have been using a thing called Game Jackal which I've had for a year plus which is used to run err, games and it means you don't have to put the CD in the drive when you play the game and that's all it does really but I've just tried to run the games by putting them in the drive and not firing them up via Game Jackal and they didn't run for some unknown reason. This could be a total red herring but I've just thought of it so worth mentioning.

Many things can cause the message...

Your HDD breaking down and becoming unstable - Back up your data... you may need to replace your HDD in the near future.
>>>My personal data is backed up every month as a matter of course so is fairly up to date but I'll back up a few more bits shortly.

Your Bios is loosing it's information on the physical location of your HDD but finds it on the second power up (Common) - it it worth checking in your Bios (You may need someone to physically do it for you if you do not know what you are doing) The problem might simply be that the Bios Battery has given up.
>>>I did put a new battery in last year, did it myself as well albeit with a bit of email help on things like what does it look like and where does it go sort of thing.

If it packs up Hustler put it in your motor and bring it over
>>> I like options like that and hopefully you're not too far away.

Thanks very much people, appreciated.

 

[Riders Rest]

Sounds like it could be the BIOS Battery - open the case and have a look on the motherboard you will probably see a watch battery somewhere. Make a note of what it is should be written on it - google that and replace it...

I am in Treignac (19260)

 

[cookie]

Sounds like it could be the BIOS Battery

does it lose the time?

 

[Hustler]

does it lose the time?

No it doesn't, nice and accurate.
I've just checked and it was last summer when I replaced the BIOS battery.
And it was losing time before it was replaced.

 

[Hustler]

Sounds like it could be the BIOS Battery - open the case and have a look on the motherboard you will probably see a watch battery somewhere. Make a note of what it is should be written on it - google that and replace it...

I am in Treignac (19260)

Any chance you could move a little closer ?

 

[Riders Rest]

Just re-read your reply and since you recently changed the Btty and the time is accurate I would say it is unlikely to be Btty Sorry.

The game dongle thingy though might be the cause of your problem - as your data is backed up I would do a disk check and see if it throws up any errors...

 

[Hustler]

Just re-read your reply and since you recently changed the Btty and the time is accurate I would say it is unlikely to be Btty Sorry.

The game dongle thingy though might be the cause of your problem - as your data is backed up I would do a disk check and see if it throws up any errors...

Just done the disk check, nothing found.
I'm going to investigate the game dongle thingy.
Thank you.

 

[john1215]

This might be a stupid question but do you have a floppy drive and if so, is there a disk in it. Often the floppy drive is the first port of call for the POST function. Power On Self Test that runs when you first turn the power on.

 

[Hustler]

This might be a stupid question but do you have a floppy drive and if so, is there a disk in it. Often the floppy drive is the first port of call for the POST function. Power On Self Test that runs when you first turn the power on.

Yes I do have a floppy drive but 'tis empty.
But thanks for the suggestion.

I'm suspecting this game software thingy that I have and will be monitoring things over the next few days to try and work out if that is the culprit or not.