I know this is an old chestnut but I'm uncertain what the exact problem here is. My BIOS can detect my two hard drives which have been running fine for about 2 years but recently windows fails to load with a variety of error: "NTLDR is missing" "Hal.dll" is missing" and general "Insert Disk" alerts. I've run the recovery console and replaced NTLDR and run FIXBOOT but still the only way I can get windows to load is to enter the BIOS raid (not enabled) array utility during startup and exit without saving. Windows will then load and appears to run fine except it locks up games and a wierd modem related error when I try to dial up... Is this just a dying drive?

Usually that is what happens when a drive is dying. Jim R

Go to the below site and download the diagnosis test for you hard drives. http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm... You mentioned the modem.What does it do if the modem is physically removed from your computer? http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm...

I would try running a memory test. You can download memtest86 onto a boot disk and run that. (http://www.memtest86.com/) I have had some personal experience with bad memory boards throwing some wierd errors that were making me think the hdd was bad or the OS was corrupt. Might not be the case here, but it doesn't take that long to run the test and rule it out.

the problem could be a weak bios battery or power supply. I would not thind a bad hdd but would run their tests.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I forgot to add there is a distinct difference in the sound the machine makes while booting...difficult to say exactly what though. I'll try those various tests. Thanks again.