I could not bootup my HP Pavillion windows 98 se. My computer reads Operating System not found. I opened it up and found a major line not hooked up. Now it reads the same. I tried my windows 98 startup disk and I got further. I got to...Windows 98 detected drive C does not contain a valid Fat or Fat32 partition. I tried the next step and got No fixed disks present. Thats as far as I can get. I lost my recovery disks that came with the computer. If I buy the recovery disk like on ebay will that help me with the problems that I am having or will it be a waste of money to buy them.

Not if it's a hardware problem. What do you mean by "major line?" Do you mean something connected to the MOBO from the Power Supply? When did the problem start? Have you been using it, and then it just all of a sudden failed? Did you move the computer by any chance? If so, some of the cables could have loosened. LIR

Sounds like a failed HDD (or a cable has come loose from it). Until you diagnose the real problem, it'd be best to forget about purchasing anything (you might find that the cost of getting that system running could exceed the cost of a new system). If you do get it running, then it'd be time for a complete backup...