hi.
hdisk is lost, message insert system disk and hit enter.
if i ioen the case and remove the flat cable and back,it may work.. otherwise i have to format it.
what can be wrong?
is there a short way to avoid format?
thank you

It can be several things. :(

A dead hard disk, changes made in the BIOS to the hard disk parameters or Primary IDE controller, corrupted Master Boot Record and/or boot files, inactive Primary Partition, bad or damaged flat cable, bent pins on the hard disk or IDE-controller (now a days usaully onboard of the MotherBoard), maybe a dead IDE-controller.

If you're able to boot with a bootdisk, and from there access the hard disk without problems, you could start with a simple:
fdisk /status[Enter]key, check if the Primary Partition is set active. (A)
sys c:[Enter]key, reboot without bootdisk.

Note: the bootdisk, must be for the same version of the installed OS.

If sys c: doesn't solve the problem try:
fdisk /mbr[Enter]key followed by
sys c:[Enter]key, reboot without bootdisk.

Hope this helps.

Greetz from The Netherlands,
The Count

thanks.
i couldnot run fdisk from the startup disk win98s because c is missing???
i did sys c: and i rebooted with no luck..
playing with the new flat ribbon cable and remove it then plug it, solve the problem..
thank you
kassab
Canada

Glad to see the problem is solved.

C: could be missing, when a drive overlay is used on the hard disk.
Booting from a bootdisk before the drive overlay is read and a option given to boot from a bootdisk, could be the cause.

Thanks for posting back, it's appreciated.

Greetz,
The Count

I have found that if my pc is plugged into an extension cord and not directly into a amin plug I will get this error or operatins system not found error...so check and make sure you are plugged directly into a main outlet!