I even tried using the hard drive from my laptop( since they are both Dell's) yet it still reads no operating system installed. What could be the cause considering my hard drive is good as it is the one i am on now. Could it have anything to do with it at one time was part of a server network?
2006-07-31 20:55:12 · 10 answers · asked by simplyshannan 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
It simply means you don't have an operating system installed. Windows is an operating system as is Linux. You need to buy a copy of Windows if you've got a PC or Mac OS if you've got an apple and install it.
Be careful! Computers bought without operating systems are usually stolen.
2006-07-31 21:02:53 · answer #1 · answered by Khael 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to do the following: on your working computer, format a diskette with the option of copying the system files. Now insert that diskette into your new laptop, start it, go to BIOS setup and select the floppy drive as the first booting device, save the settings and restart your computer. If it will boot from the diskette and start the operating system, try to see if it "sees" the hard drive; you can do this by typing "C:" -without quotes- at the prompt; if the prompt becomes something like "C:\>", your computer works fine and you just need to format the hard-drive and install an operating system. If it starts the system from diskette but does't "see" the hard-drive, check the cables; if they're OK, make sure the optical drive isn't on the same cable with the hard-drive; if it still doesn't work, check the BIOS setup program for conflicts and/or wrong settings.
Good luck!!!
2006-08-01 04:15:39 · answer #2 · answered by Bogdan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason it says no operating system, is not necessarily because there is something wrong with the hard drive. if you have not installed any version of windows or linux/unix on that hard drive, the BIOS will try to boot to it, but then fail. you will need to bring out an install CD and put it in the drive and start installing.
if you wanna boot it up using only the CD drive, which will allow you to access the hard drive if one is operational, that's done via what is called a "Live CD". A major player in this category is Knoppix but i like Kororaa also (a quick search should turn up either one). If you know how to download an ISO file and burn it to a CD, you might have a little fun with these even if you put a copy of Windows on it in the long run.
The final possibility is that you have a hardware error. for instance, there is a brittle cable that goes from your hard drive to your system board. if there's a break of some sort in that cable, then your hard drive is good but you'll need a new cable.
2006-08-01 04:15:36 · answer #3 · answered by jessindallas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need an operating system installed on the computer. It doesnt matter if you try the hard drive from another computer, if there is no OS on the new one, it wont recognize any new hardware. You need to find the master disc that came with your older Dell and run it in the new one. It should install all of the components you need. If it doesn't, you'll need to go out and buy the operating system seperately. It's gonna be expensive if you do that. About 300-500 bucks. Good luck!!
2006-08-01 04:03:56 · answer #4 · answered by silverjacket9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the hard drive you installed (from your other laptop) contains an OS and was set to be bootable, then anwerer#2 is wrong. To check this, go into the BIOS and check the boot device priority, set the new harddrive to be bootable, and re-boot. If it still report "no OS", then it may have a BIOS problem. To fix this you'd need to re-flash the BIOS.
2006-08-01 04:10:27 · answer #5 · answered by zed hex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that error message would normally suggest that a harddrive cannot be detected.
reboot the laptop, when its counting up the memory press the del key (or whatever it is for DEL laptops) to enter the CMOS/BIOS settings. In the BIOS section you are looking for evidence that the BIOS has detected a hdd. if it has not been detected is their an auto detect option?.
Alt you can upgrade the BIOS in the hope that it will detect it. It is highly possible that the connection from the sys brd to the hdd is faulty. lots of things to check hope this helped
2006-08-01 04:16:33 · answer #6 · answered by Im_a_ gummie_Bear 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to your question is in your question "There is no operating system" Go to the store and buy the Windows XP operating system, or whatever operating system you plan on running on the laptop.
2006-08-01 04:25:03 · answer #7 · answered by black_ca_scorpio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Download Linux for free, burn it onto a CD, change the BIOS to boot from the CD drive, boot from the CD, install Linux on the empty hard drive. It will cost you nothing.
2006-08-01 04:08:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
Have you tried the harddrive in your old laptop??
What does it say then??
Since you have tried the hd from your old pc in the new one and get the same msg there. I would check the boot priority.. Can be something wrong there!
2006-08-01 04:16:21 · answer #9 · answered by zaphod 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a) You dont have OS intalled on the machine.
b) Follow this article if OS is installed...
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=321626
2006-08-01 04:34:11 · answer #10 · answered by The_Charmer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋