just very recently i have been unable to access my Compaq
Presario because every time i try to start it up, there's
an error message:Cannot find OS. I haven't done any
changes to the computer in a long time.

Assuming you have an XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, you can try a repair
install as follows:



NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.



Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.



Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.



Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.



The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.



Note: if you only have a recovery CD, your options are limited to whatever
your system's recovery routine allows. Hence, if that is what you have
instead of an XP CD, you will need to run recovery and that will likely wipe
your drive, deleting all the files you have stored on the XP partition.


--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Anny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:5a9901c37719$eecb3b50$(E-Mail Removed)...
> just very recently i have been unable to access my Compaq
> Presario because every time i try to start it up, there's
> an error message:Cannot find OS. I haven't done any
> changes to the computer in a long time.

I am having the same problem as this person. Except, mine
is a HP running XP and I bought the computer second hand
from a local computer store. It has been running fine for
a year, but in the last two weeks it has come up
with "cannot locate operating system". By shutting it
down and starting up again, the sytem has come back
twice. Last couple of days that has not worked. This
used system did not come with any manuals for the computer
or the XP system installed on it so I have no recovery CDs
at all. What do you suggest.

>-----Original Message-----
>Assuming you have an XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD,
you can try a repair
>install as follows:
>
>
>
>NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files
intact, if
>something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
be forced to start
>over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have
your data backed up,
>you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
>
>
>
>Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to
boot from the CD, it
>should detect the disk and give a brief message, during
the boot up, if you
>wish to boot from the CD press any key.
>
>
>
>Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You
will see a reference
>asking if you need to load special drivers and another
notice that if you
>wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console)
depress F2. Just let
>setup run past all of that. It will continue to load
files and drivers.
>
>
>
>Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will
come to a screen
>with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair
Windows Installation
>using the Recovery console.
>
>
>
>The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want
and requires you to
>press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user
agreement. Setup
>will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon
finding your
>version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current
installation or
>install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair
installation. From there
>on, follow the screens.
>
>
>
>Note: if you only have a recovery CD, your options are
limited to whatever
>your system's recovery routine allows. Hence, if that is
what you have
>instead of an XP CD, you will need to run recovery and
that will likely wipe
>your drive, deleting all the files you have stored on the
XP partition.
>
>
>--
>Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>Windows Shell/User
>Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>"Anny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:5a9901c37719$eecb3b50$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> just very recently i have been unable to access my
Compaq
>> Presario because every time i try to start it up,
there's
>> an error message:Cannot find OS. I haven't done any
>> changes to the computer in a long time.
>
>
>.
>

You have two options, the next time you have the problem, boot the system,
start pressing F8, when the menu appears select "Last Known Good
Configuration." If that fails to resolve it, again, boot the system start
tapping F8, this time select "Safe Mode." Once in Safe Mode, if it doesn't
offer to immediately take you to System Restore, go to Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore and try taking the system
back to a time prior to when this problem began.

Beyond the above, you have no options because you have no XP CD. I suggest
you purchase a retail version of XP if you are planning to keep this
computer. You have no recovery and virtually no tools to resolve issues on
your setup. If you lose your hard drive, you have nothing from which to
even reinstall the operating system and you can see you are having problems
right now that cannot be resolved by simply turning off the system and
turning it back on. If it can't find the operating system, it's much the
same as losing your hard drive, you currently have no means of reinstalling
XP.

Regardless of operating system, having a computer without some means of
reinstalling the operating system is the same as walking a tight rope
without a net. If you never fall, you won't need it, your system has
already fallen.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Sharon Johnson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:083701c37799$c87db8d0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am having the same problem as this person. Except, mine
> is a HP running XP and I bought the computer second hand
> from a local computer store. It has been running fine for
> a year, but in the last two weeks it has come up
> with "cannot locate operating system". By shutting it
> down and starting up again, the sytem has come back
> twice. Last couple of days that has not worked. This
> used system did not come with any manuals for the computer
> or the XP system installed on it so I have no recovery CDs
> at all. What do you suggest.
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Assuming you have an XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD,
> you can try a repair
> >install as follows:
> >
> >
> >
> >NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files
> intact, if
> >something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
> be forced to start
> >over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have
> your data backed up,
> >you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
> >
> >
> >
> >Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to
> boot from the CD, it
> >should detect the disk and give a brief message, during
> the boot up, if you
> >wish to boot from the CD press any key.
> >
> >
> >
> >Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You
> will see a reference
> >asking if you need to load special drivers and another
> notice that if you
> >wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console)
> depress F2. Just let
> >setup run past all of that. It will continue to load
> files and drivers.
> >
> >
> >
> >Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will
> come to a screen
> >with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair
> Windows Installation
> >using the Recovery console.
> >
> >
> >
> >The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want
> and requires you to
> >press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user
> agreement. Setup
> >will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon
> finding your
> >version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current
> installation or
> >install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair
> installation. From there
> >on, follow the screens.
> >
> >
> >
> >Note: if you only have a recovery CD, your options are
> limited to whatever
> >your system's recovery routine allows. Hence, if that is
> what you have
> >instead of an XP CD, you will need to run recovery and
> that will likely wipe
> >your drive, deleting all the files you have stored on the
> XP partition.
> >
> >
> >--
> >Michael Solomon MS-MVP
> >Windows Shell/User
> >Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
> >DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
> >
> >"Anny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> >news:5a9901c37719$eecb3b50$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> just very recently i have been unable to access my
> Compaq
> >> Presario because every time i try to start it up,
> there's
> >> an error message:Cannot find OS. I haven't done any
> >> changes to the computer in a long time.
> >
> >
> >.
> >