Disk Boot Error

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G

Guest

When I start up my computer, I get the message "Disk boot failure, insert
system disk and press enter"

From here I can only get to setup. I can't access recovery or safe-mode.
What should I do?
 
Remove any disks from any CD or floppy drives.

Non-System disk or disk error
Replace and press any key when ready
-----

<quote>
Q. What causes a non-system disk error?

A. Non-System Disk or Disk Error results when the Basic Input/Output System
(BIOS) cannot find the boot sector or the master boot record is missing or
damaged; i.e. the device does not have bootable media. The BIOS searches
drives in the order usually specified in the CMOS Setup. This order is
often, but not always, A: (floppy drive), C: (first partition on the hard
disk)… The error will occur during startup if the CMOS is set so the BIOS
seeks the floppy drive first and a non-bootable (or blank) floppy is in (was
left in) the floppy drive. Other causes include:

* No bootable partition on a hard disk drive
* A defective hard disk drive
* The CMOS drive settings (parameters) are not correct for the boot device
* Defective floppy
* Defective floppy drive
* A virus
<quote>
http://www.duxcw.com/faq/win/nosys.htm

Error message when you start your computer with a non-system disk
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812492

An "Invalid System Disk" Error Message When You Start the Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330141

Invalid / Non System Disk error
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000229.htm

Creating a boot disk for an NTFS or FAT partition
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311073

How to use System files to create a boot disk to guard against being unable
to start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314079

<quote>
On a bootable volume, the area following the Extended BIOS Parameter Block
is typically executable boot code. This code is responsible for performing
whatever actions are necessary to continue the boot-strap process. On
Windows NT systems, this boot code will identify the location of the NTLDR
file, load it into memory, and transfer execution to that file. Even on a
non-bootable floppy disk, there is executable code in this area. The code
necessary to print the familiar message, "Non-system disk or disk error" is
found on most standard, MS-DOS formatted floppy disks that were not
formatted with the "system" option.

Typical text strings on FAT volumes formatted by MS-DOS include: "Invalid
system disk."; "Disk I/O error."; "Replace the disk, and then press any
key"; "Non-System disk or disk error"; "Replace and press any key when
ready."; and "Disk Boot failure." Text strings on FAT volumes formatted by
Windows NT include: "BOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR."; "I/O error reading disk.";
and "Please insert another disk." You should not regard this list as being
all-inclusive.
<quote>
from...
Detailed Explanation of FAT Boot Sector
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/140418

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
dwrecku2 said:
When I start up my computer, I get the message "Disk boot failure, insert
system disk and press enter"

From here I can only get to setup. I can't access recovery or safe-mode.
What should I do?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've probably got a 'oem' version of windows, or a system
recovery disk, rather than a full std version.

Someone here can probably give you a solution but it's probably easier and
quicker to get a new hard drive.

Install that. Then attach old disk as a slave and see if you can recover
files that way.

Likely the drive is failing so treat yourself to a new one....
 
You will probably be able to see the drive from Recovery Console. From there
you can do a
CHKDSK D:
where D: is the drive letter.

Booting to the XP setup CD and choosing 'install' gives tu a prompt for
"Press 'R' for repair", which puts you at the recovery console prompt
 
also run

fixboot

fixmbr

then exit recovery console
and reboot without cd
You will probably be able to see the drive from Recovery Console. From there
you can do a
CHKDSK D:
where D: is the drive letter.

Booting to the XP setup CD and choosing 'install' gives tu a prompt for
"Press 'R' for repair", which puts you at the recovery console prompt
 
dwrecku2 said:
When I start up my computer, I get the message "Disk boot failure, insert
system disk and press enter"

From here I can only get to setup. I can't access recovery or safe-mode.
What should I do?
Click to expand...

The 3 most likely causes of your error are:

1. a 3.5 inch diskette left in the drive.
2. data corruption of the hard drive.
3. the hard drive has failed.

For (1) remove the diskette.
For (2) follow the advice from Mark Ferguson
For (3) go to the hard drive manufacturer's web site and download
their free diagnostic utility. Run that to check out the hard drive
for possible hardware failure.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
a common solution is to take the floppy disk or cd disk out of the respected
drives. but if its not the problem, then maybe their is a conflict between
drives..

use recovery console to repair your drive, then type fixmbr in command
console in safe mode.
 
a common solution is to take the floppy disk or cd disk out of the respected
drives. but if its not the problem, then maybe their is a conflict between
drives..


put in a bootdisk or boo cd and use recovery console off of it. do repair,
then type fixmbr in safemode.
 
Before you replace the drive, check all the ribbons to be sure all is good. I
have had this message and problem several times in the past, and found by
removing and re installing the ribbon on the harddrive all was good. I don't
know what removing and reinstalling the ribbon does except maybe give it a
new connection. I to was going to replace my drive. Removed all the ribbons
and decided againest it, so I hooked everything back and rebooted as per. All
is good. I still have the same problem now and then, but messing with the
ribbon seems to work each and every time.
 
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