Hard disk gone or not?

[Adi]

Hi, experts!
On my friend computer crash Windows XP completly.
I ask him what he doing with computer, and he said that he press main switch
off on his cable panel. Next day computer on start show error message:
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM and request Windows CD.
When I try to boot from CD-ROM with Windows XP, it doesn't work.
When computer starts, pressing F8 I try all 11 operation without success.
Each time I got same error message.
I check with boot diskette from drive A but boot system recognize only
CD-ROM drive as D. When I put C: Unknown drive message appear.
Is any kind off help for this?
Thanks for any advice about this problem!
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Rich Barry]

You have to go into the Bios and set Cdrom drive as first boot device.
Then using the WinXP CD do a Repair Install
Check here for more info.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Adi]

Thanks, but CD-ROM is first boot device and cannot boot.
Second is floppy and can boot, but not recognize C drive, recognize D as
CD-ROM device.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Rich Barry]

Try using a Win98 Bootdisk and at the A: type: fdisk /mbr