 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Invalid system disk...
Thread Solved |
•
•
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Reputation: 
Solved Threads: 0
Posting Whiz in Training
I sure hope I'm posting this in the right place ! If not, someone let me know please.
Compaq Presario S4020WM, Windows XP HOME . Young teenager messed around with this computer and has really done some damage !
When I turn on the computer, all I get is a message that says.....
Invalid system disk. Replace the disk and then press any key"
I made a boot disk from Bootdisc .com. When I put the boot disk in and start the machine, I get the same error message.
Any and ALL help is much appreciated !
Compaq Presario S4020WM, Windows XP HOME . Young teenager messed around with this computer and has really done some damage !
When I turn on the computer, all I get is a message that says.....
Invalid system disk. Replace the disk and then press any key"
I made a boot disk from Bootdisc .com. When I put the boot disk in and start the machine, I get the same error message.
Any and ALL help is much appreciated !
Maybe if you boot from an xp installaton disk and do a repair install that might solve the problem you are having.
Raj
Raj
•
•
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 82
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 4
Junior Poster in Training
Actually, I think the first thing you should do is to check in BIOS what the boot order is set to. This is probably an instance where something is in the optical drive or that the boot order has been changed.
I have never learned so many things as in those times I have been wrong.
•
•
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,295
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 41
whilest in the BIOS check to see if the hard drive is detected by your system if it is than look in the BOOT order and set it to the BOOT up device first.if that fails than do a hard drive format in another machine(slave your drive) put it back in the original machine and install the new OS
!Backup while it is set as slave in another machine
??
!Backup while it is set as slave in another machine
??
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever" Mahatma Gandhi
•
•
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 0
Posting Whiz in Training
Reply #1 I don't have the original XP recovery disc for this machine but I do have a Windows XP Pro disc , that I could put in it
Reply #2 I can't seem to be able to get into BIOS. I've tried F2,Del., Shift,F10,F8, at first and only screen and all I get is the error mesasage that I listed in the first thread.
Reply #3 If I do get into BIOS, you'll have to walk me through all those instructions that you listed.
Reply #2 I can't seem to be able to get into BIOS. I've tried F2,Del., Shift,F10,F8, at first and only screen and all I get is the error mesasage that I listed in the first thread.
Reply #3 If I do get into BIOS, you'll have to walk me through all those instructions that you listed.
if you can't get into bios then you would better off get your data backed up and then do a repair install from the xp pro disk. should not be a big problem. If you want to know about backing up the hard disk then give us a shout.
Raj
Raj
•
•
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 0
Posting Whiz in Training
•
•
•
•
Originally Posted by coolraj003 
if you can't get into bios then you would better off get your data backed up and then do a repair install from the xp pro disk. should not be a big problem. If you want to know about backing up the hard disk then give us a shout.
Raj
•
•
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 82
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 4
Junior Poster in Training
When the machine first starts up you should try the various common keys for entering BIOS even before you see anything, especially if you have an LCD monitor as these often don't show the initial BIOS screen f12 and space bar are two other less common selections for BIOS as well.
As for data backup you can install the hard drive into a different computer as a secondary drive and be able to retrieve everything that is on it if the drive is still good
As for data backup you can install the hard drive into a different computer as a secondary drive and be able to retrieve everything that is on it if the drive is still good
Last edited by EMCCleveland; Jul 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm.
I have never learned so many things as in those times I have been wrong.
•
•
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 286
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 0
Posting Whiz in Training
•
•
•
•
Originally Posted by EMCCleveland
When the machine first starts up you should try the various common keys for entering BIOS even before you see anything, especially if you have an LCD monitor as these often don't show the initial BIOS screen f12 and space bar are two other less common selections for BIOS as well.
As for data backup you can install the hard drive into a different computer as a secondary drive and be able to retrieve everything that is on it if the drive is still good
Whats next since I can get into BIOS ?
•
•
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 82
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 4
Junior Poster in Training
Next step should be to go look and see if it detects the hard drives, and make sure the boot order has the hard drive at the top. Generally this is in one of the following generally: system configuration, advanced options, startup configuration, or boot setup menu.
Last edited by EMCCleveland; Jul 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pm.
I have never learned so many things as in those times I have been wrong.
 |
Similar Threads
- system recovery problems/blinking underscore after rebooting computer (Windows 95 / 98 / Me)
- Invalid System Disk (Troubleshooting Dead Machines)
- Invalid system disk, replace disk and press any key (Windows 95 / 98 / Me)
- FAT12 Floppy disk boot sector, (Storage)
- Invalid System Disk error on install (Storage)
- "Invalid" system disk...." (Storage)
- System recovery doesn't work properly (Troubleshooting Dead Machines)
Other Threads in the Troubleshooting Dead Machines Forum
- Previous Thread: help me please
- Next Thread: first the PC turns-off any time and now new problem PLZ help
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
You need to join our community in order to build your list of favorite forums. You can visit the forum index for a listing of all forums.
Latest Troubleshooting Dead Machines Posts
- Today's Posts
- Unanswered Threads
Related Forum Features
6 appliances beep bioslosingharddrived bioslosingsettings black bsod citrix cmosbattery compaq cpu dead delldimension4500 disk failure giving harddrive laptop linux mac mobo neverbuyinspiron1525 nodisplay nopower operatingsystemnotfound osnotfound pc power ram redhat screen supply ubuntu virtualbox virtualization virtualmachines vmware xen
