You should be able to find a replacement battery with Google.
Try here, for instance:
http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/
"Operating system not found" means the HD has not been properly initialized. Do you get this error with the battery removed?
This could be a HD problem, or a lack of sufficient power at boot.
hughv
Veteran Poster
1,142 posts since Oct 2007
Reputation Points: 116
Solved Threads: 93
Hi Everyone:
Several days ago I went to start the machine and I got a message saying:" Operating System Not Found" I rebooted the system, press F5 and enter. Had to do this 2-3 time and finally started normally. For a couple of days it did this then day before yesterday and yesterday it started normal without doing that. I have cleaned it with the antivirus as best as I have been able to. I contacted HP.com thinking that it might be the battery but was told that my machine is obsolete. I can't afford to buy a PC right this moment. I will plan that early next year. Do you guys think that it might be a virus? It's very slow and it doesn't seem to have forgotten any other functions. Is it the battery failing? It's been 5 years since I bought it. I was told they do not have the battery for Pavilion 503N. What can I do any suggestions? I desperately wait for your help, and as always thank you so much for your kindness. Take care and have a good day!
I'm not so sure it is a problem with the battery. There are a few things you can do now. Check for events related to the HD in the event viewer.
Start - Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Event Viewer check for entries in the system and application logs related to the C: drive.
Next if you can backup any data that is important to you.
Next run the Check Disk utility on the C: drive. You can find information on the Windows check disk utility here http://ict.cas.psu.edu/Training/HowTo/ENComputers/disk_check.htm
Double click on my computer - Highlight the C drive and right click. From the drop down menu select properties. In the tools tab click on check disk now. In the Check Disk Options window place a check mark on Automatically fix file system errors and scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. Click start. A message will appear stating that certain windows files can not be accessed - Do you want to schedule scan to run at startup. Select yes and reboot the system. This will check for errors on the HD and try to recover any bad sectors that may have been marked as damaged.
When you reboot the machine it will start checking the file system on the C: drive. Dependig on the size of your C: drive this process can take a bit of time. After the check disk operations are complete windows will re-boot.
Depending on severity of any errors and or damaged files that check disk finds or can not recover you may have to re-install windows and / or buy a new HD. This is why it is important that you back up anything you absolutely need to have prior to running check disk.
I would also recommend running Disk CLeanup - Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk CleanUp. Select option to remove all temporary files. Once this is completed - you should run the disk defragment utility on the C: drive.
dos_centavos
Junior Poster in Training
67 posts since Sep 2007
Reputation Points: 14
Solved Threads: 7
I would HIGHLY recommend you get yourself an external drive of some sort. Either a USB hard drive or a thumb drive of some sort. BACK UP YOUR DATA!!!!!
My first thought was possible hard drive failure or corruption. I hope it was just that infection that you removed. Back up your stuff and keep an eye on it. Actually, keep an ear on it since the hard drive should start letting you know if it's having trouble. Any unusual noises coming from it are almost always a bad sign.
I do hope your problem is solved. There's just no point in taking chances. :)
Darvus
Junior Poster in Training
96 posts since Feb 2006
Reputation Points: 11
Solved Threads: 6
Hello, annmarie.
Running sfc /scannow with your CD inserted will NOT damage any of your files - all it does is employ Windows file protection system to ensure that your sys files are genuine and not corrupted; if any copy in the cache is damaged it will simply copy that file in from the cd.
Your hijackthis log is clean. The message you get suggests to me that it is a HD problem, it could be just that some data is hard to read.. so after you have run sfc and if all is still not well, then:
Go start, run, type cmd and press enter; in the window that opens type chkdsk /f and enter.
If you still have problems then they could stem from a faulty master boot record on your HD; if you ONLY have ONE OS on your sys then insert your cd and boot from it [restart your pc... you may need to change boot order in CMOS, else invoke a one-time boot selection menu, F11, I think..?], choose to repair using Recovery Console, select your OS and enter the Admin password [blank, probably...]. Type fixmbr and press enter.
Exit closes you out of RC.
gerbil
Industrious Poster
4,206 posts since May 2005
Reputation Points: 239
Solved Threads: 300
@gerbil - WHOAH...one thing at a time!
You're right about chkdsk, the only thing is, the /f switch won't work while Windows is loaded. If you try it with the /f switch, it will tell you it can't run now, but can run when you reboot. At this point, say yes and accept. Close the window and reboot.
@annamarie - Once again, I HIGHLY recommend you back up your data onto an external device of some sort (I love USB flash drives, personally). As I said before, and as gerbil here mentioned, it does sound like a HDD problem. It doesn't have to make noise to be bad. That's only one indication and often means a hardware failure (the mechanical parts). In this case, it sounds like parts of the data are being slowly corrupted. This can happen for many reasons, but in the end, your only option is to do a backup so you don't lose your data, no matter what ends up being the cause.
The fixmbr program works, but it can cause problems if it's interrupted or, for whatever reason, fails during the rebuild. If the drive is going bad, this will increase your risk. I suggest the chkdsk /f first and make sure you BACK UP YOUR DATA!!!!
:p
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Darvus
Junior Poster in Training
96 posts since Feb 2006
Reputation Points: 11
Solved Threads: 6
The adaware line....? You do not have Lavasoft's Adaware pgm...? I'm sorry, can you be more specific, cos to me your log is clean?
gerbil
Industrious Poster
4,206 posts since May 2005
Reputation Points: 239
Solved Threads: 300
Hi Everyone: After my last message last week about having the same problem and including the hijackthis log you don't mention how to delete the adaware line. I'm sorry to bother again but for me this is not resolved can you please look at the log and let me know what to finally do. Thank you and sorry to be persistent. Have a good day and thank you for your kindness and patience with me!:S
If you're referring to the "Adware Alert" program, you just need to uninstall the program from the Control Panel, "Add/Remove Programs".
Is the program causing conflicts or errors? If not, I doubt it's the cause. It's a legitimate program, from my research and shouldn't be a problem unless it's giving specific errors.
Honestly, deleting that line doesn't take it off your computer. It just makes sure it won't load the next time you restart Windows. On top of that, as has been mentioned before, this does NOT sound like a virus problem. It sounds like a failing hard drive.
I wouldn't bother with Hijack This any more at this point as you don't have any infections showing up. As gerbil said, your log is clean. There's nothing suspicious on it except your home page, but I checked it out and it seems legitimate. Other than backing up your data to an external device and replacing the hard drive, I'm not sure what else to tell you. I'm about 95% certain that this is NOT a virus problem!
Make sure you have all your original discs and documentation so that you can restore your system to factory settings (new Windows install, etc) with the new hard drive. I'd hire someone to install it for you unless you're handy with a screwdriver and are comfortable with messing around with the components.
Good luck, and please let us know how it goes!
Btw...just for the record, since you did ask us how, you can remove the line by selecting it from the Hijack This program (there should be a checkbox to the left of the line) and telling HJT to "Fix It". Keep in mind that I'm not advising you to take this route, I simply wanted to supply the info you specifically requested, nothing more. I don't think this will help you solve the problem at hand.
Darvus
Junior Poster in Training
96 posts since Feb 2006
Reputation Points: 11
Solved Threads: 6
