Operating System Not Found - Help!

[Helen Jones]

Hello everyone

I booted my laptop up today but after a long time on the opening screen it went to a black screen with the words 'operating system not found'

I'm not sure why it's suddenly done this? It worked fine yesterday and I haven't been installing or doing anything with it other than word documents and going on the internet. I'm really worried the hard drive is fully dead and I won't be able to get music and pictures off it

I bought it in 2008 and have had no problems with it before. It has been restored once when the CD drivers weren't working due to a bug with itunes and windows vista. It's worked fine since then until today!

Is it terminal?
Thanks for any help

 

[richc46]

Welcome
Here are some suggestions given to another in a similar situation
http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/283971-operating-system-not-found-vista-home-premium.html

 

[Helen Jones]

Welcome
Here are some suggestions given to another in a similar situation
http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/283971-operating-system-not-found-vista-home-premium.html

Hello

Thank you for your reply. I'm not a big techie person so I'm not sure how to do any of the solutions in that thread. My main concern is losing data, if I do system recovery etc will I lose all the data on my hard drive?

Thanks

 

[richc46]

OK, I understand your concerns. Lets see if we can save your stuff first. This is not hard to do. If you are unsure, dont bring it into a pay shop, most kids will be able to help you.
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

 

[Helen Jones]

OK, I understand your concerns. Lets see if we can save your stuff first. This is not hard to do. If you are unsure, dont bring it into a pay shop, most kids will be able to help you.
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

Thank you I'll try this!

 

[Helen Jones]

Hi

Just thought I'd update. I took it to a member of my family who knows about computers and basically the hard drive has had it so it looks like a new one of those :-(

Thanks for your help
Helen

 

[richc46]

Sorry that the HD is the problem, but glad that you found out. Good luck