"disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk And Press Enter"

[Joshai]

Every once in awhile when turning on my computer, I get this message. The message just started appearing one day without notice, rhyme, or reason. The weird thing is, if I turn off my computer when I get it, and then turn it back on, it starts up without incident. It just seems like it is an occasional thing. I haven't heard of people getting this message intermittantly before. What could it mean? Should I be worried, and what can I try to fix it?

[pip22]

Possibly a worn-out motherboard battery, more correctly called a "CMOS Battery" but if you say it's a motherboard battery any PC hardware guy will know what you mean. It keeps power to the motherboard when the PC is switched off, so that the time stays correct and the system "remembers" what type and size of hard disk is fitted etc.

The battery is a large button-type cell, usually held in place with just a terminal spring clip over the top. They normally last many years, but depends how healthy it is when first fitted. Most are 3-volts type CR2032.

[DaveC2003]

If the drive spins up, but the system fails to recognize the drive. Or if there is a "No Fixed Disk Present" or "Error reading fixed disk" error message on the monitor. Or if the following error messages indicate the computer cannot find an operating system to boot:

Non-System disk or disk error, Replace and strike any key when ready
No ROM Basic
Disk Boot Error, Replace and Strike Key to Retry
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER
BOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR, Please insert another disk
If you are trying to boot from the hard drive, make sure there is no disk in drive A.
If you are trying to boot from the floppy disk drive, try to boot from the hard drive and try to access the floppy disk. Then try to make sure that the disk has the necessary boot files and that the necessary boot files are not corrupt.
If you are trying to boot from the floppy disk drive, try to boot from another bootable floppy disk.
Make sure the hard drive power connector and ribbon cable are connected.
For hard drives, verify the primary partition is active.
If you cannot access the drive, enter the BIOS setup program and make sure the correct CMOS settings are chosen for the drive and make sure the hard drive and floppy controllers are enabled. Also check the boot order. Note: on most systems, you can use the auto detect feature to determine the correct CMOS parameters and to see if it can see the drive.
If you have two drives on the same IDE cable, try swapping the master/slave.
For IDE drives, check the jumper settings of all of the IDE devices, especially the master, slave or stand-alone jumpers.
For SCSI drives, check the jumper settings of all SCSI devices. Make sure the primary hard disk is set to SCSI ID 0. Check during POST to see if the SCSI BIOS is loading and finding any SCSI devices. If not, check the host adapter installation including IRQ, DMA and I/O settings.
For Windows* NT, 2000 and XP, start the Windows installation program and choose R to repair. You will then be asked for an emergency repair disk. If you don't have one, don't repair the Registry when asked to do so. When you are in the Repair utility, the repair utility will detect the system file and reinstall it in the correct place.
If using a removable/mobile IDE rack for the hard drive, verify the drive tray has been locked.
For DOS, Windows* 95, Windows* 98 and Windows* Me, try to reinstall the necessary boot files.
For DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me, try to run the FDISK /MBR command.
Make sure all device drivers have been installed correctly.
Swap the controller card, cable and hard drive, one at a time.


Hope this helps.

[Kevin_gibson]

Disk boot failure can be intermittent, its usually the HDD thats causing the fault.
An incorrect BIOS configuration can also cause the problem and as some people say could be a motherboard fault not recognising the Hard drive.

What make and model is your PC?

Have you searched the manufacturer for any BIOS updates?

Reply with as much information as possible about the make / model etc.