Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?


At a guess, it sounds like either the hard drive has failed or the
motherboard's IDE controller, more likely the former.
You'll need a tech to physically examine it to give a definite diagnosis
though.

Dave

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

" wrote in
oups.com:

I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?


Sounds like your restore thing mangled your system. Try it again,
ensuring it completes. If that doesn't work, you may want to take it to
a professional. No offense, but it sounds like you're not very skilled
with computers, so a professional would likely be your best bet.

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

Dave D wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?


At a guess, it sounds like either the hard drive has failed or the
motherboard's IDE controller, more likely the former.
You'll need a tech to physically examine it to give a definite diagnosis
though.

I agree the drive is probably hosed. You can buy a laptop-to-desktop
hard drive adapter for just a few bucks. Get one of those and install
the drive as a slave in your home computer. BIOS should report if the
drive is toast or not. If it works at all, immediately back up anything
vital to your desktop. Then try it again in your laptop. If it doesn't
work there, it's likely your laptop motherboard. That's serious. You
might find one on eBay, but it won't be cheap or easy to replace.

If it doesn't work, I hope there was nothing irreplaceable on it. It's
lost....

jak


Dave

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

In message .com,
" writes
I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?

Download yourself a copy of the IBM/Hitachi drive fitness test, write it
to floppy and boot the laptop from it, run the diagnostic tests, report
back here. From your description though, it sounds like the HDD is
faulty. Generally not difficult to replace usually and not expensive
either. As for the backup disks, buy them once you've determined and
fixed the fault.
--
Clint Sharp

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

Clint Sharp wrote:

In message .com,
" writes
I purchased a Gateway laptop about 1.5 years ago and have only used it
maybe 100 hours at most. Recently it locked up so I shut it down. But
when it rebooted it did not fully load. Then I think it asked if I
wanted to reload, restore (or something like this) the Gateway
software. I clicked yes but now I get a black screen with a choice of a

boot or bios menu (which is only for the computer settings). Then it
runs and says "operating system not found".
Gateway did not provide a restore disk with the laptop (now they want
$35.00 for the disks). I tried my desk top restore disk and it was
working but then it said "hard drive not found, can not continue". How
do I fix this?

Download yourself a copy of the IBM/Hitachi drive fitness test, write it
to floppy and boot the laptop from it, run the diagnostic tests, report
back here. From your description though, it sounds like the HDD is
faulty. Generally not difficult to replace usually and not expensive
either. As for the backup disks, buy them once you've determined and
fixed the fault.
--
Clint Sharp

Computer Stopped Working - Help
 

We are laptop repair company in uk. maybe be can help!!
www.compubiss.co.uk