Why can't I boot my my old 486?

One day, i start my computer and a message appeared:

The computer cannot start, insert a system disk and press Enter.

How can i get again into my computer? (my computer is 486 processor)

This question was answered on January 15, 2003. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Can you boot to a floppy disk? If so, can you access your hard disk at all, once you have booted to a floppy?

If not, it sounds like your hard drive took a permanent vacation.

Check to be certain all the hard disk cables are snugly inserted in their respective sockets.

Best thing would be to try a new or borrowed hard drive If your current hard drive is not dead, it could possibly be a problem with the hard disk controller.

Don't dismiss the possibility of a bad cable, or even a power supply problem.

Your PC is probably rather advanced in age I see by your profile, you have managed to put a 10 GB drive into the machine, so the hard drive might not be all that old You also call out a 48X CD drive Sounds like it might be time to upgrade the rest of the computer.

RG

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Posted by Robert of Mesa Community College on January 15, 2003

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