STUPID COMPUTER ERROR!!!
 

Hey guys, I just rebuilt an old computer and I started it up, installed XP and then when i try to boot it up now I get this error EVERY time after it verifies the DMI Pool. the error says :

Disk Boot Failure, Please insert system disk and press enter.

So i've tried repairing, i've tried doing DSKCHK, the DSKMBR, i've tried everything I can think of, anyone know whats up?

EDIT: I put in the Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools disk (old floppy disk that came with this HD and it says "Data Lifeguard was unable to locate an operating system on an existing hard drive or floppy disk."

When in fact I KNOW I installed it......

You've got to give us more then this...

Did it ever boot up successfully?

Initally I suspect a failed fard drive....but there's got to be more then what you've said so far.

when you installed it, did you format it as NTFS or FAT?

NTFS (QUICK), no it has never booted up successfully.

actually wait, when I had it working a long time ago yeah it booted up fine, the computer components are anywhere from 2-5 y/o. the Mobo is 2 y/o.

You would have had to complete a boot up during the XP install process...Did that even complete?

How 'old' is this PC? How big is the hard drive?

Make sure to check your jumper settings. How many devices do you have on the same IDE chain as the hard drive you want to boot from? Are you sure it's not set as slave?

HD is on its own IDE, and its set as master

computer is anywhere from 2-5 years old depending on the part thats in it, most of it is around 2 y/o, like the mouse / keyboard /speakers are older =P

80gb western digital HD

The HD should be set on CS if there is no other device on that IDE cable.

If its a WD and its the only device on the channel, no jumpers should be installed.

i..... am a fucking tard........ i forgot that i switched the jumpers from Slave to Master, so I switched it to cable select and it worked just fine!!! thx for all the help tho guys, i really do appreciate it!