paulmd@efn.org wrote:
> pobnospam******.com wrote:
> > Its a Dell Laptop L400. I used Norton Partition Magic and now I get No
> > operating system found. I tried placing a Windows XP (full version-not
> > upgrade version) and I continue to get No operating system found.
> >
> > If I go out and buy a new hard drive, will the laptop still work ?
>
> Yes. But you don't have to replace the drive. At least not yet. Clearly
> your partitions are screwed up or corrupted. But the drive itself is
> probably fine.
>
> First check a few things in the bios.
>
> Check the boot order (aka startup sequence and a few similar sounding
> things) includes the CD drive before the hard drive.
>
> Try to boot from the CD again. If you can get somewhere, then just redo
> the partitions reinstall the OS.
>
> If you can't do anything because the partitions on the hard drive are
> totally corrupt. Then A drive wiping utility can be handy. I've used
> DBAN for this purpose. You need not let it complete, just 1 or 2
> percent is good.
>
> dban.sourceforge.net
>
> Then reinstall the os.


I am using DBAN now, its at 3% (running autonuke). I initially tried
the interactive mode and I got a message saying I had a bad sector.