Missing Operating System

Missing Operating System Laptop Won't Accept XP Pro

#1 OldPhart

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 07:41 AM

I rec'd a Sony Vaio Laptop as a gift Model #pcg-k23. It boots up to a blck screen w/ the error message "Missing Operating System". I've tried to install XP Pro SP2 but I get an error messge that says a hard drive can not be detected. I don't have Sony recovery discs; are they the easy way out? Ican get tto a DOS-prompt w/ a little effort; is there a way to get windows to load from there? IT seems that the C drive recognizes the X drive but the X drive does NOT recognize the C drive. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, OP

#2 Budapest

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 08:15 AM

Quote

# Turn on the computer.
# When the SONY logo is displayed, press the F10 key.
# In the VAIO Recovery Wizard window, click the Next button.
# Under Recovery Options , click to select the C Drive Recovery option.
# Click the Next button.

NOTES:

* A C Drive Recovery will return the (C:) drive to its original, factory-installed state. All software and data on the (C:) drive will be erased. If there is a (D:) drive, it is unaffected.
* Only a C Drive Recovery can be performed using the VAIO Recovery Wizard on the Recovery Drive. For a Custom Recovery with options for removing or reinstalling the Recovery Drive, use the Recovery Media Kit.

# Under C Drive Recovery , click the Next button.
# Under Click Finish... , click the Finish button.

NOTE: The computer will restart.
# Under Recovery Progress , when the recovery is Completed , click the Next button.
# Under The Recovery process is complete , click the Finish button.
# After the computer restarts, the operating system setup wizard will start. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup wizard.

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/documentLink.do?externalId=C295487

_{The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who haven't got it.

—George Bernard Shaw}

#3 OldPhart

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 08:34 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm still getting the "Operating System Not Found Message". I cycled thru the other "F" keys and F2 gets me to basic setup screen but that's it. Thanks, OP

#4 OldPhart

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 08:39 AM

In the bios utility setup screen the "Primary IDE Adapter" is listed as none &the "SecondaryIDE Adapter" is listed as CD-ROM. Is that normal? OP

#5 Budapest

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 08:48 AM

I would think that the Primary IDE Adapter should show the hard drive. Perhaps the hard drive has died. You could try removing and then replacing the drive to see if that helps.

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/T99860098_Rev_D_NO_PHONE.pdf

_{The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who haven't got it.

—George Bernard Shaw}

#6 OldPhart

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 09:45 AM

I'll give it a whirl. Thanks, OP

#7 OldPhart

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Posted 09 January 2011 - 01:12 PM

I got to a DOS prompt and attempted chkdsk C: /r and a scandisk commands and got "CDR101: Not ready reading drive X". What the heck is that all about? IF I do a "dir" command at the C: prompt the system shos 67 files and 0 directories. OP