Unable to load Operating System

jaws104 · 20 Jan 2010 at 09:19

Just got back a brand new harddisk on RMA and went about installing fresh copy of xp pro last night. Installed ok no errors.

I get an 'unable to load o/s' on boot

Hardisk detected ok in Bios and memory is ok...not sure what else could be wrong? I'm worried it could be motherboard :eek:

sk3lph · 20 Jan 2010 at 12:33

Unlikely to be the motherboard although you could try plugging the SATA connection for the drive into a different socket on the motherboard.

its odd that XP installed ok but now its not booting - try doing a repair install or alternatively you could have a look here -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310994

paradisiac · 20 Jan 2010 at 12:34

sure the HDD priority and boot order is right?
also do you have a usb drive plugged in as it might be trying to boot from that.

pcAnywhere · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:27

Check those sata cables haven't disconnected themselves...

Admiral Huddy · 20 Jan 2010 at 14:10

I've had this many time. Try swapping over the SATA cables to a different port. For some reason this works occasionally