Windows XP...deleted itself? ***need comp help***

[CinnamonChan]

I had a HP desktop with Windows XP. Anyways, a few months ago it started screwing up and had problems turning on. When I tried turning it on, it would just say something like "Going into power save mode" and it would count down (which it SO should not have been doing that as soon as I turn it on :o). At first, it happened very rarely..but it started getting so frequent that I'd have to restart my computer over and over just to get it to turn on properly. Then, one day I attempted to turn it on, and it went to a black screen, saying "Operating System Was Not Found". It's been doing that ever since and it's been about 2 months. I really want to know what's wrong with it. Do I need to buy a new Windows? I don't want Vista, because I already have it on the laptop I'm currently using and I don't care for it at all. I tried buying a new XP once but it wouldn't install. I guess it only worked if I was upgrading a previous Windows, but I can't because I don't have ANY Windows installed now. I don't have enough money to buy a brand new computer (for I am a mere 13 year old =P) so I would prefer just getting mine fixed.

Also, someone once told me it could be a hard drive problem. Is this a possible problem? Please and thank you. :)

♥Cinnamon

P.S. My computer isn't very old either. It's from either 2002 or 2003, and I have computers that still have Windows 98 on them, and they work fine...Well, they suck obviously but they function properly for computers their age. =P

[SilverKitsune]

Re-install the system.
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[b]xAmiDarkfieldx wrote:
"Your a bird, I'm a cat of the jungle. Birds can't get pregnant last I checked. They lay eggs."[/b]

[NorseGodOdin]

Yea. Just reinstall windows. No other way to fix it.
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[cstdenis]

Well, the early problems sound like it was overheating or something. If you had bothered to get that fixed maybe your windows wouldn't be broken now.

Just reinstall windows to fix it. You don't need to buy a new copy, just install off the cd that came with your computer.

[__]

Former Computer Tech here...

-> put your hard drive in other pc
-> see if you can save something
-> scandisk on complete/repair/scan surface (or any similar program)
-> Install Windows XP or better get Windows XP *Unatended Edition* from the internets
-> FORMAT COMPLETE/SLOW NTFS
-> ????
-> Profit

if the disk does a series of little noticeable ticks on startup or while running, it's fucked up, get a new one

*EDIT*: disable from your bios: S.M.A.R.T. <- it's known for killing hardisks
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[cstdenis]

Source for SMARTT killing HD's please.

[__]

[quote="cstdenis"]Source for SMARTT killing HD's please.[/quote]

math i summon you.

(this is of my knowledge of smart technology 2, there is a now 3, so i know shit about it)

hardisk have a X amount of disk operations life, while it last for years, this is existent number(am i explaining myself?), now, when smart is on, the hardrive do a series of comprobations *FOR EACH* data operation you do in the hard drive, while this helps prevent 30% of errors also they count as hardisk operations and (in the best of cases) reduce the life of the disk in X/2 the normal life it has.

now, while is the user choice of what they prefer, 30% protection or half the util life of the hard drive, when we are talking about a disk that [b]already presented errors[/b], letting smart on will most likely terminate it.

now, sauces: wikipedia, chilehardware, linux journals, and experience
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