[daniel.karakas]

Hi there, 

 

I have an older 2011 Gateway Laptop updated to Windows 10. It does not boot up, shows the error Operating System not found. Have unplugged all external hardrives and same error.

 

This laptop does not get windows update as it is not connected to internet, used primarily to watch videos on tv. Nothing has been done to this laptop in the last two years or more except playing videos from a usb drive. 

 

Usually stays on all the time. 

 

Please help!

 

Thankx!!

Edited by daniel.karakas, 08 August 2019 - 07:37 PM.

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Best Answer

Hello Daniel,

 

A failed HDD or Windows being corrupted are two examples of what can cause such a message.

 

Is the HDD identified in the BIOS, a Seagate HDD for example will be listed something like ST1000DM004 and a Western Digital along the lines of WD10JPLX other brands will have similar identification codes, only when such an ID code is present is a HDD actually detected and an entry simply listed as SATA HDD means that the BIOS will and has looked for a HDD in that particular boot sequence but no HDD was detected. 

[phillpower2]

Best Answer

Hello Daniel,

 

A failed HDD or Windows being corrupted are two examples of what can cause such a message.

 

Is the HDD identified in the BIOS, a Seagate HDD for example will be listed something like ST1000DM004 and a Western Digital along the lines of WD10JPLX other brands will have similar identification codes, only when such an ID code is present is a HDD actually detected and an entry simply listed as SATA HDD means that the BIOS will and has looked for a HDD in that particular boot sequence but no HDD was detected. 

[daniel.karakas]

Hi pp2,

 

 

Yeah I cant see a HD anywhere, under information it lists everything else. Plus I notice in the boot sequence there is no hd on the list.

 

I am guessing that means my HD is toast. There is also faint clicking noise on start up, which I guess indicates the same.

 

Please confirm and I will toss laptop, thx!

[phillpower2]

Hi Daniel,

 

The clicking noise is commonly known as the click of death which = HDD failure.

 

Rather than tossing the notebook in the trash why not replace the HDD and install a free OS such as Linux.

[daniel.karakas]

You are right I will attempt to do that. 

 

Thanks a lot for your help!

[phillpower2]

You are welcome and any questions along the way let us know