>We have 2 Acer Aspire 1362 laptops both about 18 months old and one of them
>now refuses to start "Operating System not found". The BIOS does not find
> >a HDD or CDROM drive.
>Swapping the HD between laptops, the "good" machine HD will not boot in the
>"bad" machine, but the "bad" machine HD will boot the "good" machine.
>So the fault is not the HDD, is it likely the BIOS is corrupt?
>As we have 2 identical machines, is there any way to check this?
>I have opened up the faulty laptop, disconnected the BIOS battery
>temporarily, no effect.
>
>Any suggestions gratefully considered.
>
>Alan.
>>"GlowingBlueMist" <> wrote in message
>>news:44750665$0$235$ anews.com...
>> I was going to suggest copying the CMOS from one computer to the other
>> like in http://www.pcguide.com/care/bu/whatBIOS-c.html but then read your
>>note again and saw that the bad box was not finding CD or HD which makes
>> the above idea kind of worthless.
>>
>>As I read it the problem at this stage might be any one of 6 or more
>> problems.
>>
>>1. Defective HD that is jamming the IDE port.
>> () Try removing the HD and see if the CD drive then be discovered and a
>> bootable disk tested.
>> 2. Defective CDROM that is jamming the IDE port.
>> () Remove CD drive and see if the HD shows up and can be booted.
>> 3. Defective Cable feeding either or both devices.
>> () Swap cable with working machine and see if the problem follows the
>> cable, checking ports for bent pins in the process.
>> 4. Defective IDE port
>> () Try moving your HD into a USB enclosure and tell the BIOS to boot
>> >>from
>> USB, if it's a choice, might be better than nothing until you can get
>> another motherboard.
>> 5. Defective BIOS settings.
>> () If the BIOS can be brought up tell it to reset to factory, default,
>> >>or
>> especially Failsafe if it's offered. Many times I've used Failsafe or
>> factory default to get boxes working again, especially those with a
>> >>timing
>> issue with a memory module or other chip issues. Disconnecting the
>> battery does not always reset the CMOS due to length of time it's
>> >>removed,
>> or forgetting to remove the power to the motherboard while attempting to
>> reset the CMOS. I do the jumper reset thing and then tell it to reset to
>> factory once to finish flushing out leftover bits.
>> 6. Defective memory module(s), but usually you get a post beeping failure
>> indication.
>> () Swap memory to verify it/they are good.
>>
>> Other problems can cause similar indications but they usually tend to be
>> motherboard related on laptops. Good luck.
>>
>>>Thanks for the suggestions, I`ll work my way thro them and report back.
>>>Alan.
I`ve been away but have now tried the above suggestions; results follow:
1) Try removing the HD
Done, no change.
2) Defective CDROM
Done, no change.
3) Defective Cable
No cables, no bent pins, devices connect to M/B via plugs/sockets.
4) Defective IDE port
Boot from USB is not a BIOS choice, HD is readable via ext. USB box.
5) Defective BIOS settings
No Failsafe option, reset to Factory Default (Set-up) done, no change.
6) Defective memory
Memory swapped, both OK.
I forgot to mention that when opening-up the laptop, I found 2 loose items;
a screw from the cooling trunking was rolling around and a piece of spongy
metallised material had dislodged and come to rest by the audio circuitry.
As large areas of the M/B are protected by a plastic sheet it is not too
likely - but not impossible- that these have caused a short-circuit
somewhere.
Any further thoughts welcomed.
Alan.
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