Does this message mean it's dead?

6 replies

SmellsLikeWeenSpirits · 30/04/2013 12:03

My poor old laptop

The screen is black and it says this (complete with missing letters)

No ootable CD in ATAPI CD-ROM
NTLDR is missing

I've tried starting it in safe mode and fiddling but nothing changes.

Tell me it can be saved......

OP posts:

flatpackhamster · 30/04/2013 15:04

Hard disk probably buggered. How recent are your backups?

Original poster

SmellsLikeWeenSpirits · 30/04/2013 15:23

Fairly recent.

And that I can't afford to replace it. Bollocks.

OP posts:

flatpackhamster · 30/04/2013 15:54

If you've got recovery disks, then a new hard disk drive will cost about £50. Take the old one out, put the new one in, run recovery disks, and you'll have a working machine. You probably do need a geek for it if you're not too techy though.

Original poster

SmellsLikeWeenSpirits · 30/04/2013 16:19

Thanks flatpackhamster it's pretty old and shit though, not sure it's worth repairing.

OP posts:

Metal · 03/05/2013 20:22

Since it's mentioning CD-ROM, it might be trying to boot from a CD that you left in the laptop by mistake? Is there a CD still in the laptop and does taking it out solve this?

Original poster

SmellsLikeWeenSpirits · 03/05/2013 21:47

Ah no, but there was just before this problem developed. One of ds's DVDs got left in it.

I've fiddled with the settings in safe mode to make it not boot up from the cd drive but no joy

OP posts:

Flip