I'm not a computer idiot at all, but I really don't know much about software. Anyway, can anyone help me with the serious problem I have on my second computer. When I load the computer, it says : "Operating System not found." I am aware of the severity of this problem. I have opened the computer and all the connections seem fine. The computer is an HP Pavilion 9692, running (or was) Windows 98 SE. Thanks in advance.

Sounds like maybe one of your boot-up operating system files was corrupted or something of that nature. The only connection that would possibly cause this is if the cable came loose from your hard drive. Does the computer seem to boot-up alright? When does the message come up? Is the hard drive on your second computer is the same "make" as the one on your current computer? If it is you can try putting the second computer's hard drive in your current computer as a slave and then "soft install" windows 98 Se onto it, and that might correct the problem. You could also just copy over the program files if you have the windows 98 se cd.

edit: got rid of some un-useful information

Ok, the connections seemed fine, but its hard to tell. It goes to the HP screen, and then goes to the screen that says no operating system.

It seems that its finding the hard drive just fine, otherwise it would say "No hard drive detected," or "Invalid system disk. Replace disk and press F1 to continue," or something like that. I think its just as twiggy said, a boot up file may have been corrupted, or somehow the entire drive got erased. Do you have a system boot disk? If you do, you can use that to get into DOS, and from DOS, you can view files on your hard drive.

If you don't have a boot disk already, use the other computer to make one (if you are running the same operating system) . Go to My Computer > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and click on the Startup Disk tab then click on "Create Disk...". Any floppy will do as long as you don't need the files on it.

Nope, you guys are all wrong. It needed my magic touch. He brought it to my house, I hooked it up to my monitor and peripherals, and it works fine now. Even made a backup.

I really don't know what it was. My guess was a loose or faulty connection, since I had opened it and fiddled around with the cords before bringing it to ND4SPDR's house.