Non-System Disk Error

[MediaPA]

Ok, this is the normal error that you get on an older model if you leave a 3.5" disk in the drive when starting up. The problem is that there is no disk in that drive.

I thought maybe if I could reformat my computer, it might 'sort' itself out. However when I go to run my system restore CD, it take me into dos and gives me an A:> prompt. I think this is my hard drive (not sure might be my CD). The B: drive is my 3.5" which reads disks fine when I installed them. I can't get it to switch to any other drives - tried C, D, E, F.

Is there any 'simple' way I can try to remove the 3.5" drive and see if it will start up (w/o removing)? Or possible 'disable' it so that the start up doesn't try to read from the drive? I doubt this can be done, but any advice would be appreciated.

[MediaPA]

eh, seems something is wrong with the hard drive. A:=CD, B:=3.5". Haven't used this computer in a long while. Oh well. no big deal, just wanted it to work.

[blinden84]

try and go into the bios (usually del or F12 when the computer is booting) and check first which drives it is detecting (harddisk, CD drives, etc) and check the boot order of them.

[CORed]

Also, check cable connections (both power and data) on the HD. If you're lucky, it might just be a cable that has come loose.