Disk Boot Failure

I tried twice to take a screenshot and my computer froze up and i had to unplug it. When I started it back up I got " Disk boot Failure " and please insert a disk. Eventually i inserted " Parted Magic " which did not indicate
my having a hard drive at all. Panic set in as i contemplated the cost of getting my hard drive replaced. About 30 minutes later I started my computer up and the boot menu was back.

I do not know what happened but I'm glad my computer is working again
and I'm surely not going to try taking any more screenshots.

Hey Lucky, first I'd make sure the drive is properly connected to the system (is this a laptop, or desktop/deskside system?). Then I'd make a full system bit-image backup to an external drive (just in case). Finally, I'd run the best diagnostic tools I could find to determine if there is any material problem with the drive, controller, or motherboard. If you need, I'll point you to some good diagnostic DVDs that you can download, burn, boot, and use to test your system every which way to Sunday.

-Rubberman

Thanks Rubberman, I believe my problem stated with an email from osdisc sales on December 7, 2012 which listed seven new distros.
I was going through the links when the amber light on the front of my computer indicated that a download was in progress. I could
only stop it by shutting off my external modem. Whatever was being downloaded did not get to finish and I think this caused my
subsequent temporary boot failure. I sure could use some diagnostic DVD's!!

I found a good one not too long ago. I'll make you a copy and send it to you. It's self-booting and has a raft of diagnostics, including a linux distribution you can boot into to access your files and clean them up. I'll also post a link when I remember what it is... :-)

Ok. Found the disc. It is a bootable CD - Hiren's Test Tools v15.1. Here is a link: Hiren's BootCD 15.2 - All in one Bootable CD » www.hiren.info
Note they are up to version 15.2 - stuff to test motherboards, ram, disc drives, etc. Email me if you want me to send you a copy.

Here is another link with a downloadable/burnable copy: Download Hiren