Any techies out there got any suggestions ?

I've done something strange to my netbook - I was attempting to reformat an external USB hard drive, and may have inadvertantly started reformatting my netbook hard drive ???

Now all I can get up is a black screen with "Missing operating system" at the top left of the screen.

I'm pretty sure I made a boot disc when I got it, but I'm beggered if I can put my hands on it now.

Simple question - is it f*cked or is it salvageable ?

Any responses, within reason, will be gratefully received

you could try something like Ultimate Boot CD SystemRescueCD or a linux live cd to see if there is anything left on the hard drive and try recover what has been overwritten if the drive has been re-formatted.

Edited 7 December, 200916 yr by trundlenut

i think that is a problem with the advent . my girlfriends advent netbook has lost its OS 3 times .. each time she took it to currys all they done was reinstall the OS from a usb stick but she got fed up with it and bought a dell netbook instead

I think you've killed it.

I have the same model, and I have a backup on USB stick, which I'd be happy to copy for you, if you're stuck.

Phil

I think you've killed it.

I have the same model, and I have a backup on USB stick, which I'd be happy to copy for you, if you're stuck.

Phil

Thanks for the offer, but after a bit of web-searching while Brisky was down, I came across a site with links to get a reboot sorted - and it's worked

Now up and running again - and I've made an extra recovery disc just in case - you could say I'm slightly chuffed, and relieved

Good stuff Bryan, glad you're sorted. Can be a bit of an issue for netbook users, especially those without external optical drives, or a way of getting the OS back on.

Steve

Good stuff Bryan, glad you're sorted. Can be a bit of an issue for netbook users, especially those without external optical drives, or a way of getting the OS back on.

Steve

Cheers Steve - I was on the verge of blowing £35 on the Techguys recovery CD, so the extra trawling was well worthwhile

Oh dear God no! Glad it didn't come to that. Mind you, hell would freeze over and that decision would still be a way off

I've done something strange to my netbook - I was attempting to reformat an external USB hard drive, and may have inadvertantly started reformatting my netbook hard drive ???

I've come to the conclusion you're a walking disaster area

I've come to the conclusion you're a walking disaster area

Elementary, My dear Watson

Any techies out there got any suggestions ?

I've done something strange to my netbook - I was attempting to reformat an external USB hard drive, and may have inadvertantly started reformatting my netbook hard drive ???

Now all I can get up is a black screen with "Missing operating system" at the top left of the screen.

I'm pretty sure I made a boot disc when I got it, but I'm beggered if I can put my hands on it now.

Simple question - is it f*cked or is it salvageable ?

Any responses, within reason, will be gratefully received

dont know if any of you netbook owners out there without optical drives are aware but pop along to any computer fair and buy a ide to usb device for about a fiver plugs into any ide device cd drive,dvd drive,hard drive plug it into your usb in notebook you now have an opitical drive...handy.