Operating System Not Found/Operating System CD Won't Boot

Question

I have an Inspiron 1100. My hard drive recently failed and I have been getting the message:

Broadcom UNDI, PXE-2.1 (build 082) v1.0.4
Copyright (C) 2000-2002 Broadcom Corporation
Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
All rights reserved.
Intel Base-Code, PXE-2.1 (build 082)
Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Broadcom PXE ROM
Operating System not found

every time I start my computer. I was sent a new hard drive, and had no trouble installing it. The computer has detected the new hard drive, but when I attempt to boot from the Windows XP Operating System CD, it sounds like the CDROM drive is 'stuck', and it will not boot. Instead, I get the same 'operating system not found' message. I have gone into BIOS and changed the boot order so that CDROM appears first. I have also gone into the boot menu pressing F12 to select CDROM Drive. When I do this with the operating system CD, the drive just makes a noise as if it's trying to load, but it sounds stuck and after only a blank screen, the same message appears.

I have also run diagnostics and all tests have passed, but then I get a message saying

No Diagnostic Partition found. To run diagnostics, insert your Dell "Drivers and Utilities" CD, then select ok to restart the system and boot off the CD.

When I do this, again, the computer fails to boot from the CD and I get the original message.

What should I do?? Please help!!

bacillus · Answer

It sounds like there could be a problem with your optical drive. However it may be worthwhile for troubleshooting purposes to see if your XP CD will boot in another system to eliminate a bad CD.

crookedfoot · Answer

looks like the bulk of the message you are getting is concerning the PXE-compliant NIC card and doesn't have much to do with your problem of the system not seeing the OS.  Is the CD drive modular?  That is do you have a way to remove it and install another drive?  Sounds like a bad CD drive.

balint84 · Answer

I had recently used my CDROM drive prior to this problem. It had not given me trouble at all, so I am not sure how it would suddenly stop working. Now neither the XP cd or the drivers/utilities cd will load properly.

satyrod · Answer

I am having the same exact problem with this model. Initial boot fails. CTRL-ALT-DEL pushed and it will run the XP reinstall disk. I have run through the installation of windows XP. When it restarts it goes directly to the same old message. Operating System not found. Is this the motherboard battery? Bios holds up well throughout. Have already replaced the HD thinking that was the problem. It apparently was not the problem.

Storage, Drives & Media

Operating System Not Found/Operating System CD Won't Boot

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