Windows 7: how can i get past the can not read Operating System Not Found Problem

now, my laptop is a Sony Vaio laptop runs on Windows 7 home edition.
i know i still have the disk that contains word, excel etc.
anything else was most likely accidentally trashed.

when i start the laptop it reads the Vaio logo, of course i hear a disk spinning and not a type of clicking but a sound for sure. screen turns black and reads operating systen not found. before that it read a different disk not found. i pressed f2 and set everything to default. i'm stumped from here. i'm thinking on looking for a book to help, haha.. if you know one, share the name. thanks

First enter BIOS setup to see if HD registers there. If not it may have failed. Test it to be sure by downloading, burning to CD with Windows Image Burner then running a full scan with the HD maker's HD Diagnostic DOS scan.

You can also try accessing it through the door on back to reinstall it to see if it is failing to make contact when plugged in.

Videos for doing this and replacing the HD if necessary are available by googling your model name/number and + replace HD.

If you replace the HD you can run Factory Recovery disks you made at setup or order from Sony support, or get a superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

If HD is intact work through these steps for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot