Not a bootable disk - insert a bootable floppy or press any key...

First of all I hope that this question is in the right place. I do not think it is a software related issue as I have restored a disk image and it still does this...

In the space of one afternoon last week, when I was designing some DVD covers I decided to have food so turned off the computer. About and hour later I cam back upstairs to carry on working and instead of the PC booting as it always does, it showed the 'Megatrends' screen and drive info and then showed the following:-

This is not a bootable disk please insert insert a bootable floppy or press any key to try again.

So, if I press any key, Windows loads perfectly well.....

I thought the MBR or something in the hidden partition might have been iffy so I restored an Acronis full disk image made in December which puts back all partitions thinking this would work - I also checked the options for restoring the MBR and the Disk Signature. It didn't work and it still shows the message but boots fine if I press any key.

Can anyone advise as I am not that technically minded and I do not want to do a complete re installation.

Otherwise can I leave it as is? Will any harm be done if I do?

Though my system configuration has changed since I joined here it has not changed by a lot. I have updated them before leaving this question.

Thanks Torchwood for your reply. I went into the BIOS, never been in there before, don't like it in there--lol. I've never made changes but the following images are what I've found. The OS drive is the EVO 120GB, and to me, in the second image it does look like it is not the first boot option. I do not want to change anything in here until and expert tells me to....It's no good me trying to explain details so I hope the pictures help. I have run a median filter but it helped very little.



If it is the case that the BIOS suddenly altered the boot order after all this time, is there anything that can cause it? I changed the battery about three years ago, perhaps it's loosing charge - could that be the reason? I will not be on the computer again until tomorrow morning so if no replay I am not being ignorant.

Thanks again. I will do that in the morning, I do know that it used to be the DCD drive, then the EVO - I am wondering if the CMOS battery needs replacing as I assume it allows the BIOS to remember the boot order.

I will reply again when I've changed things in there. I may set it at #2 and have the DVD as #1. I might also change the battery at the same time.

- - - Updated - - -

Hello Torchwood. The first thing I did this morning was change the CMOS battery, bloody awkward. It was even harder to re-install the new one, so mobo was without one for about two minutes. Changed it - set the time - full screen logo off - reset EVO to boot Option #1 - (only changes I made), saved and reset was the only exit option restarted PC. It started fine, but oddly Windows started without any of the system tray icons, just their place-holders, so I restarted - it booted straight into Windows as it should and they came back and I had to set the system time.

So it seems cured - the CMOS battery was probably the issue, at least I hope it was. Thank you for your help and advice. Much appreciated.