To Raid or not to Raid that is the question

[Mikemw]

Not sure if this is the right forum so please move if incorrect

Yesterday while powering off my computer it was doing the usual windows updates and my 5 year old grandson decided it would be fun to start pressing everything on the keyboard.
The result was that when I came to boot this morning it wouldn't go past initial boot and was going around in circles. Eventually after F12 it came up with "No Operating System found".



So finally the questions:

1. When offered the choice of installing windows, will this overwrite my current install and therefore all my settings?
2. I am now being showed the following screen (see attachment), which option do I take and will it destroy any data on my drive? I do have a backup on my USB backup hard disk but at the moment my computer is not seeing this drive.

I do have some limited knowledge of PS's so go gentle with me.

Thanks in advance.

Mike
:banghead:

 

[paulpicks21]

Hi Mike,

Have you gone into the bios and had a look around? Specifically the boot order?
Maybe he accidentally changed the boot order and it is just trying to boot from one of your other drives that does not contain the operating system?

Paul.

 

[Mikemw]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for reply.

Thankfully he didn't get in there, but just in case I did reset to default bios setup

I suppose my real question is if I re-install windows like it is asking me to do, will I lose all my settings? I seem to remember that happening in another instance.

Mike

 

[theog]

Which HDD or SSD did install Windows to?

 

[Mikemw]

Windows is installed on C:

 

[theog]

C: is a partition.

You have four HDD or SSD in your screenshot.

 

[Mikemw]

3 HHD 1 SSD and I USB ext HHD for backup
Windows is on 1st HHD

 

[theog]

Will the PC boot, if you unplug the USB ext HDD

 

[Mikemw]

USB is unplugged, the only option I am getting is to reinstall from DVD drive.
I have tried a windows repair from that option to no avail.

 

[Mikemw]

Screenshots of where I got to

 

[paulpicks21]

I still get a feeling its a boot order issue, did you add the SSD or any of the other drives yourself or did the PC come with them all installed?
I see it is an Alienware, you have mentioned that the OS is on the 1st HDD, I am surprised Alienware put an SSD in the PC but did not have it as the OS drive?

 

[theog]

You do not have a 698 HDD (screenshot 4 in post 10) in your screenshot in post one.

If you remove HDD 1,2, & 3 will Windows boot, leaving only HDD 0.

 

[Mikemw]

Thanks for all your help, I'm going to give it a rest for today and reply tomorrow.

 

[paulpicks21]

I don't blame you, but tomorrow as theog says, try it with just the 1 drive connected which you are sure the OS is on.

I think theog made a typo in his last post as he told you to remove 0,2 and 3 leaving only 0 connected, I think he meant 1.

 

[theog]

Yes, 1,2 & 3. edited post.