Windows xp disappeared

[niknax71]

My mums computer has stopped responding to everything. Her grandchildren were the last ones on it before the problem and naturally they say they did nothing wrong. She has a hp pavilion t741.uk desktop and a hp monitor f1723.Prob is the OS will not run at all,not even startup screen,no hardware is responding, the monitor is in permanent hibenation so screen is blank.As hp did not give restore discs she cannot even restore(she didnt know she had to make discs herself) I have checked her connections and they seem pretty secure.The only thing that is on is the power light,the fan hums a bit but there is no movement or sound inside the pc.Its like the OS has disappeared.Can't even get start screen to access anything. How can i repair any damage when have no access or discs to it.Can anyone help cause all help found online refer to at least having access to start screen,which i don't have.Thanks

[commoner]

....Sorry to hear you are having problems....don't think it would appear dead like that if it was just the OS missing there would be something happening even in that case..............

...Don't fear the worst..........could be something simple ......try this link and check out these simple suggestions first...........if you are totally stumped call in somone, either a pro if you can afford it, many will come and give a free estimate, or the local PC Wiz Kid if you know one. Good Luck ....commoner.

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/troubles/intro/index.xml.ID=Ste p1

[BillyNoMates]

On the HP Pavillions, even if you don't have a set of restore disks, you should be able to restore Windows.

It is usually hidden in the D: partition - hit F10 on bootup and follow the instructions which should come up on the screen.

[Space]

I suspect something in the hardware has been unplugged or broken...
memory, motherboard, processor, etc.
The OS is probably still there, on the hard drive...
The kids must know what they have done anyway.

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds suspiciously like a failed power supply to me. Sometimes when these go they give an LED or so and occasionally the fam but nothing else.

If you don't even get the bios details coming up it's going to be a hardware problem.

God news is that power supplies aren't expensive and you shouldn't have lost any data. Find yourself a local independant PC support bod out of the back of the local paper and give them a call.

PS think though about what she'd have lost if it'd been a hard disk! is it backed up as often as it should be?