Missing Operating System

[jpwatson]

Hi guys.  I have a Dell Dimension XPS/630i (less than a year old).  I'd give you more info, but I can't get it to boot up.  When I turn the computer on, it goes through the typical Windows loading screen then goes to a page that gives me a message that reads: Floppy Disk(s) fail (40).  I can then press F1 to continue or F2 to enter SETUP.  If I continue, I get another message that says "Missing operating system".  F2 takes me to Phoenix - AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility.  I cannot get into Windows at all and all of my stuff is in there.  My wife's business files are there too.  Does anyone know what I need to do now?  I need help.

[Broni]

less than a year old

Slave hard drive in another computer, recover data (if possible), call Dell.

[jpwatson]

How do I do that?  I'm a bit of a newbie.

[Broni]

How to Slave a Hard Drive: http://www.dtidata.com/resourcecenter/2007/04/23/how-to-slave-hard-drive/
or...
Using hard drive enclosure: http://lifehacker.com/253847/alpha-geek-turn-an-old-hard-drive-into-an-external-drive

[jpwatson]

Ok ... I just managed to get into Startup repair.  If I try to run this, will it affect any of our data?

[Broni]

I'm not sure, what you're doing...
Is it Vista?

[jpwatson]

Yes, it's Vista.

[Broni]

You should update your info, because it says XP.

No, startup repair won't affect your data.

[Allan]

1) Make sure there is no disc in the floppy drive. Assuming there was no disc in the drive, then
2) Go into bios and disable the floppy and reboot. What happens?