Losing OS

[lucianthegrim]

Ok, ive looked very place in the internet that i could think of with no luck.  My question is this.  Why is it that i keep losing my OS.  After every two, if im lucky, five days or more, i lose my OS and i have to re-install my OS.  Ive tried installing other OS, re partition, format, etc, but i keep loseing my OS.

[smeezekitty]

how do you know you are losing you OS?
does it say missing operating system?
if so
then you are not just losing your os but you are probubuly losing your harddrive

[lucianthegrim]

Every two or five days i turn on my pc, but it ends up going to the black screen with those little white words saying, "Missing Operating System"

If it is as you say than how can i fix it.  Ive opened my computer and made sure that the cables werent lose on the harddrive.  Could it be something on the bios. 

What ever it could be i would like to know how to fix this.

[smeezekitty]

your harddrive must be ready to fail
thats all i can say
unless bad ram is corrupting it
downloa memtest86
and let it run 3 passes (takes a long time)
if there are any errors you have bad ram
otherwise i would say hdd

[Broni]

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[lucianthegrim]

I did the memtest thing and i passed 12 times.

I did the test above me and i passed the test, my was seagate.

So is there any other problems that could be causeing this to happen.

maybe if this helps this is my computer and OS

Compaq Presario sR1920NX
Windows vista business

and my os cd lets me install vista without entering the serial code,  but i do have it.  Also the os was given to me for free cause i was in a program and networking class that gave me certain micosoft software for free and other things.

[zonatedace]

Sorry there is no doubt in my mind!!! Your HDD is damaged even though the hdd diagnostic came back neg.! get a replacement and all will be fine!!!

[patio]

The Topic title strangelt enough reminds me of an REM song...

[Broni]

...my religion?

What is "strangelt"?

[dahlarbear]

While I don't know why you're losing the operating system, perhaps you can repair "access" to it:  Repairing the Windows 7/Vista Bootloader.

[lucianthegrim]

ill try the above as well.