Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE

I have a pentium 3 with windows 98SE installed.
When I start my computer it comes in DOS and says that it does not find the hard drive then the letter C:\ comes on and waits for me to type in. So since I do not know what I am doing ( quite new at this), I try all kinds of stuff like I type; C:\ windows\setup. I got excited cuz there was a bunch of stuff coming through then again I revert to same problem, it comes on with very first message that it does not detect the hard drive and A:\ comes on, I soon change it to C:\ and the end result is that I cannot access windows to start and now I am on a different computer and the other is just waiting for an answer. I really hope I do not have to format the whole thing cuz I have a lot of important stuff on it.
Please Please, I know this must be simple and I am overlooking something but can someone out there help me please?
Thanks,
Matt
Best regards,

1. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
DJ Net2Infinity Jul-06-02 06:52 PM
In response to message 0

What is the exact error message you are getting?
Try typing C:\> fdisk/mbr , and then reboot.

2. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
lbyard Jul-07-02 02:03 PM
In response to message 1

fdisk C: /mbr can destroy data. Backup the any valuable data on the drive first (http://duxcw.com/digest/guides/hd/rules.htm) and run scandisk for the DOS prompt. Larry

3. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
Matt38 Jul-07-02 02:10 PM
In response to message 1

Thanks for quick answer.
Still stumped.
the exact error i get as I start the computer is :
- Hard disk Diagnosis fail
then
-Disc Boot Failure, Insert system disk and press enter
then
- does not contain valid FAT or FAT32 partition
please please help!!!
I hope its nothing serious

4. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
lbyard Jul-07-02 02:16 PM
In response to message 3

Let's start over... Make sure there is nothing in the floppy drive or CD-ROM drive. Turn off the computer. Turn on the computer. Wait. Do nothing. What happens? Do nothing, but answer this message with the other computer. Larry

5. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
Matt38 Jul-07-02 04:18 PM
In response to message 4

I went to turn on the power to try what was suggested and I heard a loud "BOOM". The electrical circuit in there busted but what's with the hard drive? I hope that too is not gone. This was all so unexpected and I never did backup on anything.
Total shame or what?
Would it be worth it to fix it?
Please any suggestions would be comforting.
thanks,

6. RE: Hard disk undetected at startup in windows 98SE
lbyard Jul-07-02 04:31 PM
In response to message 5

The "boom" could have been the drive... There isn't much more I can do from here. I think before you turn that thing on you need to find a tech to look at locally. Sorry, but if that data is valuable there may be chance that it can be recovered and you need someone there to check it out. Larry