Windows 7 No Operating System Found message - SONY Vaio laptop - Windows 7

[motretsbew]

Hello,
I have a SONY Vaio laptop with Windows 7 OS. Last night while watching a [streaming] movie, something happened and the movie vanished and then I powered down the laptop. When I power-up, after a while I only get the message "No operating system found." Is there a virus which does this specifically or is made to appear as a hardware failure? How do I do a BIOS boot/check, which key to press repeatedly?

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like your Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 7 is displaying an error message "No operating system found" after an incident while watching a streaming movie. This issue could be caused by various factors, including but not limited to a corrupted operating system, a hardware failure, or a virus infection. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue and perform a BIOS boot check on your Sony Vaio laptop:

Possible Causes:​

1. Corrupted Operating System: The sudden shutdown while watching the movie may have resulted in a corrupted boot sector or drive, leading to the "No operating system found" error.
2. Hardware Failure: There could be a hardware issue, such as a failing hard drive, that is causing the error message.
3. Virus Infection: While less common, a virus could have potentially damaged critical system files, resulting in the error message.

   Steps to Perform a BIOS Boot/Check:​

4. Accessing the BIOS: To perform a BIOS boot check on your Sony Vaio laptop, you need to access the BIOS setup utility. The key to press varies depending on the manufacturer. For most Sony Vaio laptops, you typically need to press the F2 key repeatedly when you power on the laptop.
5. BIOS Settings: Once you're in the BIOS, navigate to the boot options or boot sequence settings. Ensure that your hard drive is recognized and set as the primary boot device.
6. Performing a Boot Check: Restart the laptop and pay attention to any messages that appear. If the error persists, it could indicate a more serious issue with either the hard drive or the operating system.

   Further Steps:​

   • If you suspect a hardware issue, you may need to consider replacing the hard drive.
   • For software-related issues, you might need to consider reinstalling the operating system or using recovery options to restore the system.

Isolating the Issue:​

You can also try booting from a Windows installation or recovery media to see if you can access the system files. This can help determine if the issue is related to the operating system. It's advisable to back up any important data before attempting any major troubleshooting steps. If you're not comfortable with these procedures, seeking assistance from a professional computer technician may be the best course of action. Feel free to try accessing the BIOS using the F2 key and let me know if you encounter any specific messages or issues during the process!