A couple of things to try might be:

1) sys c:    from a bootable floppy containing the customer's operating
system's system files... the system files might be needing repair

2) check the CMOS battery.   the fact that it doesn't keep the drive's
whereabouts and size makes that suspect.

3) if you're brave, try fdisk /mbr at the C: prompt

4)  by all means, scan for a boot sector virus!

hope this helps,
--gary r. tennesen
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Cook <[log in to unmask]>
>     A customer brought me a Packard Bell Legend 130CD, Pentium 100Mhz.
>computer that just started displaying the following message during boot up:
>>"Insert bootable media in the appropriate drive"
>
>The customer advised it just recently started doing this.  You can hit the
>reset button or Ctrl-Alt-Delete when the message displays and the computer
>boots normaly.  This happens only during a cold boot.  The bios boot
>sequence is set to boot the floppy first and then hard drive.

.