The only bootable media you have is IDE-0, and for some reason it is not visible to your computer anymore. Either the connection is loose (you probably already looked), the BIOS was changed (does anyone else have access to your computer or your battery is dying?) or something happened to the startup files on the hard drive. First, I would find a boot floppy or CD and verify the hard drive is still there (you might have to enter the BIOS to change the boot order). You can replace the system files responsible for booting by typing C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SYS C: (or use the SYS.COM from your floppy or CD if it is there). If this doesn't work, error messages or it takes a very long time, the drive may be going south, you might want to try SCANDISK to repair the drive. Let us know how you are proceeding. Howard Rubin The Computer Doctor Fortaleza, Brazil RE: Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2003 09:20:52 -0600 From: Neil Zimmerman <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Searching For Boot Record IDE-0 When my computer is booting up it goes fast until it gets through the preliminary run it has across the botttom of the screen: Searching for boot record IDE-0 followed by a short pause and then the screen goes blank for what seems like forever. I'm using Windows 98SE, in a AMD Duron 800 mhz cpu with 512 ram. HD is 4 gig. Thanks in advance Neil "Hold No Punches.." Rode brings you great shareware/freeware programs with his honest opinions in this weekly column. http://freepctech.com/rode