missing operating system

[herobob]

i was downloading a 3rd party software out of the blue my pc would not respond and to shorten the stroy i restarted my pc to fix the issue now when i turned on my pc after seeing HP invent logo i get greeted with a black background and 3 words saying missing operating system. i tried multiple websites and every one either says use repair disc/flashdrive i have a flash drive but that didn't work and now i'm kinda at a lose. my hewlett packard setup utility opitions are FILE. system information, about, set time and date, replicated setup, default setup, apply defaults and exit, ignore changes and exit, save changes and exit, STORAGE. device configuration, storage options, dps self-test, boot order, SECURITY. setup password, power-on password, device security, network service boot, system ids, drivelock security, system security, setup security level, POWER. os power management, hardware power management, thermal, ADVANCED. power-on options, execute memory test, bios power-on, onboard devices, bus options, device options, i cannot access bios without seeing missing operating system any one have a clue on how to fix this?

[WAWood]

@herobob

These problems are generally due to one of two basic problems:
1) Failed hard drive
2) Corrupted/missing boot loader files
 
As to the first, try pressing the Esc key repeatedly while booting your PC and when the HP utilities menu comes up, choose drive diagnostics. You should see a menu looking something like the one below:


 
Press F2 to run diagnostics, including testing your hard drive.

If those confirms your drive has failed, then you need to replace it.  Please report back if that is the case.
 
As to the second, you will need access to a working PC for this step in order to create the media needed to repair your PC boot loader.
 
You will need to create something known as a Win7 Repair CD.  This will repair the boot loader files, and if that is the problem, your PC will boot OK after that.  This can be obtained (for a fee) from this link:  http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/
 
When you download this file, it will be an ISO file.
 
To make a bootable CD from it, you will need to download and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
 
Once you have that installed, run it, select the option "Write image file to disc" and select the ISO file you downloaded, and point it to a blank CD.
 
To make a bootable USB stick from it, you will need to download and install RUFUS: https://rufus.akeo.ie/
 
Once you have that, run it, in the Device entry, use the pulldown to select the USB stick.  Down near the bottom right, where is says "Create a bootable disk using", select the ISO file you downloaded.
-------------------------------------
 
Boot from the media you created, and follow the directions in this link: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html
 
You will probably have to run Startup Repair three times for it to fix all the boot loader problems.
 
When done, your PC should boot OK. If it does not, there is a more serious problem.