No disk, no partition

Okay guys, I had a bit of a problem with my PC earlier. Not sure what happened, it just crashed in the middle of me playing a game and when I restarted it's now telling me I have no operating system or hard disk.

Luckily I have a USB I can use to boot Ubuntu. However, even that is giving me problems. I try to install, but it gives me the "No root file system is defined" error message. But there's no option to create or select a partition, the table is just empty. When I click the 'change' button it just crashes out and takes me to the Live Ubuntu (the trial version, basically, where you can't keep any files because they will all be gone when you restart.)

Is there anything I can do? I really can't afford a new computer.

 

Have you tried getting a fresh windows install on a USB/Disk and booting from it? You can select partitions there as well as wipe it clean.

 

I considered that but I'm having a tough time getting anything onto my USB via the Live Ubuntu interface as I'm a total Linux newb.

 

I'd honestly just try and borrow a friends PC, download the software, load it onto the USB via Microsoft's USB Installer Tool and go from there.

 

Do you think that'll work with no hard disk?

 

What do you mean? You don't have an HDD? How were you running windows in the first place

 

What happens if you turn on your computer and mash F8? It should bring you to safe mode.. etc, hopefully these options are still available. Or find the button that brings you to BIOS (differs for every manufacturer) and go over to boot order and see if that is recognizing that it is trying to boot from the hard drive.

What operating system are you on? Was it a genuine copy of Windows (if Windows)? It sounds like your hard drive is corrupt though.

 

There are a few HDDs and SSDs that are cheap, you could pick one up for under $100, don't replace the whole build.

 

Go for a cheap Kingston ssd 240gb, shouldnt cost you more then $60

 

You should just buy a new PC.

 

Check your BIOS, see if any settings in there change and/or reset.

In all likelihood, your harddrive may have died.

 

I would recommend checking task manager to see if any issues reside within your programs. Or reboot your computer, becuase without the parition there cannot be a disk and vice versa.

 

Definitely your hard drive. Buy another one then install your OS.

 

Your MBR(master boot record) might be corrupt. Idk what OS you were using but try to look here: http://ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm