windows xp will not boot

When I try and start windows xp it will not boot up. Put the windows xp disk in to use the repair tool. A message comes up to say "hard drive not detected" windows xp cannot repair. What can I do?

 

lornel:
Check your ROMBIOS to make sure that your hard drive is your second boot device (the optical drive is usually the first one). To get to your ROMBIOS, on most computers, when you turn it on start pressing ESC or F1. Be careful what you change in this area. This controls and detects your essentials. If you change the wrong thing, you could mess things up bad. Be sure and look at your Boot Order section and make sure it is correct.
mickey918

 

It sounds like you have a hardware problem. It could be a loose connection at one of the plugs for the HD data or power cable at either end.

It could also be several other things, such as a bad HD cable, a bad CMOS battery, a failed hard drive, a failed mother board or even a failed power supply.

Check the cable connections and battery first. Also check that the BIOS is set to Automatically detect the drive on the proper channel. All the other tests will be impossible without the proper substitute hardware or test equipment. If the drive isn't being detected by the BIOS, you'll not be able to test it.