Operating System Not Found for a T42 XP Pro... PLEASE HELP

[djslime]

I have an IBM Thinkpad T42 that is supposed to run Windows XP. A few months ago, it crashed after I dropped it. Now I have a MAC and need my Windows machine to watch tutorials on new software as I do what it says to do on my MAC. What is happening is this:
1: I start it up and the IBM logo shows up
2: It then says:
Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.17
Copyright (C) 1997-2003, Intel Corporation

Intel(R) Boot Agent PXE Base Code (BA1217BC)
Copyright (C) 1997-2003, Intel Corporation

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M01: Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
Operating System not found
{blinking} _


Please help this will help me make music faster and more efficiently.

Thank You,
DJSlime

[dr_st]

The hard drive is not detected.

Possibilities:

* BIOS settings somehow reset (not likely, but check and see whether you can see the drive in the BIOS)
* Drive came loose from the drop - release the hard drive screw on the bottom of the machine and reseat the drive
* Drive got damaged from the drop - not pleasant but still a simple and not too expensive part to replace
* Hard drive controller or hard drive pins on motherboard got damaged - this is the most unpleasant possibility, hopefully not the case

[djslime]

I tried to find the OS in the BIOS screen and could not find it. I also tried to reseat the hard drive and this still did not work.

[djslime]

I am now hearing a weird clicking sound coming from the computer.

[RealBlackStuff]

That's a dead hard drive.

[djslime]

That's a dead hard drive.

How would I be able to fix this problem cheap and easy?

[RealBlackStuff]

By buying a new drive and reinstalling the OS.
Not cheap (PATA HDs are getting scarce) and relatively easy, but very time consuming for Windows updates, unless you install a recent Linux flavor.