[Wardy118]

Hi guys,

Right, basically my mums work were installing new computers on friday and thus were throwing all the old ones away. My mum managed to pick up two NEC PowerMate computers. However one of the processors was rattling like mad and after opening it up the Hard Drive is loose and quite alot of wires appear to be missing. The other computer appears to be in much better shape but i can't seem to find the hard drive in the system. It wouldn't boot when i tried it this morning, would the hard drive not being there effect this? I could move the hard drive from the broken computer to the better condition one but i don't have a clue where it goes.

I have tried to look on the NEC website but its pretty useless. Any help much appreciated.

:D

[mcbee]

Is there a possibility that the hard drives were removed to protect data?

[Dave Hybrid]

Processors don't normally "Rattle around"

Are you sure you are calling the parts by their correct names?

Also, yes, a missing hard drive will cause the PC not to boot into windows.

Dave.

[alex]

Firstly, i'm really not patronising you with any of my post, but it does appear that you know very little with regards to pcs.

Its no bad thing we all have to start somewhere :D and you've taken the best first step, firstly, by checking the builder's website, and secondly, by asking on a forum.

I'd suggest (as a previous post) that the hdd's (hard disk drives) have infact been removed for data protection and maybe re-use.

If the Hdd isn't present then you can't do anything with the pc at all. As 'booting' involves the hdd. As all the software applications, and the operating system (windows, linux etc) are present on the hdd.

We're going to need a bit more information i'm afraid, because the 'powermate' line of pc's have been around for some time, so i'm unsure if you're going to need an ide, eide, sata or sata2 hdd.

Would it be possible to obtain the model number of the pc?