"Missing Operating System" or "Operating System Not Found" errors...

I have an old HP Pavilion 8260 that I got for free which is having some odd issues. Any time I try to boot, I get one of these 2 errors (first it was always Operating System Not Found, now it's Missing Operating System).

Here are the steps I've tried so far: I tried to boot from a floppy with a disk I know works; tried to boot off of the CD Rom; Tried disconencting everything except Floppy, CPU, and RAM; Tried resetting the BIOS by selecting "Set to Default" and by pulling out the CMOS battery (it was after doing this that it switched to the Missing OS error message).

The hard drive is dectected in the BIOS, as is the CD Rom and floppy drive. It properly recognizes the amount of RAM.

I am fresh out of ideas, even though I'm generally pretty good at this. If anyone else has any advice, it's greatly appreciated.

 

Now you say you got this system from someone recently.
Do you know if the person left an OS on the HD?
Did he have any problems with the system before he gave it to you?

From what you've told us so far it looks like the HD may be newly formatted and the floppy drive may be faulty.

Could also be a bad IDE or floppy cable.

I'd try replacing the floppy drive and maybe the cables.
Then try booting from floppy again.

 

SOunds like you got a PC with no OS on it.

 

Thanks, I'll try replacing the floppy drive and cable.

 

I do not know if the hard drive had an OS on it, or if it was defective - but it should boot off of the floppy at least; then I can determine the rest.

 

Thanks guys. Replaced floppy drive and cable, and it now boots.