Topic awaiting preservation: My computer cannot see my harddrive and always shows "Strike F1 to try reboot, F2 for setup utility"

My window XP once in a while came out "Strike F1 to try reboot, F2 for setup utility" after being turned on. Previously, I just hit F2 and went to the setup page and did "Alt-F,ALt-E,Alt-B" while leaving the three lights of Num-Lock, Cap-lock, and Scroll-lock on. Then after I rebooted the machine, it would be fine. Now this does not work any more. Anyone can help me?
The boot sequence just showed discette drive, no any other hard drive.
Thanks.

Jane

Hmmmm...

Any bumps to the case?

PC been serviced or moved lately?

Is the IDE cable loose?

Does the HDD work in another machine?

Could be the drive just failed... best test is to connect it to another PC and see if it still works.

Or a cable could just be loose...

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Is This Thing On?

Webbing; the stuff that sticks on your face when you stroll through Spider Forest

Thanks, UnknownComic. I opened the case. Unplugged the IDE and power cables and replugged them back in. Now it works. It's bizarre. Since the two cable lines were not loose at all.