Prepare to be annoyed... ancient Dell Latitude has OS error

[brokensynapse]

I have an ancient dell latitude running on windows 98.. or not running rather. I should probably trash it... but I love it.
When I try to start it I get "error loading operating system"
I can f2 and f12... but I don't know what to do when I get there.
Everything on this machine is external (cdrom, floppy) and I don't have the Windows 98 cd....

BTW... I am about the level of ***** when it comes to computers

But I am very good at following directions!

 

[mike1959]

Messages such as 'Error loading O/S' or 'O/S not found' usually mean the hard drive has failed (terminal). When you power on the pc, watch the LED which normally shows hard drive is active. Does it light up? Or flash on/off? If no LED at all then it means the hard drive has failed.