Boot Media from new computer. Not even getting os screen

[ZornaTheIdiotShadowlion]

so i basically built a new computer and i've been struggling for a few months now on how to pull this up; i've not been getting any good responses so i decided to try here. Basically, i turn the computer on and it immediately goes into this error message asking me for the proper media starting drive and won't let me get past it, even though i know the hard drive is detecting and supports the same type of drive. I even went so far as to boot it up with my laptop hard drive that i know works, low and behold same message.

I was told i needed to buy (or lets face it, get a copy) of a windows os and load it onto the drive itself, but as i stated, my laptop HD should be sufficient in this fashion as it had a windows 8 build to it. I'm all out of ideas and could really use some help, this was my first build and i'm seriously regretting it ^^;;

 

[USAFRet]

So you built a new PC.
Did you install a new OS?

And "(or lets face it, get a copy)" is not an acceptable alternative, on multiple levels.

 

[USAFRet]

The drive from your laptop with a Windows install, installed in a new desktop, almost certainly will not work.
And will not activate itself.

 

[ZornaTheIdiotShadowlion]

The drive from your laptop with a Windows install, installed in a new desktop, almost certainly will not work.
And will not activate itself.

i meant a lower grade copy since i am running 8, such as 7 which would be cheaper or vista for the better deal. No, i didn't install an os because the seller of said hard drive had stated there was already a windows version on it, though i begin to believe i was reading something else that might of been on a different page as its been awhile.

also, thanks for the heads up on the laptop hard drive

 

[USAFRet]

Then you apparently need to buy an OS and install it.

Currently, Win 8 is slightly cheaper than Win 7. And don't go all the way back to Vista.