djhess2

Hi,

I have a Dell computer and I just got it from my dad so I started from scratch by wiping out the harddrive after typing in format C:

Now, I am having problem with the setup as it won't recognize the window from my cd in the cd rom drive. It keep saying "Invalid Disk". I took it in to the computer repair shop and was told that the cmputer is no good and not repairable. If I were to start from scratch, what is correct way to clean everything on the hard drive? Just to make sure...is my computer still fizable or not? Can I get a new hard drive installed or not?

Thanks,

John II

Tumbleweed36

Hi,

Please clarify. Do you have a regular copy of the XP Operating System CD, or are you dealing with Restore Disks? Also, while at it, what Operating System was on the computer before you got it?

djhess2

The hard drive was in window 98 operating system. After I wiped out the drive by formating it, I tried to reinstall it to window 98. I was getting this error message, "invalid disk" when trying to start up the computer. I went into steup and have assign the first drive which is the cd-rom drive so it can read and install window 98. It would'nt do that and still getting the same error message. I tried to use window 95 and still get the same error message.
Is is true that my computer to no good at this point?

hwm54112

98 requires a floppy to load the cd rom drivers and start the install process, then it hands off to the cd rom and this article install win98tells you how. I've only done an upgrade in recent years, so there may be a way without a floppy that tumbleweed knows. Are these upgrade disks you have?

Tumbleweed36

Hi,

I also think the key here is either upgrade disks or normal OS disks just as hwm54112 suggested.

If you go to the link he gave you and scroll down to the Fdisk options and download a boot disk from HERE, then you should be ready to Fdisk and format.

When you get the boot disk, select either the Win98se version or WinMe version, because it has a couple of things that win98 and win95 do not have.


Put the thing as said in the link that it was given to you and away you should go. Be sure after you Fdisk it that you create a partition, and activate a partition....and, you must shut down and restart before formatting. If you have difficulty understanding their instructions, will go through them with you.

Post back with questions concerns.


Boot order should be set to:'

CDRom - 1st (note: You can switch the cd and floppy order)
Floppy - 2nd
Hard Drive - 3rd

Volt-Schwibe

the very first round of windows 98se cd's were non bootable, from what i've seen. it came in a cardboard box, with a cd in a paper sleeve, and a floppy.

as far as booting without a floppy, it's similar to slipstreaming a service pack into an XP cd, using a boot floppy to make an image of the boot system, and then using the 98se cd to add in the install files to make a new cd that boots with "el-torrito floppy emulation" and then contains the win 98 cd's contents like normal on the cd track.

because of the rules we have here at the forum, i don't think i can explain more about it, since it would in fact help someone pirate win98.

other than that, i don't know of a way to boot without a floppy on those generation 1 win98 cd's.

linderman

I dont see any reason why the computer would not be able to be reloaded and used still.

I think what the repair shop should have told you is; two hours of service time may cost more than the value of the machine ?

give it a whirl >> you have nothing to lose and the experience will benefit you for future endeavors.

if you get "stuck" just give us a holler

crazijoe

This tells me it is trying to boot from the HDD first. But because the fact you formatted is their is nothing there to boot from.

Therefore the computer's boot order needs to be changed to the order Tumbleweed36 has suggested.

Bad time to reload Win98 since MS does not support it any more and updates will not be avalible.