486 computer

bombaykid · 03-07-2005, 04:34 PM

I have a old 486 dx2 computer with 24 mb RAM

CPU 80486 DX2 at 66 mghz speed(dual speed 16Mhz and 66Mhz.)

Mitsumi CD rom controller with double speed Drive

Creative labs sound blaster , I have two H/D and two floppy drives.

I was running window 95 and was working ok. one day I decided to format the c: drive and wanted to load window 98

Now I can not load window 98

I went to bootdisk.com and created boot floppy for computer.
It started the computer but does not recognize CD rom, my window operatiing system is on cd.

CD is plug in to sound card and there is no place to plug cd on mother board.

How do I load my operating systems.

**kodi** · 03-07-2005, 06:14 PM

Remove the hardrive that is on the cente connection and hook up the Cd there.Jumper it as slave and use a 98se or ME floppy (it has later versions of drivers) then reinstall hardrive and cd

bombaykid · 03-07-2005, 11:12 PM

Mr. Kodi:

Removed the h/D from center connector and hooked up CD Rom, got window SE boot floppy and try to boot the computer, No image on monitor, it is completely blank.

Changed the h/D to center and CD to the end and started again, desplay work and computer booted, but still it can not see CD Rom, It sees c:Drive, D:drive which is ramdrive but the CD drive which is suppose to be E: does not exist.

I copied the window 98 operating systems from CD to D: drive useing my other computer and then put it back as a D: drive in 486 machine, booted the computer and went to D: drive
D:\CD win98 enter
setup.exe enter

I thought this will install the win 98 instead I got the massege " sector not found reading drive "

I donot know what that means, can you explain( may be FAT problem)

Can you help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**kodi** · 03-08-2005, 01:09 AM

If you have only two drives connected as I think you have by your reply then the Hardrive should be C and the CD should be D. Put the floppy in and reboot choosing without CD support then fdisk and format then reboot and then install the operating system to the "C" drive. If you have problems do not hesitate to ask as there is always someone on line who will help you

**johnwill** · 03-08-2005, 02:21 PM

Your technique sounds right as far as copying the WIN98 folder and running setup. The "sector not found" appears to be a hardware error, so I suspect you will have to address that. Before continuing, I'd download the disk manufacturer's diagnostic and do a complete surface scan on the drive(s) you're using. Let's get bad hardware out of the way first.

bombaykid · 03-08-2005, 03:40 PM

Here is a result of my scan:
Dear Johnwill:

here is a result of Scan of my hard drive

master Drive

1,053,556,7636 bytes total space
1,589,248 bytes in bad sectors
6,029,312 bytes in 368 folders
327,680 bytes in 5 hidden follers
699,056,128 bytes in 3535 use files
3446,554,368 bytes available on disk
16,384 bytes in each allocation unit
64, 304 total allocation unites on disk
21,152 available allocation units

I use this drive as a C: drive on 486 computer because this has more storage, close to one gigabytes

t_shadow · 03-11-2005, 04:42 PM

I saw this post a few days ago and had to register before I could respond.
I have rebuilt a bunch of these older systems.

Several things to address.

Some of those old sound card/cdrom combos had cdroms that were proprietary.
They used nonstandard IDE or is some cases nonstandard SCSI.
The point is, that was one reason that they plugged into the sound card and not the second IDE port. They would only work through the sound card.
Plugging it into standard IDE could actually damage your system.

While you mention general information about your system, you don’t say if the system it’s self is generic or some HP/COMPAC/Special something.
This could make a difference.

What was the exact model number of the sound card and the exact model number of the CDROM?

Some of the special systems only came with only a single IDE port on the mother board. Some also didn’t use Master/Slave jumpers, they used the Cable Select setting for the hard drives. Cable select requires a special cable. (It looks pretty much the same as IDE, it uses the same connectors, but one wire in the ribbon cable will have a gap in it.)
Some mother boards didn’t have an IDE port at all, they used a separate IDE controller card.

The easiest fix for your problem, if you have 2 IDE ports on the MBd or IDE card, is to just buy a new or used IDE Cdrom. (Each IDE port, with the proper cable, should allow you to use 2 devices on each cable.) A new CDRom can be found on sale for $20-$30 dollars. A used 4x-12x CDRom shouldn’t run more than $5-$10 dollars with a cable. (Check at Mom & Pop computer repair shops for the used CDRom.)

Then your boot disk that you got from Bootdisk.com should work. It uses generic drivers that work on most all those older CDRoms.
Remember to check the system requirements on any new CDROM that you find. Some will not run on a 486.

The harder way is to find the original drivers.
Signup (Free) at driversguide.com, you might have some luck there.
Look for the sound card driver that includes the CDRom driver.
Possibly, but not likely, a disk with older drivers called the CDGod disk might help. (Google it) The fact that it was routed through the sound card doesn’t give much hope with the CD God disk.

I know that I have rambled on and I am about to stop.
I hope that some of this helps.

I am sure that I left out or misspelled something, if a question comes up let me know.
If you get the CDRom up I can tell you a few more things that will make a big difference in how the fast system will run.

bombaykid · 03-11-2005, 07:25 PM

Computer is generic 486dx2 with 24 MB ram

CPU 80486 DX2 at 66 mghz speed(dual speed 16Mhz and 66Mhz.)

CD-Rom worked before I formatted the C drive

LED on CD-Rom light up when booing the PC

Computer came with CD-Rom attached to sound card creative lab sound blaster with 40 pins connector ribbon cable.

Even H/D is connected to mozart card with 40 pin ribbon connector.

There is no IDE connector socket on motherboard. at least I was not able to locate

There are only two IDE sockes , one on Sound card creative lab where CD-rom is plug in and other one on Mozart card where H/D is plug in

I have 3 plugs ribbon cable one plug is connected to Mozart, one to slave H/D 50 MB, and one to master H/D 1.0GB

2-plug ribbon connector, one to creative lab card and other to CD-Rom drive, connects Cd-Rom

I have tried replacing CD-Rom with new CD-Rom but still it does not work

I have removed the slave H/D and plug in CD-Rom , the computer does not start, I tried changing the jumper to make CD-Rom as slave but still did not work.

I have taken the master H/D and plug in to my other Pentium computer as a slave and copied the operating system CD Window 98 and then plug back in to 486 computer as a master and try to install as follows:

C:/ cd win 98 enter
setup.exe enter

I get error massages "sector not found reading drive
abort,

**kodi** · 03-11-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bombaykid

C:/ cd win 98 enter
setup.exe enter

I get error massages "sector not found reading drive
abort,

Try D:/ enter That should change the prompt to D:/ Then type setup then hit enter , it should look like this D:/ setup

CTSNKY · 03-12-2005, 04:31 AM

Just a quick observation....

All of the slashes y'all are throwing back and forth are backwards.

The command you want is d:\ <Enter> to change to D drive.

bombaykid · 03-12-2005, 11:39 AM

Mr. Kodi:

I have copied the operating system CD on the master h/D that is why I am using command C:\ cd win98 enter and then setup enter.

Drive d: is a ram drive and it does not have win 98 installation program.

When use D:\ setup.exe I get massege "file not found"

C: is the master h/d and D: is a slave H/D
C: is 1GB and has win operating systems copy from win Instalation CD
D: is only 55 MB h/d

**kodi** · 03-12-2005, 02:08 PM

Trying to install from the operating system installed on the C drive obviosly is not working so why not install it from the CD to the C crive just use the letter of your CDrom.

Thanks John must have had a Blonde Moment.

bombaykid · 03-12-2005, 02:26 PM

Mr. Kodi:

I love to install win98 using CD-Rom, but my biggest proble is " computer does not detect CD-ROM.

CD-rom is connected to creative sound card with 40 pin ribbon cable, and it was working ok before I formated C: Drive.

Can you suggest some way I can get computer to detect CD-rom?

I have tried replacing my slave H/D wwith CD-Rom but that did not work.

H/D is also connected to Mozart card with 40 pin ribbon connector.

I do not have any IDE port on my mother board.

Any suggestions.

03-07-2005, 04:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	486 computer I have a old 486 dx2 computer with 24 mb RAM CPU 80486 DX2 at 66 mghz speed(dual speed 16Mhz and 66Mhz.) Mitsumi CD rom controller with double speed Drive Creative labs sound blaster , I have two H/D and two floppy drives. I was running window 95 and was working ok. one day I decided to format the c: drive and wanted to load window 98 Now I can not load window 98 I went to bootdisk.com and created boot floppy for computer. It started the computer but does not recognize CD rom, my window operatiing system is on cd. CD is plug in to sound card and there is no place to plug cd on mother board. How do I load my operating systems.

03-07-2005, 06:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,396 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Remove the hardrive that is on the cente connection and hook up the Cd there.Jumper it as slave and use a 98se or ME floppy (it has later versions of drivers) then reinstall hardrive and cd __________________ Brian

03-08-2005, 01:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,396 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	If you have only two drives connected as I think you have by your reply then the Hardrive should be C and the CD should be D. Put the floppy in and reboot choosing without CD support then fdisk and format then reboot and then install the operating system to the "C" drive. If you have problems do not hesitate to ask as there is always someone on line who will help you __________________ Brian Last edited by kodi; 03-08-2005 at 01:10 AM.

03-08-2005, 02:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,607 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Your technique sounds right as far as copying the WIN98 folder and running setup. The "sector not found" appears to be a hardware error, so I suspect you will have to address that. Before continuing, I'd download the disk manufacturer's diagnostic and do a complete surface scan on the drive(s) you're using. Let's get bad hardware out of the way first. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

03-12-2005, 04:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
CTSNKY Knower of all that is MS Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 10,755 OS: (multiple machines) 95, 98, 2K & XP Home & Pro	Just a quick observation.... All of the slashes y'all are throwing back and forth are backwards. The command you want is d:\ <Enter> to change to D drive. __________________ GO BIG BLUE!!

03-07-2005, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	Mr. Kodi: Removed the h/D from center connector and hooked up CD Rom, got window SE boot floppy and try to boot the computer, No image on monitor, it is completely blank. Changed the h/D to center and CD to the end and started again, desplay work and computer booted, but still it can not see CD Rom, It sees c:Drive, D:drive which is ramdrive but the CD drive which is suppose to be E: does not exist. I copied the window 98 operating systems from CD to D: drive useing my other computer and then put it back as a D: drive in 486 machine, booted the computer and went to D: drive D:\CD win98 enter setup.exe enter I thought this will install the win 98 instead I got the massege " sector not found reading drive " I donot know what that means, can you explain( may be FAT problem) Can you help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

03-08-2005, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	Here is a result of my scan: Dear Johnwill: here is a result of Scan of my hard drive master Drive 1,053,556,7636 bytes total space 1,589,248 bytes in bad sectors 6,029,312 bytes in 368 folders 327,680 bytes in 5 hidden follers 699,056,128 bytes in 3535 use files 3446,554,368 bytes available on disk 16,384 bytes in each allocation unit 64, 304 total allocation unites on disk 21,152 available allocation units I use this drive as a C: drive on 486 computer because this has more storage, close to one gigabytes

03-11-2005, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
t_shadow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1 OS: Win98se/Win2k/XP	I saw this post a few days ago and had to register before I could respond. I have rebuilt a bunch of these older systems. Several things to address. Some of those old sound card/cdrom combos had cdroms that were proprietary. They used nonstandard IDE or is some cases nonstandard SCSI. The point is, that was one reason that they plugged into the sound card and not the second IDE port. They would only work through the sound card. Plugging it into standard IDE could actually damage your system. While you mention general information about your system, you don’t say if the system it’s self is generic or some HP/COMPAC/Special something. This could make a difference. What was the exact model number of the sound card and the exact model number of the CDROM? Some of the special systems only came with only a single IDE port on the mother board. Some also didn’t use Master/Slave jumpers, they used the Cable Select setting for the hard drives. Cable select requires a special cable. (It looks pretty much the same as IDE, it uses the same connectors, but one wire in the ribbon cable will have a gap in it.) Some mother boards didn’t have an IDE port at all, they used a separate IDE controller card. The easiest fix for your problem, if you have 2 IDE ports on the MBd or IDE card, is to just buy a new or used IDE Cdrom. (Each IDE port, with the proper cable, should allow you to use 2 devices on each cable.) A new CDRom can be found on sale for $20-$30 dollars. A used 4x-12x CDRom shouldn’t run more than $5-$10 dollars with a cable. (Check at Mom & Pop computer repair shops for the used CDRom.) Then your boot disk that you got from Bootdisk.com should work. It uses generic drivers that work on most all those older CDRoms. Remember to check the system requirements on any new CDROM that you find. Some will not run on a 486. The harder way is to find the original drivers. Signup (Free) at driversguide.com, you might have some luck there. Look for the sound card driver that includes the CDRom driver. Possibly, but not likely, a disk with older drivers called the CDGod disk might help. (Google it) The fact that it was routed through the sound card doesn’t give much hope with the CD God disk. I know that I have rambled on and I am about to stop. I hope that some of this helps. I am sure that I left out or misspelled something, if a question comes up let me know. If you get the CDRom up I can tell you a few more things that will make a big difference in how the fast system will run.

03-11-2005, 07:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	Computer is generic 486dx2 with 24 MB ram CPU 80486 DX2 at 66 mghz speed(dual speed 16Mhz and 66Mhz.) CD-Rom worked before I formatted the C drive LED on CD-Rom light up when booing the PC Computer came with CD-Rom attached to sound card creative lab sound blaster with 40 pins connector ribbon cable. Even H/D is connected to mozart card with 40 pin ribbon connector. There is no IDE connector socket on motherboard. at least I was not able to locate There are only two IDE sockes , one on Sound card creative lab where CD-rom is plug in and other one on Mozart card where H/D is plug in I have 3 plugs ribbon cable one plug is connected to Mozart, one to slave H/D 50 MB, and one to master H/D 1.0GB 2-plug ribbon connector, one to creative lab card and other to CD-Rom drive, connects Cd-Rom I have tried replacing CD-Rom with new CD-Rom but still it does not work I have removed the slave H/D and plug in CD-Rom , the computer does not start, I tried changing the jumper to make CD-Rom as slave but still did not work. I have taken the master H/D and plug in to my other Pentium computer as a slave and copied the operating system CD Window 98 and then plug back in to 486 computer as a master and try to install as follows: C:/ cd win 98 enter setup.exe enter I get error massages "sector not found reading drive abort,

03-12-2005, 11:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	Mr. Kodi: I have copied the operating system CD on the master h/D that is why I am using command C:\ cd win98 enter and then setup enter. Drive d: is a ram drive and it does not have win 98 installation program. When use D:\ setup.exe I get massege "file not found" C: is the master h/d and D: is a slave H/D C: is 1GB and has win operating systems copy from win Instalation CD D: is only 55 MB h/d

03-12-2005, 02:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,396 OS: Windows 7-Ultimate 64 Bit My System	Trying to install from the operating system installed on the C drive obviosly is not working so why not install it from the CD to the C crive just use the letter of your CDrom. Thanks John must have had a Blonde Moment. __________________ Brian

03-12-2005, 02:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
bombaykid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 22 OS: win 98	Mr. Kodi: I love to install win98 using CD-Rom, but my biggest proble is " computer does not detect CD-ROM. CD-rom is connected to creative sound card with 40 pin ribbon cable, and it was working ok before I formated C: Drive. Can you suggest some way I can get computer to detect CD-rom? I have tried replacing my slave H/D wwith CD-Rom but that did not work. H/D is also connected to Mozart card with 40 pin ribbon connector. I do not have any IDE port on my mother board. Any suggestions.