bootup problem

//Place the Windows 98 cd in your cd drive. It should autorun. If it doesn't, click Start/Run/type in D:\ or the proper letter assigned to you cd drive in My Computer. //

I see I have a problem. It will not autorun, and I can only get a c: prompt with the startup disk. I cannot get it to change to F where my cd drive is, though I change it to anything else -- a through d.

Brian,

Sounds like Ernie meant for you to do this within windows. But if you can't get to a prompt for your cd-rom in dos, then try the following:

1.) Make sure you're selecting "Start Computer with CD-ROM support" from the boot menu on the startup disk. If you go without cd-rom support, you will not be able to get to your cd drive.

2.) Try the next letter in sequence (in your case, G). I think the dos startup disk may sometimes shift your other drives one letter.

If you still can't get the drive prompt, then check the startup disk. In config.sys (hidden on the disk, open it in notepad on another machine), there should be a section under the header [CD]. Verify that all files referenced under that section are present on the disk. If not, recreate the disk from a working machine with windows 98 (or go to bootdisk.com and use the utility there for creating a windows 98 boot disk)

Hope this helps, if you need any more help with the steps I gave you, please post a reply, and I'll do my best to help.

Dan

Ok, I can see Config.sys, but Im not sure how to open it. I used to be able to open it my just typing "config.sys" and hitting 'enter' on an older puter I had.

Ok, Brian. First off, do this on another machine with any version of Windows installed (not in dos), and make sure that it's set to view hidden and system files.

Open Notepad up, then go File > Open. Navigate to your disk and open config.sys.

Check that all files listed under the [CD] header are on the disk (as they are needed to support the cd-rom in dos). If they aren't, or it still won't get to a prompt for the cd-rom, make a new disk from another Windows 98 machine (or download a program that makes one from bootdisk.com)

Hope this helps (remembering that these steps are only to help you get to a cd-rom prompt to reinstall windows)

Dan

I noted that there was more than one version of win98 at bootdisk.com. I tyed "ver" and got "Win 98 vresion 4.10.2222. Any idea which one that is? Guess I couldve looked it up, but Im running short on time.

Oops, I should have noticed that one too I'd use the OEM version.

Do you know whether or not you had the first version of 98 or 98SE? If you know which one you had, use the OEM disk for that one, otherwise just go with 98SE. Don't forget to select the option "Startup with CD-ROM support" when booting from the floppy disk.

Also, remember that your CD-ROM drive letter may not be the same in dos as it was in windows. Try any letter from d to h (the cdrom won't be a-c, i can tell you that much), and if any work, use "dir" to find out which drive it is (have the install cd in the drive, it will be relatively obvious if it's the one). Some drives that you may have under windows, a zip drive as an example, may not appear in dos, so this will affect the drive lettering.

Hope this helps,
Dan

I went to bootdisk.com and downloaded win98se to a formatted floppy, twice, and got the same message: "invalid system disk, replace the disk and press any key"

I know it was the correct version, because I looked it up to make sure. The only thing I can think of for failure is that it was formatted by another computer -- my wifes WinMe.

Guess Ill have to buy some new ones that were formatted at the factory...they might be more likely to be accepted by my puter.

Hold on, did you just save the file to the disk, or did you run the exe file to create a boot disk? You need to run that exe (in another machine) to create the disk. DOS can't boot with just an exe file

Also, make sure that the floppy drive is the first drive set to boot in the bios. Read my last post for details on getting into the bios. After you get in, look for boot options (probably on it's own tab) and be sure that "Removable Devices" (which would be your floppy drive) is set to boot first. (Some bios programs set boot order by drive letter, so make sure A: is first).

The version of Windows that the disk was formatted on has no bearing... All floppy disks formatted for PC use use the FAT file system.

Hope this helps,
Dan

ack!!! I downloaded to the floppy. Well I guess it went first to the HD then automatically to the floppy. So I needed to download to the HD and execute there, then copy to the floppy? Is there some way to execute within the floppy? Or can I copy the floppy to HD then execute? I couldnt figure out how to get to the exe file in the floppy.

Ok, if you're doing this on a cpu running windows, copy the exe off of the floppy and on to the desktop. Do not leave the exe on the floppy, as you don't have room for it. (I think the program deletes files on the floppy to make a startup disk anyway)

Execute the program from the hard drive (have the floppy disk in the drive). The program creates the disk, copying all files necessary to it in the process. You should not have to copy anything to the floppy yourself. If the program generates an error, try a different disk.

Dan

OK, I have the boot disk. It put it on drive E. I changed to that drive, typed DIR and got a list of files. What do I do with them?

Alright, I just wanted you to use dir to find out which drive letter your cd was. If you have the windows install disk in the drive, there will be some folders, some files.... one in particular, setup.exe (it may help to pop the cd in another computer with windows on it, and browse the cd to see exactly what files and folders are present, so you know what to look for)

Setup.exe is the one you're looking for, if it's not there it's not the cd-rom drive (assuming you have the win98 install cd in your drive). Once you find it, run it by typing "setup.exe" (or just "setup" will work i think) to start Windows 98 setup.

Hope this helps,
Dan

>>Doh, F10... Those manufacturers always make it so difficult

>>Now, hold on there, 450 Mhz....

So if 450 is MHz, what is the 100?


>>I have seen computers of this speed running Windows XP, and currently have a second computer at this speed running Windows 2000. While it may not be the speediest solution around, it does work. You'll just have to weigh your options. You could probably get a very good board/processer combo for $200-300, if you decide to go that route.

>>***Note that pretty much all Windows 2000/XP install disks are bootable, so you won't have to worry about that boot disk that we were working with before for 98.... Just be sure that your cd-rom boots first (bios setting again).

Hmm. Hmmm. Something to think about.
Oh BTW, I found my recovery disks (mixed in with some music) and stuck'em one in the CD drive. It asked me if I wanted the one disk full recovery or the two disk recovery. Whats the difference, I wonder?

The 100 is the front side bus (FSB) clock speed. The front side bus speed is a measure of how fast the processor communicates with other components of the machine, such as RAM. (This is why if you have a 100MHZ FSB, and the memory is faster than 100Mhz, the memory will slow down to match the FSB, or vice versa).

Hmmm.... don't know what the difference is between one disk and two disks. Could be that the extras that were preinstalled are on the second disk, and the one disk install is just windows??? You could try asking Compaq on that one.

Hope that all of these posts have been of some help to you. If you think you might go the route on upgrading hardware, and want some advice on what to get, email me at the address below.

Dan
dschauer2004@yahoo.com

Ok, it went through a number of checks with Scandisk, then went to Windows setup, asking me for 'disk 1'. Unfortunately, I never have had 'disks' except for the Win 98 CD (which I still have) and the two recovery disks (which I no longer have:< ).

My wife was just in for lunch, suggesting I look into an upgrade, but Im not sure my processor is up to the task. How can I find out from Dos? All other requirements are met.

Brian,

In order to figure out your processor speed without being able to boot Windows, you'll need to enter the bios by pressing a certain key during the bootup (before windows starts to load). Common keys for this are Delete, F1, F2. (You may see a "Press (key) to enter setup." during bootup, that's the key you press) The processor type and speed should be listed somewhere within the bios.

Hope this helps,
Dan

ack! I may have to do some research on that one. Ive tried several buttons to no avail. Compaq now belongs to HP, but hopefully they can give me the information, about getting into the bios.

Yeah, Compaq should be able to tell you what key to press. The three I gave you were only a few common ones. Go to their website to see if you can find it there, otherwise email/call them.

Dan

Found the 'key', F10. Processor is 450/100,MHz I dont think I can upgrade it again for a new OS. Oh well. Maybe a new MB?...

Doh, F10... Those manufacturers always make it so difficult

Now, hold on there, 450 Mhz....

I have seen computers of this speed running Windows XP, and currently have a second computer at this speed running Windows 2000. While it may not be the speediest solution around, it does work. You'll just have to weigh your options. You could probably get a very good board/processer combo for $200-300, if you decide to go that route.

***Note that pretty much all Windows 2000/XP install disks are bootable, so you won't have to worry about that boot disk that we were working with before for 98.... Just be sure that your cd-rom boots first (bios setting again).

Dan

It may be that I have a timing problem, hitting ESC. If I hit it too early, theres a stack overflow error. If I hit it too late, I get the vmm32.vxd needed message.

Stack articles...

http://www.google.com/search?&q=+site:support.microsoft.com+%22stack+overflow%22+windows

"Stack overflows can cause Microsoft Windows to stop responding (hang). If Windows hangs intermittently, try adding the following line to the CONFIG.SYS file:
STACKS=9,256"

Hmmmmmmm. Wonder if thats whats been behind my internet hanging. I still need to figure out how to get into the Config.sys file. On an older puter, it seems to me all I had to do was to type Config.sys and hit enter.

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