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General discussion

Reformatting problem

Feb 22, 2004 1:47PM PST

I just reformatted my computer. All was fine until it was time to load Windows 98 back onto my computer. I was following an online guide as I was doing this, seeing as I had never done this before. I had inserted my recovery CD-ROM (which contains everything for Windows 98 on it) and windows starter diskette earlier. So whenever I restarted the computer after it formatted, I went into DOS and selected the option to load the computer by the CD-ROM. So, it started adding and going through the files like it should. However, once it was done I read on the tutorial that it said to remove the diskette whenever it was loading files from the CD-ROM, but now it was too late and that probably is what messed it up. Now, whenever I try to start my computer, it just says "C:/". If I insert the floppy again, it just says "A:/". Sometimes it will ask me if I want to load the computer through the CD-ROM or without it. Either way, I cannot get to Windows. Is there something that I should enter after C:/ or A:/ to be able to access Windows? Or should I take out both the CD-ROM and the diskette, or just leave one of the two in?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Reformatting problem
Feb 22, 2004 2:19PM PST

Hi
If it is a full version of win 98se all you should have to do is put the cd in,boot the computer,when it ask if you want to boot from cd say yes.
Then follow the prompts.

Regards
Maxie

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Re:Reformatting problem
Feb 24, 2004 9:53AM PST

Are you using a generic Win98 cd or a restore disk supplied by the computer manufacturer? Restore disks normally are booted directly from the cdrom and take care of the entire process. A generic disk adds the task of tracking down drivers for your hardware devices. Which do you have?

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Re:Reformatting problem
Feb 25, 2004 12:29PM PST

You stated that you reformated the hard drive and you come up with a C:\ type dir <enter> to see if there is anything in c:\ drive there should be a root directory with command.com in it.
It has all the command you need to navigate the c drive.
If not you will need a Win98se boot disk, if you have acess to internet go to WWW.bootdisk.com and download win98se boot disk with cdrom support. then insert it in to the A: drive and start up your computer then choose cdrom support.
After it run through loading the cd drivers and creating a ramdrive, you will come up to the A:\ prompt.
Then at the A:\ prompt type this sys c:\ <enter> This will put the command.com on your c: drive and make it a bootable c drive.
Then restart your computer with out the floppy in it should come c:\ do a dir <enter>. and look to see if the command.com is there.
Restart it agan with the floppy in it and choose cdrom support. after it went through loading the drivers and creating a ram drive it will give you the letter of your cdrom drive make a note of it.
I'm going on the asumption thet cdrom drive letter is e: cause windows will name the cdrom one drive letter after the ram drive, subsitute your drive letter if it is not E: drive. then type this E: <enter> dir <enter> and look at the directory.
Look for a windows directories if found type this
cd win98 <enterr> and then type setup <enter> this should do you and get you going.
One more thing do you have the codes required by windows for your restore disk in order to work. Dave

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Master Boot Record
Feb 26, 2004 11:34AM PST

Dap: your problem seems similar to one I once had. (1) I used MS-DOS program Fdisk at the A:\prompt to create one DOS partition and activate it; (2) restarted the system and used program Format C: /s/u to erase the primary hard disk and load system files; (3) then changed the drive to E: and used CD program Setup to install Win98SE: all the Windows files were copied to the hard disk, system restarted itself and went into an unending loop. My MBR had been corrupted and it was fixed by using Fdisk /MBR to rewrite the master boot record.