Need a starting point

[vegjet]

Hi! This is a great forum! I been reading for 3 days now and decided to post my problem. I have been given a PC that supposedly had Windows SE as the OS. It won't boot, but does bring up the ME splash screen. I can get into the menu, ie. normal, bootlog.txt, safe mode, and the the manual boot (had a brain fart on the number 4). Anyhow, none seem to work. I get a varying list of errors from I/O subsystem driver failed to load, to msgsrv32 error in kernl32.exe. I can't seem to access DOS. I would like to format the hard drive and reinstall a clean OS, any ideas on how to get into DOS. I have downloaded ME's bootdisk to no avail. I did manage somehow to get into the bios setup and F8 says it is bypassing startup files but then shuts the machine down. I am not sure how far this machine is getting before i run into trouble. On loading the drivers one by one under option 4, I get stopped at the mouse.....??? I just want to clean this machine and start from scratch. Your time is greatly appreciated....thanks! Oh, btw.... it came with one floppy.. which states that it is 98 SE... :o|

[GretaP]

I have a couple of questions first, before launching into an explanation of how to format and reinstall Windows.

You have stated that the PC supposedly has Windows SE as the OS, and then state that it brings up the ME splash screen..........SE and ME are two entirely different operating systems, SE is Windows 98 Second Edition, and ME is Windows Millenium Edition.

Do you have the Windows ME or 98SE install CD? If so, is it a retail full install CD or upgrade install CD? If not a retail CD, did you get a Recovery CD with it (the operating system install CD that is supplied by the PC manufacturer). You are going to need some type of Windows operating system install CD in order to reinstall the operating system after you format the drive.

You have also stated that you have d/loaded ME's bootdisk to no avail.......meaning what, exactly? Were you not successful at creating the bootdisk, or did your computer not boot from it, or what?? If you happened to d/load the file to create the bootdisk directly to a floppy disk, then it won't work........you have to d/load the file to your hard drive, then put a formatted floppy in the drive and double-click on the d/loaded file in order to create the bootdisk.

If you do have a Windows 98 SE startup floppy disk, that should suffice to format and to load generic CDROM drivers in order to get the operating system installed from CD, and yes, this floppy is okay to use even if Windows ME is the operating system you are wanting to install.

[vegjet]

Sorry Greta, I should be more self explanatory. The PC,(I was told) had Windows 98 SE. When I tried the bootdisk that came with the computer, (it has Windows 98 SE on the label and is the only software that came with it) it tried to bootup but to my surprise the ME splash screen, not 98 came up for a brief second then a gray screen and then the error messages. Soooo, I download the ME bootdisk (to my hard drive) and made a floppy (which was formatted), and tried that in the problem PC. It went a little further this time and brought up the menu (normal, bootlog, safemode, step by step) Each menu item will try to run, then throws the error messages up. The first was an I/O subsytem error saying a driver failed to load and that it may be corrupt. Now I get the MSGSRV32 caused and error in KERNL32.EXE please restart your computer message. The only menu item that will work here is the step by step confirmation which stalls at the mouse driver. Now heres the kicker, the machine will now boot to the menu if I F8 it with or without the floppy bootdisk. I have Windows 98 SE to put back onto this machine if and when I manage to get the DOS prompt to come up and work. Yes it is a retail full install CD. The no avail comment was regarding getting the ME bootdisk to work, I have tried both bootdisks and get the same result. Now I am getting the same result by keying F8 when I startup with or without the disk. I know how to fdisk and format and install windows, getting to the command prompt and having it work is my problem, it just isnt doing it with the floppy. I was told kids gaming on this computer was it's last and final task before crashing, but I have no other information on it. I have considered the floppy drive being bad and it is not reading the disk, but I can hear it run and it did seem to help me get past the splash to the menu. I am thinking this computer has a virus running amuck. My knowledge is in Windows 98 not ME so much. Hope this is a bit more informative, I apologize for sounding like a complete moron in the earlier post, I sorta shot it out fast as I was off to work. Hope I still don't sound like one...:no: Actually truth be known, my mother was given this PC by a friend who moved. She is in school and wanted it to do her work on. Being computer illiterate, she did not ask pertinent questions, she said "free computer? sure". It is a made to order generic PC with a PII, no name, no software no nothing. Thanks for your time and help Greta.

[GretaP]

You didn't sound like a complete moron........I just needed to get straight in my mind what was going on so I could better assist you.

One thing I will recommend is that you d/load the file to create a Windows 98 SE startup disk........do NOT use the Windows ME startup disk to format if you're going to install Windows 98. You can d/load the file to create the Windows 98 startup disk from here (http://bootdisk.com/original.htm) . Click on the link for Windows 98 SE OEM and d/load to your hard drive. Once d/loaded, put a formatted floppy in the drive, then double-click on the d/loaded file to create the startup disk. Now, go into your BIOS settings (when you're pressing F8, that's giving you the Windows Startup Menu, not the BIOS Setup menu.....you need to enter the BIOS Setup, which is normally displayed near the beginning of boot process where it says "Press <key> to enter Setup" or something to that effect) and ensure that the floppy drive is set to be a boot device prior to your hard drive, as it sounds like the rig is trying to boot to the hard drive, not the floppy that you've been using.

[vegjet]

Thanks Greta... I dont know why I didnt think of that, something to do with not seeing the forest for the trees. It worked anyhow, and it is up and running now. Thanks again for your knowledge and support. :D My mother is grateful and so am I!!! ( I don't have to type her papers anymore!!) YAY!

[GretaP]

something to do with not seeing the forest for the trees Hey, I do that a lot more often than I care to mention :rolleyes:

You're very welcome, vegjet. I'm glad that everything worked out and that you don't have to type her papers anymore :D