No Operating System

[vee36]

I was given a computer, however the first time I turned it on I was asked for my NT password. Of course, I didn't have one. I turned off the computer then I got the message 1962 No Operating System found. How can I get this computer to work? Do I need a boot disk? Please help!

[degsy]

What do you want to do with the PC?

If you wish to format it and install a usable OS then which OS will you be using?

[vee36]

I would like to get it up and running. I'd love to format the pc and use the 98 OS. Thanks for your reply.

[degsy]

Try using a Win98 startup disk to format the drive.

[vee36]

Thanks, I'' try it. I really appreciate your help!

[Murf]

If you were asked for my NT password. Then the Operating System on the computer is either NT or W2K. Therefore, the file system is NTFS and you will not be able to format it with the Win 98 boot disk. You will have to delete the Non-Dos Partition, create a Primary DOS partition then format.

The person that gave you z puter may have the password...

For NT the password is kept in the *.SAM file, but does the password box come up after the ist post screen before starting windows ot right after you boot it?

[PCMike]

If you were asked for my NT password. Then the Operating System on the computer is either NT or W2K. Therefore, the file system is NTFS and you will not be able to format it with the Win 98 boot disk.

A drive with Win NT or 2k is not necessarily a NTFS disk. When installing NT or 2K you have the choice of formatting with FAT32 or NTFS. The win98 startup disk may work. I hope this doesn’t confuse things more.

[Murf]

PCMIKE yes your right, as I run W2K on a NTFS partition but have a FAT32 partition also. When he said asked for a NT password, one could assume, possibly that NT is installed on it and by default although you can change it NTFS is used.