can't get it to #!*%# work!

[Jynzun]

My Father-in-law has me trying to fix his computer. All I can get is the systems' stats. I tried A boot disk from "Bootdisk.com" but I get the error message: Non-system disk or disk error. He thinks his OS is windows 98. I tried bootdisks for 98, 98se, and 95, but no luck. He says his problems started when a company installed DSL in his house and on his computer. I can't even get to "SAFE START."
Thanks for any help you can give me.

P.S.
I don't have a start up disk, the computer is used.

[Alfons]

My Father-in-law has me trying to fix his computer. All I can get is the systems' stats. I tried A boot disk from "Bootdisk.com" but I get the error message: Non-system disk or disk error. He thinks his OS is windows 98. I tried bootdisks for 98, 98se, and 95, but no luck. He says his problems started when a company installed DSL in his house and on his computer. I can't even get to "SAFE START."
Thanks for any help you can give me.

P.S.
I don't have a start up disk, the computer is used.
The file you downloaded from Bootdisk.com is a boot disk maker program and not the boot disk. You must browse to that downloaded file, double click on it to make it run, have a floppy disk ready and follow the prompts and at the end you'll be the proud owner of a working Starup Disk :D

[Jynzun]

I've done what you said and I get a message that says windows does not detect FAT or FAT 32 partition dor drive c, and to run FDISK atprompt. and when I typed in FDISK I got a "No Fixed Disks Present" message.


Thanks again for any help.

[dammit]

Sadly I think the HD is history....from what i've looked up :(

[Jynzun]

I hope not. Any one want to buy a slightly used computer harddrive???

Seriously though, I don't think it is a harddrive problem. The computer ran fine two days ago. The problem started when a tech from Adelphia Fast Access DSL installed DSL on this computer.


When I run the boot disk this is what I get:

Preparing to stat your computer.
This may take a few minutes. Please wait...

Windows98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition. There are several Pssible causes.

(Then it names three causes. 1. drive may need to be partitioned, and explains how to do it. 2.I may be using a 3rd. party disk partitioning software and what to do about it. 3. That I may have a virus.)

It also says that the diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive C. and to get help type help and press enter.

Needless to say, I tried everyting to no avail.

I hope some one knows what I am talking about and can help me. thanks.

[Alfons]

Windows98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition. There are several Possible causes.

(Then it names three causes. 1. drive may need to be partitioned, and explains how to do it. 2.I may be using a 3rd. party disk partitioning software and what to do about it. 3. That I may have a virus.)
Any of the three items mentioned could be the problem, as well as the fourth item that was mentioned in a previous post - that the drive is dead. It doesn't take more than a fraction of a second to turn a working drive into a paper weight. See if the BIOS recognizes the drive during the Power On Self Test phase - this should be presented to you in the first startup screen where it's trying to detect your hard drives. Does it show any being there? If yes, then one of the other items may be the cause and you should follow the advise.

It also says that the diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive C. and to get help type help and press enter.

The Startup Disk creates a RAM Drive in the first available drive space it finds, so if the first available was "C", then it found no hard drive and "C" is the RAM Drive.

[Murf]

Reboot and when the first screen comes up hit the DELETE key to get into SETUP. Or watch the screen it will tell yoiu what key to hit to get into SETUP.

Once in SETUP, you will have several menu items, you need to find one that says something about AUTO DETECT

Use this to see if the computer can find the Hard Drive, if it does, then save & exit, and let it continue booting with no floppy in.