can't boot to DOS prompt

tutorhooter · #1 December 29th, 2004, 02:47 AM

Hi, hope someone can give me a few suggestions. I've been trying to boot up an older computer for my kid and cannot get it to boot from a boot disk (Ive tried a few different versions and the drive is OK) I tried to boot from an ME OS CD as well and that didn't work. I cant get past a disk error line to achieve a DOS prompt. The BIOS appears OK and it recognizes the CD and the HDD. I'm not sure what to try next. I can get into the set up and have tried the various boot orders and also swapped HDDone with an OS loaded on it and another that was clean and formatted. please help...this is an older machine but it has become a bit of a mission for me to try and solve!!

the MB is a vtech (pc partner)LXB843D, celeron 333/66 CPU, award bios ITE8671-2A69JV3QC-00 12/28/1998, intel 440 lx/ex chipset
thanks for any suggestions in advance

renegade600 · #2 December 29th, 2004, 03:01 AM

what error message are you getting? If no error message, what is on your screen when you boot with a dos bootdisk?

tutorhooter · #3 December 29th, 2004, 03:10 AM

Invaild system disk
Peplace disk and then press any key

If I start with the CD it says failure and then this message. Ive trouble shot this thing with different disks different drives and different cables I'm getting frustrated

renegade600 · #4 December 29th, 2004, 03:41 AM

for clarification whe you say bootdisk do you mean a floppy? Maybe it is not bootable? To test this, try it on another computer also Try a bootdisk from bootdisk.com and create a disk from there

tutorhooter · #5 December 29th, 2004, 03:52 AM

OK I read the various threads and convinced myself I was on the right track, I swapped out the ribbon cable again and I think I had two bad ones. It works!!!!

Your forum has great info trust the knowledge
cheers!

renegade600 · #6 December 29th, 2004, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tutorhooter

OK I read the various threads and convinced myself I was on the right track, I swapped out the ribbon cable again and I think I had two bad ones. It works!!!!

Your forum has great info trust the knowledge
cheers!

my next possible solution would have been to replace the drive but I am glad replacing the cable did it. Thanks for letting us know.