I need help using this Windows 98 Boot Disk?

Question

OK, so I asked some previous questions where I thought the harddrive died in this computer I was messing with. But I wanted to examine all directions before I called it junk and tried to sell it for parts. So I made a Windows 98 SE Boot CD and put it in the computer and started it up. It looks different, at least it's not telling me Operating System Not Found anymore. It tells me it's in PC-DOS or something and that it is preparing to start up my computer. But it stops when it gets to a line saying A:/> and I guess it's wanting me to put a boot floppy in. But I want it to boot from this CD I made. I can't make a floppy, the only computer that has a floppy drive is this one that I can't get to work right lol. Besides, I doubt I even HAVE a blank floppy since they are pretty obsolete. Now I changed the boot order too so it would boot from the CD-ROM first but still no dice. What have I done wrong or what have I failed to do? Help?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

You would have to BURN a BOOT CD anyway... so why bother burning up a good blank CD?

Here's the thing. Test individual components.

Believe it or not, your NEW computer can accept your floppy disk drive, so you can test that. You can put your old hard drive into your new computer as a SLAVE, and if it functions at all, it will appear as D or E or F drive. From your new computer, you can get your old data, but you can also run CHECK NOW on that drive's PROPERTIES. Just go to the TOOLs section. If the drive does not appear, RIGHT CLICK on My Computer and pick MANAGE. You might see the drive through that. But from that point, you are really doomed anyway.

Sell for parts? It is doubtful that you will earn any real money from that old trash. Now 8 or 9 years old, it is nearing the end of life. But the whole darn thing in a cardboard box, and get someone at eBay to buy the whole thing for the cost of the postage. SEE, you are better off waiting for Technology Recycling Day in your community.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 3

Have U tried changing the A:/ prompt to D:/ prompt so that it will attempt to read from the CD? If U don't have a boot disk floppy laying around anywhere at home, ask your neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc. if they have one? Check with them and try that.

BTW, PC-DOS is the Basic or DOS (Disc Operating System), you may be able to access your hard drive and run basic diagnostics on it using DOS. When U get that A:/ prompt, change the drive letter to C:/ by typing CD C: after the A prompt (will look like this:) A:/ CD C: (don't forget the colon. Then if it reads the hard drive (C being the hard drive), type in DIR and a directory of the files & folders will show up. If I remember (it's been a long time since I used Windows 98) U can type CD (to change directory), HELP (for further instructions and basic DOS commands), CHKDSK (to run basic diagnostics on the hard drive), SCANDISK (another form of diagnostics, bit-by-bit=very, very slow, can take hours, depending on the size of the hard drive). Good luck!

Answer 4

Okay, I think what you have is just a bootable cd. If it stops at a:\ without loading the cdrom drivers, then thats what you have. All that is on the cd is the minimal files to make it boot, like command.com. The boot disk should have cdrom drivers, and some dos tools on it.
Since it booted to the cdrom drive, it thinks that is the a: drive.
When it get to the a:\ type in 'dir c:' it should show you what is on the c: drive. If you type help at the a:\ it should give you a list of dos commands you can use.

Answer 5

no just put in a formatted disk. then change directories back to the CD. Did the CD make a virtual drive? if not see about running fdisk to wipe the hard drive . Then format the hard drive with the "/s" install system to make the hard drive boot-able. but the 98 CD should run on start up. You can use another option. Ubuntu . it's the new Linux system it is awesome! it gives new life to old computers. it is free with full support!

Answer 6

Hey. Since you typed in C, type in win and see if you will log on to windows, if nothing, u can format the hard drive and reinstall windows 98. type in Format C: and press enter. Hope u have the windows 98 setup cd! If you want to check to see if your hard drive is alive and want to get some important info, take the hard drive out and put it in the computer u are using now as your secondary hard drive. Make sure the hard drive is enabled in the bios so windows can recognize it. Make sure your antivirus & spyware programs are updated in case the hard drive have a threat. When u log into windows, the hard drive shud be in the My Computer folder. Run security scans, pull out yur important info and if u want, format it an use it as a storage media. Run a scandisk/checkdisk to make sure it has no surface errors. Laterz!