Please can anyone help, when I switched my computer on, after it had been off for a couple of months it will not bootup.
It gives me the message Auto-Detecting Pri Master...Press<F4> to Abort. but nothing happens when I do press Abort so I have to switch it off manualy.

I am new to computing so any help would be very helpful,a step by step run though would be ideal. The O/S is Win98.

Thank you in advance for your help.

This post has been edited by tedyboy: Aug 12 2005, 03:37 AM

Don't press anything while it boots to the desktop, or does it freeze at this screen,

I would start by making sure the cables to the hard drive are properly seated at the drive and the mother board. Wiggle them a little and press them firmly in.
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Hi Keith

I have left my PC runing but it will not move past Auto Detecting Pri Master. and yes it does freeze at the first srceen.

I have made sure that all the ribbon cables are in place but it still wont BOOTUP.

This post has been edited by tedyboy: Aug 15 2005, 04:49 AM

Hi Tiger

Have tried what you said but no luck, all the cables are in place

To eliminate a couple of things, boot the PC and keep tapping F8 right after the beep until you get options, select command prompt only, type scanreg.exe /fix then press enter, it will run through a few screens then say registry repaired. Press enter then press ctrl + alt + delete keys together to reboot.

When it has loaded, click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools, system information, tools then run system file checker and replace any files it asks for from the 98SE CD.

Running these checks the registry and files for Windows are in place.

Hi Keith

I tried preesing F8 but it made no differance, seems to to be frozen stiff. it still comes up with Auto Detecting Pri Master Press <F4> to Abort

You can try tapping F5 make sure you do tap rather than press and hold

See how you get on with this

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Reinstall-W...98-95-t479.html

If you put your hand on it can you feel the vibration of it turning?

It's starting to sound like the hdd bearings may have frozen. I wouldn't ordinarily reccomend this but you might want to take it out and shake it in a circular fashion to loosen the bearings up a bit.

HI KEITH

I tried pressing the F5 button still nothing happens, a friend of mine lent me a hard drive to try but it did exactly the same...Auto Detecting.....

On the first screen it says press the TAB to enter the POST screen which I did but after a few seconds it goes to the Auto Detecting again, I noticed that the green light on the floppy drive stays on while it is trying to boot, is this any help to you...

I realy am grateful for all your help...

This post has been edited by tedyboy: Aug 19 2005, 03:08 AM

HI TIGER,

I did what you said, I can feel the drive is turning, I tried a differant Hard Drive but it came up with the same message, Auto Detecting.....

Why do we have xp and 2000 in the 98 me forum

When you start the computer it should give you information on how to enter the bios by pushing the F2 or DEL or some other key. Can you see which one lets you in to the bios?

hey, I am using Windows XP and i have the exact same problem. It does not detect the pri master(whatever that is) or anything else and pressing F2, F5, F6, F8 or F11, doesnt help at all. Afterwards, it asks me to insert a boot disk in A:. I tried inserting Windows XP CD, it says boot cd detected, but doesnt boot and freezes. Please help. I think my motherboard is at fault, but i want to make sure before i buy a new 1