[Shelby281]

I have an old laptop which was working fine when I bought it from a friend of mine. I installed a 98SE as soon as I got it. I also added a Office 2000 for spreadsheet and document purposes only. It was working for a few days then everytime I turn on the computer, it doesn't beep, the HD light don't turn on and that "Insert System Disk, press any key to continue" comes on. I tried to press any key and it keeps getting me back to that Insert System Disk. I also tried to turn off and turn on again and it stays that way. What seems to be what I am missing?

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Can your laptop take a floppy disk
peterm

[peterm]

Can your laptop take a floppy disk
peterm

[Shelby281]

Yes it can take a floppy disk. I did insert the disk and it took me to a screen asking me if I will use a CD-ROM support of no CD-ROM support.

[gerryf]

Your harddrive has likely failed or certain important files have been damaged.

Using the boot disk you mentioned earlier, go ahead and select without cd-rom support and let it finish booting up.

When you get to a:\> type

c:

and hit enter.

If you switch to

c:\> your harddrive is possible usable.

If DOS complains there is no such drive, your harddrive is damaged. Data may or may not be recoverable.

[peterm]

Hi Shelby sorry for the late reply but both my computers went down
& when I got back up the web site was down.
Do what gerryf has suggusted. If it reports that C: drive is not their
All might not be lost, let us know what happens. This is a step by step thing
Peterm

[Shelby281]

Yeah, if i type C: on A:>, it beeps or stays A:>.

I did the Fdisk on A:> and it worked. But when I had to restart it, that same CD-Rom Support or Without CD-Rom Support will start again.

Anymore ideas, Gerryf and PeterM?

[peterm]

Hi Shelby
Sounds like your C: drive is dead.
Do you still have the windows 98SE disk. If so restart and take the cd rom support. See If it will load 98 se again. If it comes up with
no drive C: then we can assume your hard drive has died.
Do you have a 98SE bootup disk? this should be a floppy disk.

[Shelby281]

Also if it happens to be the HD, I am planning to upgrade anyways. I am thinking of adding more memory and replace the HD. Any steps for me to do before installing a 98SE and Office2000?

[peterm]

No should load ok on to a new hard disk.
If you have a floppy boot disk you can try fdisk & see it it finds your
C: drive
peterm