[woodchuck]

Hi,

The problem is with my mother in laws computer she gave up trying to fix it and could not tell me how the problem started.

When I start the computer it by passes the start page and goes to a black screen with the following written:

Microsoft ® Windows 98
©Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1998.

C:|>

She told me that she had worked with DELL via phone and she thought they had removed everything from the hard drive. So I tryed to boot up Windows 98 from disc and tried the recovery disk in and out of safe mode and at some point the screen said that there is an operating system installed. So they must not have uninstalled Windows 98.

Now I am wondering if there is some type of boot up virus? If not, a proceedure to get into windows when I start up.

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Hi woodchuck

Lets see if we can get that little beastie running again.

Please go here and download the file boot.zip
Boot.zip

Once you have this on your computer decompress the file using winzip or another such program and run the Win98 boot disc maker.

It will prompt you to put in a floppy disc for the files.

Take that disc, put it into your mother-in-laws machine and reboot (hopefulyl we won't have to change the boot order but we will deal with that if we have too)

When you reboot you should get 2 options from the disc

Start windows with cd rom support
Start windows without cd rom support

Please choose start with

There is a lot more to do at this point but lets get to this point first.

Please post here when your done.

[DeSade]

Hi woodchuck

Lets see if we can get that little beastie running again.

Please go here and download the file boot.zip
Boot.zip

Once you have this on your computer decompress the file using winzip or another such program and run the Win98 boot disc maker.

It will prompt you to put in a floppy disc for the files.

Take that disc, put it into your mother-in-laws machine and reboot (hopefulyl we won't have to change the boot order but we will deal with that if we have too)

When you reboot you should get 2 options from the disc

Start windows with cd rom support
Start windows without cd rom support

Please choose start with

There is a lot more to do at this point but lets get to this point first.

Please post here when your done.

[woodchuck]

Thanks for the assistance.

I made the boot disc and put it into my mother in-laws machine and this brings me to: Black screen saying... The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive D. MSCDEX Version 2.25. Drive E = Driver MSCX001 unit B. A:\>

However, I do have the Dell Dimension Resource CD; It says it is for instaling device drivers. This brings me to the step you describe. I also have the windows 98 disc and diagnostics flopy but have not had any luck using them to restart.

Lets go to the next step if we are able?

til then...

[DeSade]

Right before we go on I need one thing clear.

You do want this harddrive clear so you can reinstall the operating system correct?

I'm sorry I have to waste a post with this question but the next step will render anything still on that harddrive unusable and clear it off for a reinstall.

Edited by DeSade, 10 February 2006 - 11:53 PM.

[woodchuck]

We realize we are going to loose all of the data in the files. Lets go ahead. Thanks.

[DeSade]

You should now see a command prompt
c:/ or a:/

type c: and and hit enter
FDisk and hit enter

That should start the program if it doesn't try it under a:/

Answer Y to the first 2 questions.

You will see a menu with 3 options

Create Drive
Create partition
Delete
View

Choose view and make a note of whats in there.

then go back to the menu and choose delete.

Delete everything that shows up.

Next go to create drive

choose yes for full size and when its done verifying choose enter for none.

reboot the machine

Startup as you did before with the disc

once you get to the command prompt again type

format c:
answer yes and let it run.

Let me know when your done

[woodchuck]

In post #2 you need to tell me which option to use: Start up window with or with out CD ROM support?

[DeSade]

Always start with cdrom

[woodchuck]

Formatting disc is running. Ready for next instruction.

[DeSade]

Go back into FDisk

Answer first 2 questions with Y

go to the View entry.

Post what It says in there please (Everything seems to be working well but I need to verify it)

[woodchuck]

Display Partition Information
Current fixed disk drive: 1
Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
C: 1 A PRI DOS 1ST REFORMA 12355 fAT32 100%


Total disk space is 12355 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)

[DeSade]

Now we are making progress.

Take the windows startup disc out of your floppy drive

Put your windows 98 disc in the cd rom

Reboot the system and the cd should boot you into the win98 setup.

If it does follow the prompts and your all set
if it doesn't post here and we can try another method.

[woodchuck]

We are up and running and back in business with out a hitch!

I am very impressed by the staff at geekstogo and the web site. This is the first time I have ask for step by step help and you were great.

Prior to solving this, I had looked for fixes at Microsoft and Dell knowledge bases. I had a one on chat with a Dell support tech, although polite, he was useless at finding a solution and in the end told me that Windows 98 is nolonger supported by them. Away of saying Iam done trying to help.

I found your site recently looking for a fix for the spyware strike pup on my own computer and found what I needed in the geekstogo knowledge base. That was a tough one to get rid off

Many Thanks!