Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsme.general (
More info?)
Ahhhhh!!
Sounds plausible - although the symptoms you described are not typical of
hard drive failure.
Glad you seem to be up and running again - and thanks for coming back to let
us know!!!
--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"Doug" <Doug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3116C61A-50FF-4EC1-B43E-E62900311388@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for everyone's help. I was online chatting with a Dell "customer
> service" person last night for more than an hour. Nothing worked.
>
> Turned out the hard drive was bad, so I popped in a new one, then
> proceeded
> with my windows 98 installation and then the XP upgrade.
>
> "Doug" wrote:
>
>> Okay. I'll try it and let you know tomorrow if I need more assistance.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> "Noel Paton" wrote:
>>
>> > Yes you can!!!
>> > The OS on the floppy is independent of the OS on the HD -
>> > This PC is XP - and I've booted it with a DOS6 floppy before now, not
>> > to
>> > mention a Win 98, Win98SE, and WinME floppy. The only problem comes in
>> > actually accessing the HD - where none of the above understand the NTFS
>> > filesystem, so you get nonsense relies - but you can still do a FDISK
>> > /STATUS - or a proper FDISK, and follow that with a
>> > reformat/reinstall!!
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>> >
>> > Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> >
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> >
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>> >
>> > Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
>> > NG's
>> >
>> > "Doug" <Doug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:145D0F83-8B6E-4E61-A3BC-8DC3734109F8@microsoft.com...
>> > > Again, I have XP in my computer, so I can't test his ME or 98
>> > > software to
>> > > see
>> > > if it will boot my system. All indications are that his cd and floppy
>> > > drives
>> > > work fine.
>> > >
>> > > Please tell me what steps to undergo on HIS computer to get an a:
>> > > command
>> > > prompt so I can reformat and reinstall.
>> > >
>> > > "Noel Paton" wrote:
>> > >
>> > >> If the disks work in your PC but not in your dad's - then it's the
>> > >> drive
>> > >> that's the problem
>> > >> if the disks don't work in your PC either, then either the download
>> > >> was
>> > >> corrupt (but you'd normally see a message on that) or you have a
>> > >> problem
>> > >> with your OS/hardware combination - I know that my floppy drive (no
>> > >> matter
>> > >> how many times I replace it) likes to chew even new floppies with
>> > >> monotonous
>> > >> regularity - and I cannot for the life of me pin it down .
>> > >>
>> > >> You could certainly try the ME OEM disk - it would work just as well
>> > >> (hopefully better!!)
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >> --
>> > >> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>> > >>
>> > >> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> > >>
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> > >>
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>> > >>
>> > >> Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to
>> > >> NG's
>> > >>
>> > >> "Doug" <Doug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > >> news:614006A0-6562-4B36-A0C6-F58BF381172D@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >I appreciate all your help, Noel. I just thought that you should
>> > >> >disable
>> > >> >the
>> > >> > hard drive during a floppy/CD-ROM boot, since the OS is obviously
>> > >> > malfunctioning, then go back and enable HD in BIOS after the
>> > >> > software
>> > >> > installation. I think that's the way I used to do it in 98,
>> > >> > anyway.
>> > >> > Maybe
>> > >> > ME
>> > >> > is different.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Two more brief questions:
>> > >> >
>> > >> > 1. Should I try to get an ME boot disk, even though a previous
>> > >> > poster
>> > >> > said
>> > >> > to use the 98? Both 98 boot disks I downloaded don't work. Should
>> > >> > I use
>> > >> > the
>> > >> > ME Recovery CD or my 98 full version during this process?
>> > >> >
>> > >> > I have tried all combinations of BIOS boot order, 98 boot disk, ME
>> > >> > Recovery
>> > >> > CD/98 Full version CD. Nothing works. Floppy and CD drives appear
>> > >> > to
>> > >> > work
>> > >> > properly. Please just tell me how to get an a: prompt and I will
>> > >> > reformat.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Thanks for your help, everyone.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > "Noel Paton" wrote:
>> > >> >
>> > >> >> If you've disable the HD, then it's not too surprising that the
>> > >> >> OS
>> > >> >> can't
>> > >> >> see
>> > >> >> it! check that the HD is actually seen by the BIOS - and make it
>> > >> >> the
>> > >> >> last
>> > >> >> boot option
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Check that the floppy disk is actually good - does it boot your
>> > >> >> machine
>> > >> >> OK?
>> > >> >> does it boot another machine? - any other machine?
>> > >> >> If it does, and your dad's box won't boot with it - and the boot
>> > >> >> order
>> > >> >> is
>> > >> >> for the floppy to boot first (and it's switched on in the BIOS!),
>> > >> >> then
>> > >> >> the
>> > >> >> probability is that the floppy drive is kaput.
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> GoBack is a system Recovery utility offered by some OEMS a few
>> > >> >> years
>> > >> >> back -
>> > >> >> which conflicts big-time with System Restore - but still
>> > >> >> shouldn't
>> > >> >> prevent
>> > >> >> your booting with a floppy.
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> --
>> > >> >> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> > >> >>
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> > >> >>
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages
>> > >> >> to
>> > >> >> NG's
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >> "Doug" <Doug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > >> >> news:E61BEAF7-F1D6-4DF5-B623-A59CF10E1229@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> > Not sure if he has GoBack. Is that a CD he'd have, or a
>> > >> >> > software
>> > >> >> > program
>> > >> >> > built into ME? I didn't see any CD named that, and can't get a
>> > >> >> > boot
>> > >> >> > so
>> > >> >> > I
>> > >> >> > don't know if he has it.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > The XP CD install works for a while, where it will copy all the
>> > >> >> > files
>> > >> >> > then
>> > >> >> > reboot the system. Once it reboots, it starts setup from the
>> > >> >> > beginning
>> > >> >> > instead of resuming where it previously left off.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > I have changed the boot order several times, but nothing works.
>> > >> >> > I
>> > >> >> > think
>> > >> >> > I
>> > >> >> > have it as 1. floppy, 2. CD. Hard Drive is disabled. Please let
>> > >> >> > me
>> > >> >> > know
>> > >> >> > if
>> > >> >> > there is a different order to use.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > Bottom Line: Please let me know what to do to get to an A:
>> > >> >> > prompt.
>> > >> >> > Once
>> > >> >> > I
>> > >> >> > get there, I can fdisk. Since my dad's ME recovery cd may not
>> > >> >> > be a
>> > >> >> > full
>> > >> >> > version, as was previously pointed out, I'll just format hard
>> > >> >> > drive,
>> > >> >> > then
>> > >> >> > install my old win 98, then the XP upgrade over that. Please
>> > >> >> > let me
>> > >> >> > know
>> > >> >> > if
>> > >> >> > you don't think this would work.
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > Thanks to everyone for their help!
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> > "Noel Paton" wrote:
>> > >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> You don't want a C: prompt for formatting - you want an A:\>
>> > >> >> >> prompt!
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> Are/were you running GoBack on that machine?
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> Have you tried running the XP install from a CD boot?
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> What is your current boot order in the BIOS?
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> --
>> > >> >> >> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
>> > >> >> >>
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
>> > >> >> >>
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> Please read
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post
>> > >> >> >> messages
>> > >> >> >> to
>> > >> >> >> NG's
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> "Doug" <Doug@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > >> >> >> news:34851624-02BD-4E35-914E-7AC094B44F66@microsoft.com...
>> > >> >> >> > Any other suggestions from anyone? The newly downloaded win
>> > >> >> >> > 98
>> > >> >> >> > boot
>> > >> >> >> > disk
>> > >> >> >> > from
>> > >> >> >> > bootdisk.com didn't cause my computer to boot. Still can't
>> > >> >> >> > get to
>> > >> >> >> > a
>> > >> >> >> > c:
>> > >> >> >> > prompt
>> > >> >> >> > for formatting.
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> > "Doug" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> Hi Jim and Andrew:
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> Yes. I have tried changing boot sequences, F8, F6, Del.,
>> > >> >> >> >> Ctrl.,
>> > >> >> >> >> all
>> > >> >> >> >> buttons
>> > >> >> >> >> during boot sequence, but can't get command prompt or safe
>> > >> >> >> >> mode.
>> > >> >> >> >> Also,
>> > >> >> >> >> I
>> > >> >> >> >> have
>> > >> >> >> >> a windows 98 boot disk and CD Rom from my old system. Since
>> > >> >> >> >> my
>> > >> >> >> >> dad's
>> > >> >> >> >> computer
>> > >> >> >> >> won't recognize the Dell recovery CD as a "full" version,
>> > >> >> >> >> will
>> > >> >> >> >> my
>> > >> >> >> >> old
>> > >> >> >> >> 98
>> > >> >> >> >> CD
>> > >> >> >> >> work? It seems like I tried that, though and no luck. Also,
>> > >> >> >> >> in
>> > >> >> >> >> BIOS,
>> > >> >> >> >> shouldn't I have the boot order 1. floppy and 2. CD? Does
>> > >> >> >> >> it
>> > >> >> >> >> matter?
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> Thanks for your help, gentlemen!
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> "Jim Eshelman" wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >> >> > Doug wrote:
>> > >> >> >> >> > > I am trying to upgrade a computer that has WinME on it,
>> > >> >> >> >> > > to
>> > >> >> >> >> > > XP
>> > >> >> >> >> > > Home.
>> > >> >> >> >> > > The problem is, ME won't load, so I am stuck trying to
>> > >> >> >> >> > > install
>> > >> >> >> >> > > XP
>> > >> >> >> >> > > over a faulty ME system. (I thought the XP cd would
>> > >> >> >> >> > > "fix"
>> > >> >> >> >> > > this
>> > >> >> >> >> > > problem, but it isn't appearing to. I tried installing
>> > >> >> >> >> > > XP,
>> > >> >> >> >> > > but
>> > >> >> >> >> > > after
>> > >> >> >> >> > > the XP initially copies the files and restarts, the
>> > >> >> >> >> > > installation
>> > >> >> >> >> > > process starts over with the "press any key to begin
>> > >> >> >> >> > > setup..."
>> > >> >> >> >> > > I'm
>> > >> >> >> >> > > not able to get into safe mode, and can't figure out to
>> > >> >> >> >> > > get
>> > >> >> >> >> > > to
>> > >> >> >> >> > > a
>> > >> >> >> >> > > command prompt, where I can just fdisk everything and
>> > >> >> >> >> > > install
>> > >> >> >> >> > > ME
>> > >> >> >> >> > > and
>> > >> >> >> >> > > then XP over it. The ME is a recovery CD from Dell and
>> > >> >> >> >> > > not a
>> > >> >> >> >> > > retail
>> > >> >> >> >> > > copy. Does that matter? Any suggestions?
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> > So, bottom line, your question is: How do you boot to a
>> > >> >> >> >> > command
>> > >> >> >> >> > prompt
>> > >> >> >> >> > so
>> > >> >> >> >> > you can reinstall from scratch, right?
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> > Make a Windows 98 (yes, 98) boot floppy. The easiest way
>> > >> >> >> >> > is to
>> > >> >> >> >> > go
>> > >> >> >> >> > to
>> > >> >> >> >> > www.bootdisk.com and download the file that, when you run
>> > >> >> >> >> > it,
>> > >> >> >> >> > will
>> > >> >> >> >> > make
>> > >> >> >> >> > a
>> > >> >> >> >> > Win98 boot floppy for you. Boot from this, choosing the
>> > >> >> >> >> > option
>> > >> >> >> >> > for
>> > >> >> >> >> > CD
>> > >> >> >> >> > capability, and you're on your way.
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> > --
>> > >> >> >> >> > Jim Eshelman, MS-MVP Windows Shell/User, Windows Security
>> > >> >> >> >> > Windows Support Center: http://aumha.org/
>> > >> >> >> >> > AumHa Forums: http://aumha.net/
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >> >> >
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >> >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram