Thread: Stinking Win95SE wont boot.

  1. #1
    I hate Sinus infections
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    Angry Stinking Win95SE wont boot.

    Ill start with what i was doing when the prob started. I was Installing a Dragon Throne: Battle for the Red Cliffs demo from a PC gamers CD. At the end of the installation, the cursor froze up, and ctrl+alt+del didnt work. Well, after pressing it 2x, it poped up a blue screen sayin that the "system was busy" GRRRRR
    I hard rebooted, and right away got the mess, please put in the startup disk, yada, yada, yada. I did that, and when i was prompted, i had a choice of booting with CD-ROM support, without CD-ROM support, or viewing the help menu. I tried all three, but never got anywhere past something about there being no hard drive. According to some "helpful" text, i could have done bad formatting, wich i didnt do, gotten a virus, or something ese, cant rember. I just rebooted again, and now immediatly get something saying "missing operating system"
    What did i do?
    All i have done recently is install the demo, but i have put the same one on several times before w/o difficulties.

    About 1 week ago, the CD drive was replaced under warrenty, but its been working fine.

    I havent even downloaded anything in about 3 months (?).

    Should i try to run the restore CD? If i should, how do i get to the drive? "You should use the driver that came with the drive". I mean, come on, its the same kind of drive that came with the stinking computer.

    PS. NEVER BUY COMPAQ

  2. #2
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    If you're still under warranty, call Compaq.

    And i SERIOUSLY doubt you are running win95 SE, since, to my knowledge there is no such thing, unless you are referring to Win95 "B". Which I still can't believe you are running since that is ANCIENT. Upgrade the OS. Even if you're running 98, upgrade for heaven's sake.
    EntropySink. You know you have to click it.

  3. #3
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    Re: Stinking Win95SE wont boot.

    NEVER BUY COMPAQ
    I love you

    Stinking Win95SE
    I hate you

    Seriously now, I had that once a long time ago, My problem was
    my Hard Drive, My computer suddenly rebooted and my hard
    drive was empty!!! (now i think of it, it was pretty
    funny). Don't search the problem at your CD Drive, Usually it's
    your memory or hard drive.

  4. #4
    I hate Sinus infections
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    actualy

    I typoed. I have 98SE. Sorry.

    I am well on the way to convincing my dad to let me install linux.
    and please no "advice" on the best distro, since that will only lead to flamming.


    My reason for hating compaq:
    My computer is on its:
    2nd hd
    3rd cd-rom drive
    2nd floppy drive

    as per upgrading, I have sworn a solom vow on the bible never to buy microsoft OS's again, or its products. Exept for games. Maybe.

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    Re: actualy

    I have sworn a solom vow on the bible never to buy microsoft OS's again
    Like, Why? Just because Win98 isn't working right on that
    cursed compaq? That's no reasen.

    Exept for games
    Backstabbing Bastard

  6. #6
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Are you sure it's a software issue at this point? It sounds like a possible hardware failure if it's not detecting a HD. Do you have a spare HD sitting around you can swap into it?
    EntropySink. You know you have to click it.

  7. #7
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    wow, I haven't had any trouble with my compaq, not yet at least. *knock on wood*

  8. #8
    and the Hat of Clumsiness GanglyLamb's Avatar
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    Originally posted by ober5861
    Are you sure it's a software issue at this point? It sounds like a possible hardware failure if it's not detecting a HD. Do you have a spare HD sitting around you can swap into it?
    i dont think that would be suited because he said that he installed something and after reboot the HD was "empty".
    So i think this is a software prob and not something with the HD.
    (never seen a HD that broke because of installing some software..)

  9. #9
    I hate Sinus infections
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    update

    Im looking at it, and as it booted, i use the boot disk, and couldnt get anywhere with cdrom support. i booted w/o it, and win 98 has detected that drive c does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition.
    Causes-
    The drive may need to be partitioned
    you may be using a third party disk partitioning software. if you are using this type of software, remove the emergency boot disk and retart your computer. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to start your computer from a floppy disk.
    Sme viruses also cause your drive C to not register. You can use a virus scanning program to check your compuer for viruses.


    Then, "the diagnostic tools ere successfully loaded to drive C


    can a drive suddenly "unpartition"?
    Never touched a tihird party disk partitioning thing.
    havent done anything new on the drive for a good several months.


    I would try the restore CD, but when i try to boot with cdrom support, the driver doesnt work. (the automatic win 98 one) I need the one that came with the computer and is on the restore cd. But without the driver, i cant access the drive to get the driver.

    Maybe i can load the driver onto the gateway that im using right now, and load it onto the Compaq through the network?
    But how would I be able to do that, since i cant even run windoze?

    I would be able to fix it by reformating the drive from dos, but what is the command to do it?

    If i do refomat, if it is possible, how do you create partitions from within DOS?
    Last edited by windoze victim; 02-03-2003 at 03:31 PM.
    The only good thing about freezing beyond feeling in the final Nordic ski race was that I couldn't feel that tumble I did going about 30 mph, maybe more.
    On the other hand, not feeling any part of my body for 30 minutes was scary, especialy for my manhood.

    Windoze: XP, hate it, though its more stable than my old 98SE
    Dream: linux, mandrake, then slackware.

  10. #10
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    you need to create a DOS bootdisk that has fdisk and format on it. Go to www.bootdisk.com They should be able to hook you up.

    then stick the disk in, run fdisk, delete all partitions, create new ones, format it, and install your OS.

  11. #11
    Registered User TravisS's Avatar
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    erm... That's not the way to do it if you're going to use the QuickRestore CD(s). Compaq's require two partitions. A primary, typically 80%, and an extended at about 20% (duh). The restore CD will create these partions automatically for you. So, go ahead and fdisk away the original partitions, but don't create new ones using fdisk, let the CD do that for you.

  12. #12
    I hate Sinus infections
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    ermm

    So, use fdisk, but then how do i access the cd drive. it requires a special driver that comes on the compaq cd.

  13. #13
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    ohh, wait. I also want to load linux alongside win. Would it be possible to make 2 or 3 partitions instead of 20 and 80%?

    Actually, if i can convince my dad to let me (its our crappy 2nd comp) ill dump win and just fdisk and load mandrake.

  14. #14
    Registered User TravisS's Avatar
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    Hrrrrm, I'm not sure about linux alongside windows. Well, it's very possible, but will take some work. Just let the QuickRestore do it's partitioning thing, then once it gets all done download a partition resizer. There are a few free ones out there (legally free) that you can use. Just resize the primary DOS partition into two partitions. Use the new, second partion for your Linux partitions.

    Lots of work. Acutally, a freaking ton of work. Just install Linux if your dad will let you

    And the CD-ROM will boot straight to any bootable CD, regardless of Compaq drivers or not.

  15. #15
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    if your hard drive has been formatted on a compaq, the quick restore cd's will not work. you have to order the full cd with windows on it from hewlet packerd.i know this. i paid $1800 for a new laptop, i asked the guy if it came with a full windows cd, he said yes( not knowing what he was talking about).i never really paid attention to the cd's, but 6 months after i got the laptop decided to put linux on it, so i fdisked put linux on it, worked fine. then i decided to put windows and linux on it. so i fdisked, put the restore cds in, woooooo, come to find out they had no operatiing system on them.i called hewlett packerd( which owns compaq now)and they said i have to order the full windows cd to make it work.hmmmmm i said. i paid $1800 for a laptop with no os? they said no, you got win with it, you just deleted the partition that had it on it.i said, that doesnt matter, you advertised it came with a os but it didnt.i had to go through a big hassle of getting a full cd (had to buy it). that is why i would never buy a compaq or hewlett packerd for that matter.its like you buy a car, and while driving down the road it stops. you look under the hood and the engine is gone. call the dealership and they say, OH IT JUST SEEMD LIKE IT HAD A MOTOR, YOU GOTTA PAY EXTRA FOR A REAL ONE

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