Major Computer Problem

I am having computer problems with my old (5 or 6 years (maybe more)) windows 98 computer. We do virus scans and other computer utilities (defragmenting etc) often. However, now we have a problem that happens whenever we start the computer up, not allowing us to access desktop or any other of the computers files.

Whenever we start up the computer, it shows the windows 98 loading screen, but then turns black. In white text, there is:

Code:

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Invalid Boot Diskette
Insert Boot diskette in A:

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That's it. Nothing else. Pressing any key just causes the message to repeat itself. Restarting the computer doesn't help. Waiting for a few days then starting up the computer doesn't help (not much difference then just restarting I guess).

Help!

Sounds to me like one of the major system files got eliminated. First thing you'll need to do is get a bookdisk for your copy of Windows 98. You can get one from here.

Use it to boot up and at the prompt, go to the C root and check if command.com is present. And if io.sys and msdos.sys are present by typing dir /arash. If any of those three are missing, copy them from the bootdisk to the harddrive and try rebooting again without the disk. I think it should fix the problem.

sounds like the diskette drive could be going on you... try unplugging it from the mobo and see what happens.

if, after trying that it still doesn't work, then yeah, you probably lost a big system file.

check the boot device priority in the BIOS....change the priority such that the hard disk is first. M saying this considering that A: is ur floppy drive.

No. Because it boots to windows 98 screen so it obviously booted to the hard drive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoshR

No. Because it boots to windows 98 screen so it obviously booted to the hard drive.

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hrm... didn't catch that... in that case I'd assume it was missing files.

My next question would be whether or not it can get to safe mode!?

Disable Floppy drive in BIOS.

Boot in DOS and look for DOS commands like.
chkdsk

Get a DOS boot disk and do a DIR in C:\Windows and C:\windows\system and C:\windows\system32. Do it on another Windows 98 machine too, and find the files that are missing.

I restored a friend's Win98 machine in this way. In my case it was msvcrt.dll missing from C:\windows\system.

[If you need DIRs from a Windows 98 system that is working I can give them to you.]

or, if you're using a FAT32 partition and can boot from a CD, try knoppix :D

Or Mepis, which can run off of a NTFS hard drive.

Although if he has Windows 98 it's probably a FAT32 hard drive.