dos command for clean install

[2cxc]

Can get into dos mode f8 doesn't work, how can i get into dos from startup and what is the dos command for a complete clean install?

thanks
Warren

 

[2cxc]

i'm on a laptop and no floppy drive just cd, win98 system won't recognize the cd drive and F8 doesn't work, i tried to hold it down before win start up and after as well, both no luck. Any ideas? Please help

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

Try the ctrl key or, if this is a Compaq, the F5 or F10 keys..

Murray

 

[2cxc]

none of them worked it an ibm thinkpad ... kinda old

 

[wolluf]

is the 98 installation still actually functional?
If so, you could try editing the msdos.sys file to force it to start with the boot menu or boot straight to dos - see link (where you can choose command prompt only) - though I'm not sure how that's going to help if you can't access the CD drive.

http://members.aol.com/axcel216/msdos.htm.

You could install the drive in a PC (you can get adapters to do this), turn it into effectively a win98 boot floppy & copy the win98 cab files to it (and any drivers you need). Then put it back in laptop - should boot to a C: prompt and you can run setup from there.

Note: You could install 98 while in PC - but it probably won't boot in laptop.

 

[2cxc]

how can i get into the bios from startup and try to instigate the cd disk from there to implement win98?

 

[wolluf]

any suggestions here helpful?

http://www.bootdisk.com/txtfiles/zbios1.txt

you could try pressing down lots of keys when its booting (sometimes causes error which forces 'press xxx to enter setup' message). Try this several times - its not an exact science (and may not work at all of course)!

 

[2cxc]

I get the windows logo at startup then the user name / password prompt when i try to login or when i Cancel the computer thinks for a very long time and then stops think and stops on the desktop colour and no icons or mouse or any images, if i load with password them the background image loads the computer thinks again for a long time and thinks get stuck right there again... any thoughts?

 

[wolluf]

So turning it on and pressing keys immediately has no effect - it still starts loading windows?

And pressing keys (like Ctrl, F8, F5, which should give you menu) just before windows starts loading doesn't do anything?

When was it last functioning - what happened to stop it?

Its sounding like you will have to connect the drive to another machine (as per my earlier suggestion) to get access to it.

 

[2cxc]

I got an error 00301 with a anti sign around the stop hand. Then i can go in and do dianostics which i did and everything checked out and i pressed the restart (open door) open.

 

[thebigguy128]

On a Thinkpad 560, to get into the bios setup, you need to start with the power off. Hold down f1 key and turn on the computer. Keep the f1 key held down until the easy setup screen comes on.

Dana

 

[TekTippy4U]

I think F4 should invoke the old/previous dos....

was 95 on there....or 98

these guys are telling you everything you need to know to get into the Startup menu.......and /or BIOS

you probably also have an SCSI cdrom and Adapter card

look on

http://www.bootdisk.com

for SCSI help

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.

 

[2cxc]

well i sent the friend to a company to get it hooked to another machine and fix it like that, i've got to remember that solution, save me some time when things are as bad as they were.... thanks for the replies