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You are here: Experts > Computing/Technology > Focus on Windows > Windows 95/98 > win98
Expert: Kevin - 11/2/2009
Question
QUESTION: Was given an older PC with win 98. has WD300 30.0 GB HDD, System is unable to boot, even with the Win 98 Boot Disk. Recognizes the other components (CD-ROMs, etc). Each time I boot, I get "Disk Boot Failure, Insert system Disk and Press Enter". Same after using the Boot Disk.
Would try to re-install, but no prompts (C:, etc).
Vicious circle. Please advise
ANSWER: Hi Max, which bootdisk is this? Is this the Windows 98 floppy diskette or the Windows 98 CD? If you haven't done so already, get the Windows 98 boot floppy diskette at:
http://1gighost.com/ed/jamiephiladelphia/boot98.exe
Save it to your desktop. Then insert a blank floppy diskette and double click on that icon. You will be prompted that it will overwrite the contents on the floppy. Continue. Once that's finished, remove the floppy and insert it into this computer. Power on the computer and boot from the floppy. If it doesn't boot to it automatically, you might have to go into the BIOS (aka Setup) and configure the floppy to be the first boot device.
You may follow more detailed instructions below on starting from the floppy and then CD:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/221829
Scroll all the way down until the last part where it says how to install Windows 98. You may read the other details before that if you want.
Kevin.
Kevin's Resource Center - http://www.greyknight17.com
KRC Forum - http://www.greyknight17.com/bb
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you, for your assistance.
It is a floppy diskette. I am still unable to get any prompts (C:, etc) with which to utilize the listed commands on the Microsoft site you so kindly provided.
I have set the boot sequence for let’s see: "C, CD-Rom, A"; "C, A"; and "A, C", and each time I get the same "Disk Boot Failure, Insert system Disk and Press Enter" message. The floppy disk (Boot Disk) does not seem to change this status. I have even switched out another HDD, but I got the same "Disk Boot Failure…”. I have even, reluctantly, used the system’s on-board (Bios) "HDD low-level Format". The system, at least in this capacity only, acknowledges the HDD. But upon boot-up it recognizes the other components (CD-ROMs, etc), but I still have no HDD recognition or prompts.
I have not replaced the cables, yet, but the fact the same issue occurred with two HDD, I can’t believe that would be the culprit. Could it be the motherboard, the Bios, or both?
Thank you again for your assistance.
Answer
This floppy diskette is using the bootdisk.exe files correct? Can you open it and confirm that there are multiple files in there? Other than that, the only thing I can think of is that the floppy diskette is having problems. Can you swap it out with another known working one to see if it helps? Also swap out the cable with is just to be sure.
I don't think it's the HDD. The error you are getting is because the computer doesn't see any operating system (Windows in this case) to bootup from. If you set it to A, CDROM, C: drive, it should boot from the floppy first. If not, it might be a faulty floppy drive. I can't rule out other reasons for this, but the simplest one to try out is to swap out the floppy drive for now.
Kevin.
Kevin's Resource Center - http://www.greyknight17.com
KRC Forum - http://www.greyknight17.com/bb
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