BleepingComputer.com: I would like to start over

budman1404, on Aug 18 2009, 03:24 PM, said:

My bad. You want to choose "start computer without CD-ROM support".
Then type it the bold text.

# Insert the Windows 98 Startup disk in the floppy disk drive, and then restart your computer.
# When the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup menu is displayed, choose the Start computer without CD-ROM support option, and then press ENTER.
# At a command prompt, type fdisk, and then press ENTER.
# If the hard disk is larger than 512 MB, you receive the following prompt:
Your computer has a disk larger than 512 MB. This version of Windows includes improved support for large disks, resulting in more efficient use of disk space on large drives, and allowing disks over 2 GB to be formatted as a single drive.

IMPORTANT: If you enable large disk support and create any new drives on this disk, you will not be able to access the new drive(s) using other operating systems, including some versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT, as well as earlier versions of Windows and MS-DOS. In addition, disk utilities that were not designated explicitly for the FAT32 file system will not be able to work with this disk. If you need to access this disk with other operating systems or older disk utilities, do no enable large drive support.

Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N)?
If you want to use the FAT32 file system, press Y, and then press ENTER. If you want to use the FAT16 file system, press N, and then press ENTER.

# After you press ENTER, the Fdisk Options menu is displayed. Press 1 to select the Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive option, and then press ENTER.
# Press 1 to select the Create Primary DOS Partition option, and then press ENTER.
# After you press ENTER, you receive the following prompt:
Do you wish to use the maximum available size for primary DOS partition?
FAT32 File System:

1. If you chose the FAT32 file system in step 4 and you want all of the space on the hard disk to be assigned to drive C, press Y, and then press ENTER.
2. Press ESC, and then press ESC to quit the Fdisk tool and return to a command prompt.
3. Skip to step 10.

ThunderZ, I really appreciate your trying to help me, but I NEVER get to the point of coosing "start without cd-rom support".
I get "remove disks or other media.
press any key to restart."
What is in quotes is as far as I can get...with the "regular" boot disk,
it is just a loop

I did all of the steps you`ve outlined, i formatted this harddrive three days ago and did a clean install and the thing ran so well I had to sit on it to keep it in the room with me...nothing...no one thing.. has changed as far as devices or cd`s or operator...I am sure it is something I`ve done...I just don`t know what it was...

I meant that I did the steps you`ve outlined, three days ago....I know I am confusing the issue..it`s just been really frustrating.

I`m really sorry. Not much help myself.

Keep hoping a Win98 user will chime in. It has been to long for me.

I do appreciate the effort. I`m wondering if I am mixing DOS AND windows at the start?, but if I just try to boot with a normal boot disk I get nowhere (except stuck in that loop). They say you shouldn`t argue with an idiot because no one can tell who is the idiot.....For all those wondering...I AM THE IDIOT HERE.

budman1404, on Aug 18 2009, 08:06 PM, said:

I did read your posts thats why I quoted you.

budman1404, on Aug 18 2009, 04:30 PM, said:

Why are you posting the spec on a computer you don't have this problem with?

[quote name='budman1404' date='Aug 18 2009, 10:30 AM' post='1389561']
Case:__RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case
PSU: __OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7
Mobo: __ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard Xtreme Phase for AM3 CPU w/ DDR3 support, TurboV
CPU: _AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor
HDD: __Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
RAM: __G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
Video Card: __SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Monitor: __ASUS VW192T+ 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 4000:1(1000:1) Built in Speakers
Extras: _NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Model FD1231M
Logitech laser mouse
Western Digital 1TB External harddrive
LG GGW-H20L BLU-RAY RW-HD-DVD-ROM
really crappy secretary chair
........and at the very end of post.....This ( the aforementioned list of devices) is what I am using to fix momma`s old POS (Essential 433c)....
these two computers are in the same room....but that`s about the only thing they have in common.

ooh...I see....that was in reply to the $5.00 floppy or find one at the side of the road comment...sorry

I am working on an old Gateway Essential 433c (the aforementioned POS). Sorry for the confusion ( that I caused and the state I am in...confused as well).

...is it possible to throw a tower far enough to actually make it bounce?

This post has been edited by budman1404: 18 August 2009 - 05:58 PM

Well with a 35 post count in one topic. Can't you click the Edit button and add your other thoughts? Or are you trying to raise your post count?

Well Budman that would depend on how many harddrives and such that you have in the tower and what size of tower we are talking about. I don`t think the OS would make any difference. The bounce factor would also depend on the size of the thrower as much as the throwee. IMHO.

oh I see what you mean..I didn`t know this was possible...thank you.

This post has been edited by budman1404: 18 August 2009 - 05:45 PM

I don`t care about the number of posts, they can all be deleted as far as I`m concerned,not a lot of help yet. I don`t know how to do a lot of this (edit,quote and all), I`m still learning.....

would anyone care to chime in on the Smartdrive question? Can I get anywhere from there?

my goodness that is one CUTE little cowboy there on the left

This post has been edited by budman1404: 18 August 2009 - 06:03 PM

Sorry Cowboy.

Got called away to do my regular job.

Regarding Smartdrive. Really do not know if it helps or just muddies the water more.

At the A:\ prompt I am thinking you need to type in a switch. DOS needs to be pointed to the hard drive that needs to be formatted. In this case I am thinking it is E since DOS has loaded to memory and is considered to be another hard drive at this time.

It is just that the reference to an X drive at location 0 has got be a little confused. Location 0 would be your first IDE port on the mobo.

This post has been edited by ThunderZ: 19 August 2009 - 06:50 AM