I was given an older PC with win 98. It has a WD300 30.0 GB HDD, System is unable to boot, even with the Win 98 Boot Disk. During the POST it recognizes the other components (CD-ROMs, etc). Each time I boot, I get "Disk Boot Failure, Insert system Disk and Press Enter". The same occurs after using the Boot Disk (floppy) I am unable to get any prompts (A:, C:, etc) with which to utilize the commands on the Boot disk. 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 use of the floppy disk (Boot Disk) does not seem to change this condition, as the green light comes on only momentarily. I have even switched out two other HDDs, and a total of three FDDs and each time I get 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, consistently upon boot-up it recognizes the other components (CD-ROMs, etc), but I still receive the same "Failure" message. I would try to re-install the OS, but I receive no prompts (C:, etc). Can you please assist?

Sounds like it may be a controller gone awry. If so, then you'd have to disable the on-board and install a separate controller card (with FDD & IDE support)...

If you actually did the low level format then the OS is gone anyway. The way you describe the bios options make it sound like it's an older P-I or even a 486. As such the drive may be too large for the bios to recognize. Do you know if 98 was working with that motherboard on that 30 gig drive? You can boot up with the 98 bootdisk (set a: as the first boot device) and run FDISK. It'll either give an 'error reading fixed disk' or 'no fixed disks present' or ask about large disk support. Choose Y to that and then option 4. What does it say? Help me Jebus!

Make a new 98 boot floppy, how are you making the floppy ?