I have an old computer that I stored a little data in, to keep clutter off the new. It has been quite awhile since I used it. Now, I tried to boot it so I could get the data out and it is not booting. It goes through the test and comes up with a message that the configuration is wrong, to use the Setup Program. Then it states to push F1 to continue or F2 to get to the setup (I think directory). I have tried to use F1 and then get a disk error or wrong disk err .....repeating the F1 does the same thing over and over. Using F2 choice gets me to a screen of settings that you can change. When I got there it stated due to a power outage some settings were lost and it has gone back to default settings, however, there was something that was not configured properly, to look at page 1. Okay I see nothing on page 1 except the diskettes that need changing. I had two diskette spots, labeled diskette a: 5.25 370 MB (I changed this to 1.2 MB) diskette b: not installed (I changed this to 3.5 1.44 MB) Harddrive 1 : Type 2 harddrive 2: not installed Base Mem 640 KB EXT MEM 9600 KB Video CGA80 Keyboard installed Numlock at boot: Yes (I did change this to no) it has CYL 614 HD 4 PRE 300 LZ 615 SEC 17 Size 20 nothing helped it reboot. It just kept doing the same thing. not knowing which slot has the 5.25 and 3.5 I interchanged them without luck. I tried Number lock on and off. HELP!! Next I tried to use the disk 1 of a 3.5 for my DOS 5 without luck. Tired the 3.5 for Win 3.1.....it won't read them. I then went to the 5.25 floppies for the Win 3.1 and it would not read it. What is it asking me to do? How do I get back into the computer? I know this is an outdated computer but I have genealogy material that is important to me. I have children's games that my grandkids could play if I could get back in. thanks for any advice. Denise

Is the reported size of the hard drive actually correct ??? you may need to manually adjust to correspond to what is written on the drive !

Probably the smoothest move is to put the drive in another box and copy the data. Not much detail given but if the PC is as old as I'm guessing, it's probably not worth much time or money to make it go. "CPU/Ram: CPU 20 X 9600 KB" Does that mean it's a 20MHZ 386 or 286? If a 286 the HD could be MFM/RLL and it'll be a hat trick to find a box with a controller to run it. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

thanks for the comments....how do I find what the HD is? if it's correct? also, I do think it's a 20 MHZ (will try to figure out 286 or 286). I know it's really old/outdated and that's why I don't want to take it in to a tech store. Can you be more specific for me about using another "Box". Do you mean find another computer and run it off that. That might actually be possible as I have a couple old one's someone left here that I have never tried to boot up. I kept thinking I needed to do SOMETHING with them, but not sure what. thanks again, D

"Do you mean find another computer and run it off that." yes To ID the drive, open the case and read the label. Also take note of the 'ribbon cables'. If there's only one, it's probably IDE [40 pin] or SCSI [50 pin]. If 2 cables [20 pin & 34 pin] it's MFM/RLL. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

I'd suspect if it's an old machine that has sat for quite a while, the CMOS/BIOS battery has drained to the point that it's lost it's hard-drive configuration. If you've been able to access the BIOS (Setup), a check on the date would likely confirm this (probably would report something like January 1, 1980) If 20MHz is correct, then it is (likely) a 386 (such as a 386sx20). There were some 286-20's, but somewhat rare (and 25MHz were the rarest of the breed). You may also have an issue with just "moving the drive" to another machine. If it's an early 386, it may have an IDE, RLL, ESDI, MFM or even a SCSI drive in it. If something other than an IDE, moving the drive and controller card would likely be necessary (and if a SCSI, you might have to do more research on the configuration). When you get the box open, report back exactly what the hard drive says on it...

Also worth vaccuming the floppy drive. You may get disk misreads.