I bought a new computer (used) with nothing on it. I want to install win98 B and then a ME update. BIOS is arranged so that it boots from floppy, CD and Harddisk, but, I just get the message: Searching for boot record from floppy/CD/harddisk...not found Boot failure insert boot diskette in a: I have managed it on my last 3 compuzters but something here isnt right. I get the feeling dos isnt there!

First a tip. You don't have to install win98 first. If you do the WinME install, it will ask you for proof of prior ownership and you can insert the win98 CD to satisfy that request. Have you tried inserting the WinME CD in the drive? It 'might' be bootable. If not, download a file from www.bootdisk.com to create a bootable WinME floppy diskette. Do yourself a favor BACKUP!!!

thanks for the advice. The win ME CD is an update CD, so I think I have to put win98 on first. I tried to boot from it but I get the same old answer. I have a bootdisk, but it doesnt work. I giot one from a friend who made it straight from his win98-doesnt work. I've tried downloading one, but it gets to 99% and says error on track 76!

Not necessary to install '98 first to use the ME upgrade CD. At the point where ME setup asks for proof of previous OS, swap out the ME cd and offer up the '98 cd... then carry on with ME setup. bootdisk.com is one site for boot-disk images; get both the '98 SE (with CDROM support) and the ME versions. DAve to a hard-drive; then (click-on to) extract/expand the image (whichever you decide to use) to a floppy; use that floppy...

"thanks for the advice. The win ME CD is an update CD, so I think I have to put win98 on first" No, you still don't get it NO upgrade cd's are bootable, except for XP. NOT ALL '98 cd's will boot. All '98 so called "OEM" cd's boot, and I have several retail '98 cd's that do NOT boot. None of the ones I have that do NOT boot are upgrades. Second, you do NOT have an "update" cd, I believe if you read the cd it will say UPGRADE. That is an important difference. Third, you need to resolve the boot floppy issue. "the same old answer" We need to know what this means---We don't know what the error/mistake/problem is. Most computers of this nature, should be able to start and install EITHER ME or '98 from a common, ordinary Whinehozed98 startup floppy, either made from a running '98 machine, or one downloaded from bootdisk.com. Next, have you tested this boot-floppy you are using on a different/second/ third machine, and does the floppy disk work? If the disk works in other machines, and not the target, then, simply You have a bad floppy drive, or it is hooked up incorrectly or the floppy cable is loose/bad/incorrect, or it is set improperly in bios (make sure it says 1.44) For all I know, you may have accidently got an old 720K floppy drive in there.

my ME CD has the word "update" on it. I couldnt boot from the ME of Win98 on my old comp (I used a boot disc) and it doesnt work on the new one. The floppy works on my old computer, so the problem must be either the cable or BIOS. the message I get is: searching for boot record from floppy...not found and I get the same message for the CD and HD. When I press enter, the ligh on the floppy comes on for 2 secs and on the CD but nothing else happens except I get the message.

Start again... Check "carefully - very carefully": 1) both flopppy and hard-drive are properly installed/connected etc. (cable connectors are securely pressed home - and the right way round at each end...); 2:) both devices are detected/shown correctly in the bios/cmos settings; and that the floppy is identified/set as 1.44Meg not 720... (this latter as already suggested by "name"); 3) boot order = floppy first, then hard-drive. No other drives CD/DVD or whatever attached...; and ensure the hard-drive jumper is set as Master-no Slave (or single-Master); it can be either or something very similar... Then boot up using a "known to be good/OK" '98SE or ME boot-disk, see what happens?