Hi, I'm working on a Win98 SE 128ram 3.2Gb pentium 11. I am trying to format the computer and reinstall windows as it did nothing but go through the boot process, then the windows logo would come on and go directly to its safe to shut down your computer. I used a startup disk and it was working up until it tried to scan drive C then got the message sscandisk cannot scan drive C as it has a fatal data error until you get it fixed it won't scan C. It scans the other drives no problem, can anyone please tell me what this means or how I can try to fix it so I can get her windows back on. I tried reading different articles on it came up with nothing that I'm familar with. Sorry I got a head of myself here I did get it to fornat and actually had the windows on and I'm not sure what happened to lose them so I have tried a few more times and when I try to format it again it said insufficent memory to perform task. The computer was a mess before I got to it so I really don't have a clue as what was done to it, I've formtted many many times before with no problem, so if anybody can help I would be so greatful its beginning to give me a headache. I tried scanreg/restore-scandisk-chkdsk, I even tried coping system files in case she didn't have any and it tranferred but that is it, I'm lost now so I will thank you now anybody for help.

maybe you have to debug the hard drive? search on the internet for debug script for hard drive and you want a dos partition removal debug script, this will erase everything on the hard drive and there will literally be nothing to format, you have to remake the partition using fdisk, then format it try an "fdisk /mbr" at a dos prompt try a different boot disk unplug all peripherals from the back of the computer try these steps in reverse order

Hi I guess I didn't do a very good job trying to explain the problem I'm having I can't get on the internet as I just get through the boot process and when I put in another startup disk try to format it won't let me get anywhere it tells me scandisk encountered an error while reading the Fat on drive C. This error prevents scandisk from fixing the drive. Anymore suggestion open to anything thanks.

Run fdisk and remove whatever partitions you have and then repartition. Then try formatting.

I ran FDISK and I get insufficient memory when I try to format . I was wondering if there is a way to take out the Windows98 SE that did go on the first time I formatted, she has 128 megs of ram or would it do any good to try and take them out as I said the first time everything went well until I tried to change her mouse also how do I remove the partions sorry I'm so dumb but its been a long time since I had to do this and I'm no technician. I really appreciate the help.

Boot from a floppy, run fdisk at the prompt, choose "enable large disk support", then option 4 to see what partitions you have. Then ESC to the main menu and option 3 to remove the partition(s), one at a time. When the partition(s) are deleted choose option 1, "create dos partition. . . ", say Y to maximum size (assuming you only want one partition). ESC and reboot from the floppy and at the prompt type format c: When it's done, reboot again from the bootdisk and make sure you choose cd rom support. It will load the drivers for the cd rom. Then, with the win98 cd in the cd rom, type d:\setup at the prompt. (Your cd rom drive letter may be E if your bootdisk creates a temporary ram drive as D.)

Dave if you are there I did what you said or tried to. I got a message that C drive has no fat or fat32 system, I tried to run the D:\setup and I have to partion the drive so I guess I'll go back and try it again I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, I thought I had it figured out earlier and was close to being done and somehow I screwed it up not surprising though if there is any more suggestions I'm open to them thanks. I will give it another go.