I'm trying to re-install windows (but have lost access to my cd-rom..); I should obtain the driver for this within the next couple of days. However, when I do a 'dir' on my c drive, I don't have ANY files on the computer. Can anyone help me out as to which files I need so that once I have a cd-rom that I can re-install windows? Note that I do have all of the original 98 files before my pc 'crashed' due to 'user error'..

Thanks for any suggestions!!

Bryan

This isn't making a great deal of sense - if your hard drive is empty, how are you booting up?

Also a bit puzzled by your expectation of a CD driver 'in a couple of days'

You can download a file to create a bootdisk with CD-ROM support (unlesss your CD drive is an older non IDE type)

Maybe you should go over just what led up to this

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

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It is very easy.
After you put you new cdrom in turn the computer on hit the eject button of the cdrom and place the cd in it. Do this as soon as you turn your computer on.

One of two things will happen.
1) you will be presented with the Win98 install page. If this happens just follow the instruction and re-install Win98
2) you will get a messege saying that the boot has failed. Now if you got this messege you will need to change you BIOS so that it will boot from the cdrom.

Restart your computer hit the key to change BIOS setup. Sorry can not tell which key becase each computer is different. Look on the screen it usually tells you.

Once in to the BIOS look thru the various catagories and look for something that say
"BOOT FROM CDROM" You need to change this so that the first choose is "CDROM" once you have done this SAVE, exit and restart computer with the Win98 cd in the cdrom.

If for some reason this does not work post back here for further help.

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http://www.windows98.windowsreinstall.com/

"I'm trying to re-install windows (but have lost access to my cd-rom..); I should obtain the driver for this within the next couple of days."

What driver are you missing ? a W98SE OEM will recognise standard MoBo IDE drive.

"I don't have ANY files on the computer"

Well that is the reason for installing an Operating System., surely ?

Some clarification would sure help - to install Windows (or any OS) you don't as a rule need any files on the HDD - that is the whole point, the installation process takes care of things

fyi tiyogi - unlike Linux, not all Win98 CDs can be booted from (and that may not even be an option on older machines) - hence the concept of the 'bootdisk'

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

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I did try the above suggestions.. 1st - I tried modifying the bios so that I could boot from a cd-rom (but I didn't have that option, so I had to try the 2nd option).

2nd - I downloaded a win 98 bootdisk from bootdisk.com. However, when I use the boot disk to start the pc, I get the following error message: "ntldr is missing. Press any key to restart"

Note that when I restart the pc without any disk in the floppy (or in the cd-rom), I get the following message:

invalid system disk
replace the disk and press any key to continue

Also note that I got myself into this mess when I re-formated my c drive (using the format c command)..

Does anyone have any more suggestions that I can try? As always, any help is GREATLY apprecated!!

Bryan

My pc boots up on its own (without a startup disk in the floppy drive) and flashes Windows 98 for about a second. Then it goes into DOS mode and says 'win 98 copywrite ....'. However, my cd-rom is not recognized and am having trouble locating a driver for my mad-dog lightning cd-rom. I've checked on driverguide.com, but its not listed.. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my cd-rom up and running?

Thanks!