I bought a 1990 dell vc-2e computer a few weeks ago, my kids played a game and now nothing works. I am fairly new to computers but will try to explain what I have done up to now. With no recovery disk I borrowed a friends, I get to, updating escd.....success and verifying dmi pool data it then does nothing else.
I also need to know what the boot sequence should be as I may have changed the original setting, I thought this would be the best thing I have bought but it is turning into a nightmare someone help me please

First of all, do you have the recovery software that came with the computer (Dell)? If you do, just put the cd in the tray and restore your system. If you don't have any factory software, you need a Win98 recovery disc (boot disc) and the win 98 operating system disk. If you don't have any of these, you're outa luck. Post back and let us know what you have. Boot order should be A: floppy / cdrom / c: hard drive.

Booting sequence should be floppy (a), then hard drive (c). Being an older pc, you may not have too many choices. That is the basic choice that most systems go with.

If you have c then a - you maybe having a problem with the hard drive. If it is already a then c - you probably have bigger problems. Hope you didn't pay much for a 1990 pc.

What operating system is on the computer, Windows 3.1 or 95 0r 98... You should use the corresponding Startup Disk. (I hope it's 98 because that is easier to fix than the others.)

I wonder why it is updating escd, maybe the CMOS battery is dead and the BIOS settings have changed?
Well, since the update appears successful, the next thing that should happen (I think) is the loading of the Master Boot Record of the hard drive or floppy drive, which ever one is set to boot first. If there is something wrong with the Master Boot Record of the first drive to be checked, the computer might not go on to check for a Master Boot Record on other drives in the boot sequence list.
This is a long way of saying, for best results, you need to make sure you get the floppy drive listed first in the sequence AND use the proper Startup Disk (one for your specific version of Windows).

The vc-2e is a monitor. What kind of computer do you have?

six hours I was sat at the computer yesturday, I managed to to get to windows 98 start up menu but then nothing, I was asked for the path to windows cab file. When I typed fdisk/mbr I was told there was no fixed disks present. I don't know what else to do apart from pulling my hair out!

Six hours isn't a lot to some of us. I went more than 40 hours non stop once. No food or sleep. I look back at that as a fun time.

The Windows Startup Menu gives options like Normal, Safe Mode, Command Prompt Only... It that the menu you can get to? That would be a good thing. If you choose Safe Mode, will the computer start? That would be very good. If Safe Mode doesn't work, try Boot To Command Prompt Only.

But since you mentioned the Windows CAB files, you may be getting to a completely different menu. Are you getting to the menu with your borrowed floppy disk, or by letting the computer start without the floppy disk?

The fact that fdisk said no fixed disk present is troubling. But if you want to continue looking for a cure to your ills, let's start by answering some of the questions that have been asked of you.
What operating system is on the computer?
Is it a Dell computer for sure? (DAVEINCAPS says vc-2e is a monitor.)
Do you have any disks that came with the computer? (Using the wrong disks might cause a problem.)