I am trying to re-install Win 98se on an IBM Aptiva 2170-190. After installing the IBM product recovery CD in the CD drive and power on the PC, all I get is the Aptiva logo screen. All of the drive lights come on and back off during the power on, but nothing else happens. I have tried to get into setup to ensure that the CD drive is set to boot from first, but can't get to set-up. I use the F1 key and even press it repeatedly during poweer on, again no luck. Can anyone help me with this?

Try turning it on while holding down the F1 key. See if this helps.

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Thanks for the advice, but didn't work.

After reading another post, I disconected the harddrive and was able to boot from floppy w/CD rom support, and could read off the CD. I checked the pins on both the harddrive and the mother board and everything is fine. I even replaced the ribbon cable with a new one, but still no luck.

With the hdd disconnected did you try entering the bios setup ?

If the hdd is bad it could be hanging the comp.

Yes, I was able to get into the bios. While I was in there I changed the master drive to "AUTO" and the start up seq to CD, Floppy, HDD. I was able to get the recovery CD started, but now when I select format and reinstall Ii get a message that it can't perform the operation and to use fdisk to formatt the drive. I've had no luck with the fdisk. It sees an active partion on the hdd, but can't delete it and format.

fdisk does not format.

It manages partitions.

What happens when you try to delete partitions?

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

Thanks for everyones help. After trying several more times I was able to get windows to boot up. This is deffinitly a forum I will check again and recommend to others.

P.S. My wife is happy, it is her PC.