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Hi!!
I'm working on an old, beat up notebook or laptop that was given to a neighbor.
I formatted the HDD and am now getting the error message, "Invalid system disk. Replace the disk and then press any key"
I've tried to load win95 from a CD using a winXP boot disk, but the c: drive is clean and it won't work.
Do I need a win95 boot disk to do this or did I mess things up by wiping the HDD???
If it is just the boot disk, could you please send one to cavscoutlen@aol.com??
Thanks!!
Len
It doesn't have to be this difficult
Len,
Bottom of the page at Mesich.com/Freeware is a Win98 Bootdisk with the newer FDISK too.
You formatted and now you need to FDISK the disk.
Bryan
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Bootdisks are readily available online, but those downloaded files must be executed from a hard drive in order to create the bootable diskette
"I've tried to load win95 from a CD using a winXP boot disk, but the c: drive is clean and it won't work."
?? What ??
You've formatted the hard drive, so that has rendered it empty and in a non booting state - all you should require is a working Win95 bootdisk with CD-ROM support
"You formatted and now you need to FDISK the disk."
Isn't that backwards Bryan?
I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.
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Win95 CDs aren't bootable, you'll need a boot disc to load the CD-ROM drivers, then you do the installation from the DOS prompt.
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To save 20 or 30 postings--do you have one of those swappable cdrom/floppy drive setups, a separate floppy drive and cdrom or just a cdrom?
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Hi, When you format the Hard drive use FORMAT /S. the /S adds the system files to make the drive bootable. Can be corrected on an already formated drive by running SYS C: from the A:> prompt. Format can also be down from Windows by requesting SYSTEM FILES.
Hope this helps a bit, Jim
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Jboy,
Ok, I was too busy at the time and should not have posted.
:)Probably needs to set the partition as Active.
It would appear the OP isn't coming back.
Bryan
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JimPIM
Just format c: is fine "if you intend to install windows" (popular misconception that you need /s).
You cannot format from windows in 9x.
DerekW
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dave
there is both a floppy and a CD-ROM drive on the computer I am trying to fix
it also has a dead battery, which I suspect may be corrupting files
either that, or the HDD is shot or someone didn't load the OS properly
len
It doesn't have to be this difficult
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Just set the floppy drive as the first boot device in cmos/bios setup and boot up with a bootdisk. Some 95 disks don't have cdrom support so you may want to use a 98 bootdisk. You can download a file to create a bootdisk at the sites others have already mentioned.
When you boot up pay attention to the last few lines that load prior to the final a:\> prompt. That will tell you the drive letter of the cdrom or it will give an error message. If it successfully loads then with the 95 cd in the cdrom type X:\setup where X: is the cdrom drive letter indicated when you booted up. That should start the installation.
If you got an error message then it's likely you need a different cdrom driver. If so post back the model of the cdrom and we'll see what we can find.
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Toshiba's support page for that model:
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...
doesn't show a dos cdrom driver so most likely the generic one on the bootdisk will work OK.
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I tried the win98 boot disk and the first win95 boot disk. It wouldn't load the OS from the CD. I got an error message. How do I find out what model the CD ROM is?? Do I have to disassemble the computer?? (that is what i did). It is a Toshiba Model # XM-1902B. I did the FDISK several times using both large disk support and without it. How do I create a primary partition that encompasses the entire hard drive?? All I could get was a partial using non large disk support, would be the "recommended" configuration for win95. What is the easiest way to find out what Microprocessor is in this thing??? I forgot to check before I wiped the old OS (win98, which wasn't working very good). Shouldn't I be trying to load ME, XP or 200O on this thing?? (all I have is a win95 cd). I don't have a thumb, flash, jump drive (data stick) to download linux so I can try installing Linux and have very little experience with that OS.
It doesn't have to be this difficult
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Jim
I tried to add the system files using SYS C: at the A:/> prompt but got the error message, Invalid media type reading drive c:
Abort, Retry, Fail?
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I can get an A:/> promt and the CD ROM is R:/, which I can get to. When I type in SETUP at the R:/> prompt, I get
"Please wait while Setup initializes.
Setup is now going to perform a routine check on your system.
To continue, press ENTER. To quit SETUP, press ESC."
When I press ENTER, I get
"Please wait while setup initializes.
Windows Setup requires 7340032 bytes available on your C: drive.
R:/>_
then, nothing happens
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That probably means the drive isn't formatted. After you create the partition with fdisk you need to reboot and at the a:\> prompt type format c: and enter. But first check the partition. Run fdisk, Y to large disk support and then option 4. Exactly what does it say?
The generic cdrom driver should work for that cdrom. Did the error message occur when you were booting with the bootdisk or when you attempted to start the setup? What was the message?
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Thanks guys. It was me. I read ALL of your posts again, very, very SLOWLY :)
Then I tried all of your suggestions.
The problem was that I was formating THEN fdisk ing the HDD.
The solution was for me to simply fdisk, THEN format and all went well.
I am still minus the owner/users manual and can't get into the BIOS/CMOS. I created an extra partition to load a second OS, but have no idea how to get at the second partition. I also am having trouble installing the 2nd OS because it is WFW 3.11 and I've reinstalled it too many times, so I have to figure out how to manually install it.
WIN95B seems to working OK on this machine and I did a little research and am guessing that there is an AMD K6-2, 300 Mhz uP on it, and the computer says it has 96MB of RAM. I guess I can give it back to the owner and let him know that the battery is dead.
Thanks for your help
Leonard J
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For 3.11 I think you need to install dos first. And you'd need some kind of boot loader to give the option of which OS to boot.
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I haven't used one and wouldn't have any recommendations but I don't think the OS options would make any difference. I believe they just modify the MBR to give the boot options.
Someone else may post in with recommendations or you might want to start a new thread with that specific question.
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ive just tried to format my harddrive it worked but when i turned it back on it says invalid system disk replace the disk, and then press any key i want to install windows xp profesional but i need a external cd rom also i need external floopy as this is a ultra portable laptop could some one please tell me if when i get my external cd rom drive will i just be able to select cd rom from bios and it will load or do i need some kind of boot disk or any other ways of fixing my problem would be extremly grateful
also the person that solves my problem i will send them a free xp pro key that i have never used. Best Regards
Brian Vargas-Meinel
Computer Tweak ltd
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You might just have to try it and see. Maybe the bios has a 'boot from USB' option? Or you may want to repost in the XP or hardware forum.
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hi thanks for your comment but i found out why my harddrive isnt working i connected the drive and the cd booted but it didnt find the harddrivre so i put a 40 gb harddrivbe in and it worked:P anyway thanks for your time and effot appreciated
Computer Tweak ltd
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here's one for you...
my computer refuses to accept my drive A 3 inch floppy drive. it insists there is no drive when i try to use it. however the device manager says it's installed right but running msdos generic driver. I unplugged and replugged. deleted and reinstalled drivers. noting worked. so I disabled that drive. now scandisk lists it as a 5 1/4 floppy on A.
weird huh?
can this be fixed?
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Make sure the floppy controller is enabled in cmos/bios setup. Make sure it's identified properly there as a 1.44. Make sure it's connected correctly. The A: drive needs to be attached to the cable connection after the 7-wire twist
(motherboard connection--7-wire twist--A: drive connection).One edge of the cable will have red stripe. That side needs to be connected to the #1 pin side of both the drive and motherboard connections. The #1 pin is usually marked on the motherboard and drive. Also many cables are keyed so they only fit one way. Usually if the cable is on backwards the drive light will remain on.
If all the above is true and the drive and controller are good then the drive will be seen properly.
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joeblough68
Just a freindly tip. In general, don't just post a question on an existing thread which happens to be on a topic a bit like yours.
It is always far better to raise a complete new post of your own. For starters some of these old posts may not be visited again by anybody (or just the odd guy that happens to be watching them). Best to get the team onto your specific problem. Secondly, no two problems are ever quite alike anyway.
DerekW
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No one is posting so I'm going to call it a night. Please post your ideas, I'll need them tomorrow. Thanks for those who have helped!
Lojax
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lojax115
I don't get your post #28. Are you someone new to this old thread or are you the original poster "leonard j" with a name change?
What's the question?
Whatever, as this post is now old few helpers will be coming to it, so I would raise a new post.
DerekW
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I think he posted in the wrong thread. He must be referring 169501--"I can't upgrade to Win 98 SE". Likely he found this one in a search.
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