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Windows 95 Comp. Error

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Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 18:38:50 Pacific
OS: Windows 95 Ver A
CPU/Ram: Dont know
Comment:

hello everyone
I have an old IBM computer that was custom put together(at least,I think)
but when I turn it on it says invalid system disk,please insert disk and try again
before this happened I had reformatted the C drive and restarted,then it started this.
I did make a boot disk from bootdisk.com
and have the original windows 95 cd.
please help.ive read in previous posts that banana is usually missing,mine is too.i am a computer beginner so if anyone can help id appreicate it a lot.



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Response Number 1
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 18:40:52 Pacific
Reply:

i can also take pics with my digi cam of the comp and errors,no trouble there.if that would help


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Response Number 2
Name: jboy
Date: April 25, 2005 at 18:48:36 Pacific
Reply:

A simple, straightforward description of the messages should suffice.

What's the actual problem? "Invalid system disk" is to be expected after erasing (formatting) the hard drive - if you're about to reinstall Windows by means of the bootdisk, just start with that.

you may need to select the floppy drive as the first boot device (from the CMOS)


- - try not to make your posts so 'stanza like' (it's... distracting)

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


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Response Number 3
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:03:29 Pacific
Reply:

ok,sorry about the stanza thing.in english we're studying poetry now,im used to it after 2 weeks worth of it. and it is annoying sometimes.
anyways....when I load the computer without the disk it comes on after doing all the memory scans and stuff with this error:
Invalid system disk
Replace the disk,and then press any key.
then after I load the floppy is says something about some file corrupted,I think I need to get a new boot disk.Ill try downloading again,hold on.


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Response Number 4
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:12:54 Pacific
Reply:

alright,I downloaded another bootdisk and it the computer started this time and it said this:
Starting Windows 95
CD ROM Device driver for IDE(four channels supported
copyright oak technology inic 1993-1996
driver version v340
device name banana
no drives found,aborting installation
device not found banana
no valid cd rom device driver select
A:/>
what do I do know?


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Response Number 5
Name: smithdk
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:29:55 Pacific
Reply:

It is saying it didn't find the cdrom drive. Have you ever got the cdrom drive to work? What type of cdrom drive is it? When the computer first boots does it show if it found the cdrom drive? (from the BIOS)


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Response Number 6
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:41:01 Pacific
Reply:

yes.before I reformatted it the cd drive played games,music cds,basically anything besides a dvd.
if this is what you are talking about:
CPU TYPE PENTIUM S
CO PROCESSOR Installed
CPU Clock 100MHZ
base memory 640K
extended memory 64512K
cache memory 256K
diskette drive a 2.88M,3.5in
" "b:none
pri.master disk:LBA,mode 4,1624MG
pri.slave disk:none
sec.master disk:none
sec. slave disk:none
display type:EGA/UGA
serial port(s)3FB 2F8
parallel ports:378
bank0 EDO DRAM:no
bank 1 EDO DRAM:no
L2 Cache SRAM Type:Async.
if this isnt what youre talking about please tell me how to get to it and ill figure it out
thanks again for any help.
the computer im trying to fix is my grandparents old computer.i did have windows 98 installed for a short time,but that had problems because it was a burned copy.


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Response Number 7
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:47:37 Pacific
Reply:

oh it is a creative"quad speed"not sure what serial # or anything like that though,or the model,haha again I could take a pic.


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Response Number 8
Name: jboy
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:49:51 Pacific
Reply:

That's a pretty old machine, doubtful if there would be any CD drive detection - possibly it's not even a standard (IDE) drive.

Best would be if you could identify the make & model # of the drive - you may have to open the chassis and pull the drive to do so, depending on where the label is. Also, see if the wide drive cable connects to a soundcard instead of the motherboard.

Formatting without first trying out the bootdisk can be problematic.

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


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Response Number 9
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 19:53:55 Pacific
Reply:

how would i tell if it is connected to a soundcard or motherboard?(sorry-im kinda dumb when its to fixing computers):)


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Response Number 10
Name: jboy
Date: April 25, 2005 at 20:02:59 Pacific
Reply:

The soundcard would plug into the motherboard - unless sound is integrated with the board.

At one time, CD drives ran from the soundcard, before the IDE style become the standard. Although the cable is about the same (40 strand), those kinds of drives are not IDE and the generic IDE drivers found on most bootdisks won't work.

An old Creative 4x might well be such a drive.

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


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Response Number 11
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 25, 2005 at 20:08:52 Pacific
Reply:

it is probably that then
this week or weekend I will open the case thingy and write any #s down,i will probably take pictures as well to see how everything was at first because i will probably mess it up and wont know how to put it back


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Response Number 12
Name: jboy
Date: April 25, 2005 at 20:25:16 Pacific
Reply:

A few of the early IDE CD drives were a bit fussy about the DOS driver too.

If you can get the model # that would help, Creative drivers are fairly easy to find.

You don't have to disassemble the whole unit (probably) just might need to undo the mounting screws and slide the drive out to see the label (if that even)

Wouldn't hurt to 'snug' up the cable while you're in there - I'm assuming the drive functions ok mechanically (lights flash, drive opens)

Worst case scenario - splurge and replace the drive with a modern one, they're not terribly expensive, and will perform better than an old (possibly dirty) 4X

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


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Response Number 13
Name: T-R-A
Date: April 25, 2005 at 23:27:31 Pacific
Reply:

copyright oak technology inic 1993-1996
driver version v340
device name banana
no drives found,aborting installation
device not found banana
no valid cd rom device driver select

Banana Jr.

Sorry, just couldn't resist



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Response Number 14
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 13:18:02 Pacific
Reply:

how would I know if the cd drive is compatible with the computer?
also,is there anyway i can get a floppy version of the windows 95 still?how much would they cost?i know theres like 50 floppies to the set


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Response Number 15
Name: DRY_GIN_
Date: April 26, 2005 at 14:06:32 Pacific
Reply:

craig, i didn't read all comments

but why can't you connect another CDROM drive from another computer to your old one, install win95 or whatever and connect an old one back?

have no idea why i came to this planet


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Response Number 16
Name: smithdk
Date: April 26, 2005 at 14:22:48 Pacific
Reply:

Your cdrom drive should work fine. You just need the correct drivers for it. Once you open the case, you should be able to tell us if it is connected to the sound card and if so we would be able to get the right drivers based on the model information.


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Response Number 17
Name: jboy
Date: April 26, 2005 at 14:30:30 Pacific
Reply:

"how would I know if the cd drive is compatible with the computer?"

Say what now? What's that supposed to mean, anyways?

As has been stated (and restated) you require the correct DOS driver in order to access the drive from DOS in order to perform the Windows installation.

Once Windows is installed, it will provide its own (Windows) drivers for the CD, and you need not worry about the DOS ones any longer (other than for the boot disk you're going to make)

Quite possibly these drivers were already on the HDD - until you went ahead and formatted it.

"i know theres like 50 floppies to the set"

For the price of 50 floppies you could buy a CD drive (or two) - there were a few floppy releases of 95, starting with the 13 disk set but you'd need to scout around on eBay etc.

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


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Response Number 18
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 14:50:10 Pacific
Reply:

well u said i might need to buy a new one ,so i wouldnt know which one to buy
i dont know how to connect the cd drive


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Response Number 19
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 15:11:37 Pacific
Reply:

ok i removed the case and got this info from the cd drive:
CRE-BTB
5708BHB10869
manufactured:july 1995


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Response Number 20
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 15:13:12 Pacific
Reply:

by the way,it has a Sound Blaster 16 sound card


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Response Number 21
Name: jboy
Date: April 26, 2005 at 15:28:33 Pacific
Reply:

"well u said i might need to buy a new one "

Well, no (and you can check this):

"Worst case scenario - splurge and replace the drive with a modern one, they're not terribly expensive, and will perform better than an old (possibly dirty) 4X"

CD drives are pretty standard these days.

So, are you saying the CD drive plugs into the soundcard?

Here's a Creative CD driver set at Driverguide

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


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Response Number 22
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 15:30:34 Pacific
Reply:

yes it does,at least I think


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Response Number 23
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 26, 2005 at 18:09:45 Pacific
Reply:

well on ebay there are a few cheap cd drives
www.ebay.com and type in creative cd drive
im not sure which one to choose though


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Response Number 24
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 27, 2005 at 19:39:40 Pacific
Reply:

well it seems both the floppy and cd drive have failed
does it matter which brand or type I buy?
serial # D359T5 13200 5822PN1059


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Response Number 25
Name: jboy
Date: April 27, 2005 at 21:08:23 Pacific
Reply:

I'm a bit puzzled by what you're saying, and it may be premature of you to declare both drives as 'failed'.

At any rate, a basic CD drive would be 'standard' IDE, the main difference (if any) between models would be the speed - but after 40X, not a heck of a lot of difference.

Floppy drives are typically the standard 1.44Mb - you indicate that yours is a 2.88, which may be problematic. A bit harder to find, and most use a non standard ribbon cable.

Since you're uncertain as to whether or not your CD drive plugs into the soundcard, I can't say as I'm all that convinced on your assessment of it or the floppy drive.

Best to be sure. Might try snugging up the cables (for one thing) - also, you don't seem to have tried installing the CD drivers from the link provided earlier - without the correct drivers, the CD is not going to do much in DOS.

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


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Response Number 26
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 28, 2005 at 18:02:53 Pacific
Reply:

hello
sorry for being so confusing
i looked at the setup files and noticed it was set to 2.88 when it is a 1.44MB
the BIOS and other stuff seem to be set wrong
does anyone know what theyre supposed to be?


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Response Number 27
Name: jboy
Date: April 29, 2005 at 17:32:14 Pacific
Reply:

I suspect you may be confusing yourself.

The BIOS should autodetect most things (other than the CD drive) - 1.44Mb is a standard floppy drive, and the most common - if yours was incorrectly set in the BIOS as a 2.88 there would likely be problems

"the BIOS and other stuff seem to be set wrong"

What's this conclusion based upon?

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


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Response Number 28
Name: jboy
Date: April 29, 2005 at 18:31:42 Pacific
Reply:

BIOS Settings

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


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Response Number 29
Name: CraigWallace
Date: April 30, 2005 at 14:12:39 Pacific
Reply:

i bought an installion Windows 95 set on ebay,it included the boot disk for the cd
the boot disk works and it needs a new cd drive as you said I might need a new one
i bought one of the cd drives it needs/suggested(a goldstar 16X)and im awaiting its shipment
i decided to get the 16X because it was the fastest it suggested and it was only 7 bucks
hopefully it will work and i can begin installation!


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Response Number 30
Name: jboy
Date: April 30, 2005 at 14:43:50 Pacific
Reply:

Ok - any standard (IDE) would do, and all are going to be an improvement in speed. In my neighbourhood a 40X can be bought for around $20. Your original is likely fine, just requires a bit more setting up than you may be prepared to do.

Anyhow, you'd install the new one much like a hard drive - connect as master or slave (depending) to one of the motherboard IDE controllers.

See if this guide is helpful

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


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