Ok well it worked. Why ask why? thats the way ive been taught to do it. It works. There is. Format c:\U Format C:\S (Win98 only) What else is there? Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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"What else is there?" Uh, how about just format C: ?? BTW, it's supposed to be a forward slash, not a backslash, such as format C: /u but it's unnecessary. And from what I've read, there's some question whether the "U switch" is even supported by the WinME boot floppy (which is what you should be using) FLATURIN - Hand-to-mouth goodness. It's good!

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The C://S switch is unsupported not C:/U. My mistake about the /\ i don't see why there was a big deal made about it when you know what i meant. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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You don't need to use the S or the U switch! "My understanding is that the /U (unconditional) paramter became redundant starting with DOS 7.x and was disabled with ME. Prior to this DOS provided the UNFORMAT command, which was coupled to whether a FORMAT /U had been done or not. When the UNFORMAT command was dropped there was no need for the /U option and all formats became "unconditional". The /U continued to be accepted, but was effectively ignored." http://discussions.virtualdr.com/ar... http://www.computing.net/windowsme/... FLATURIN - Hand-to-mouth goodness. It's good!

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I suspect the slash direction was mentioned simply because it is very important to get it right when using it. Sometimes when I've ignored these details the poster has then come back to say the command didn't work. DerekW

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Well the problem still exsist. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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Windows Me bootdisk. I choose without CD-Rom support. I type. Format C:\u It doese work with a Windows Me bootdisk. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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I'm confused. You say that this "incorrect command" does work: Format C:\u By "does work" do you mean you have now been able to format the HD? If so it must have ignored the \u part. Or are we to assume you really mean: Format C: /u (which might be OK but is unnecessary) It's 2.40am here in UK so I'm off but if you are still in trouble then for the benefit of others I would try again sticking to the conventional commands that about everyone else uses (exactly as written, including the space where shown):- fdisk format c: We can then move on to other ideas knowing that the correct commands are being entered. DerekW

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Really am off now but this might help: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867 They advocate format c: /s which is not usually necessary but I'll run with it. DerekW

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Have you tried the simple stuff first like unplugging the keyboard and mouse for a few seconds at the point just before you know where it's going to "stick" - then plugging them back in?

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Yes i have tried unplugging the keyboard and mouse. And yes im sorry for the different name. I didn't realize i was logged in under this name. Server PIII 500 Mhz 256 MB Ram 40 GB Harddrive Windows XP Pro Laptop Intel T2060 @ 1.60 Ghz 1GB DDR2 Ram 120 GB Harddrive 2 Partitions C: 83.89 GB WinxpPro D:

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I would follow up by inspecting (and if necessary very gently buffing with soft card) the metal contact pins of the memory and reseating the memory stick. ....then I'd be running memtest on said stick.

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I'm right with Viking. There is no "fix-all" for computers but tarnish on the RAM edge connectors is often the reason for all manner of general problems. DerekW

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You saying the ram is bad? Now i had some of the post removed. Why do people keep asking why im installing Windows Me? Like i asked before. Why ask Why? I really don't think the ram is bad. I can install XP With no problem. The computer is just too slow for XP. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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"The computer is just too slow for XP" Only because you don't have enough RAM. "You saying the ram is bad?" No. But you should test it with memtest86 to confirm that it's good. "Why do people keep asking why im installing Windows Me? Like i asked before. Why ask Why?" I think it's interesting because a few months ago you said you didn't like WinME, had no luck with it, would never install it, Win98SE is much better, etc..... http://www.computing.net/windows95/... FLATURIN - Hand-to-mouth goodness. It's good!

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Ok well l.o.l i say im not going to do alot of things and i do them again. This is a whole different computer anyway. Its another one that was in my dads office he bought home and gave me scence they upgraded. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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CTG, take your RAM (memory) stick(s) out of the motherboard slot(s). Look it over and check the bottom edge metal contacts. Check for grime, gunk, dirt or anything else that shouldn't be there. If you see a build up of crap, carefully clean it off using a piece of card, a hard rubber, etc. Now put the RAM (memory) stick(s) back in the motherboard slot(s), put everything back as you found it. If needed, you can now run memtest to see if the RAM (memory) is going bad. You are now troubleshooting your computer for yourself and learning a little in the process.

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The ram is new and has been tested ok. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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I'll take you at your word on that. Assuming you got rid of the partitions you created using Fdisk, I would use a different hard drive wiping tool (other than the Hitachi one you mentioned). Use DBAN. Don't forget to read the dban FAQ's before using. After you've wiped the drive, shutdown the box and unplug it from the mains. Open the case up and unplug the hard drive's power and IDE cables. Same with the optical drive's power and IDE cables - I'll even let you double check that RAM while you're there ;) After you've done that check the Windows ME disk isn't scratched. Plug everything back in nice and tight and power up again ~ from the top, try the installation again ~ post exactly what happens this time round.

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I used DBAN wiped the drive and cleaned the ram. Still have same problem. Also found a dell rescource CD for my model ran diagnostic test no problems. Thats why it took awhile for me to reply back. Keyboard not detected. Hit F1 to Continue. BREAKFAST.SYS HALTED Cerial port not Responding!!

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