windows no longer working

[Gaccm]

i know this isn't toally linux related, but i was hoping you guys could solve my prob. Windows is beyond repair (can't boot in normal mode) i planned to format c: and to re-install windows, but when i put the WinCD into the drive, it didn't load at all. I checked boot up sequence and it said cdrom first. So now i have a box that has a screwed up version of windows and i don't know if i can get another OS on it.

[Gweedo]

Do you happen to have a boot disk you can use to come up on and format with, then access the cdrom to install Windows??

A Win98 boot disk would have this functionality.


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Dubbie..Dubbie..Do..
Watch out.. or the Penguin will get You ;)

[Unruly]

EDIT: If you want, I can send you the contents of my windows bootdisk extrodinare -- it has everything that I've outlined here and more... just email me at unruly@maine.rr.com for a copy of the .zip

I never knew windows cds were bootable... mine wern't, but they were upgrade cds as well :P -- basically, make yourself a bootdisk -- start up in command line if you can and type (have a blank 1.44 floppy in the drive):

format a: /s

that'll copy basic system files...

then surf to c:\windows\system and

copy format* a:

copy edit* a:

copy fdisk* a:

then make sure you have himem.sys, and some cdrom drivers (check in your autoexec.bat and config.sys for the locations)

then, reboot with this disk in the drive and fdisk it, format it (with /s to copy the system files) and go on from there. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif hope this helps!

[This message has been edited by Unruly (edited 18 November 2000).]

[Gaccm]

Thanks for the offer, but its not needed, i got a booting disk, and formatted my drive, i tried to install win95 (i have win95 and upgrade to 2in98se) but it says my drive is compressed, so for now i'm screwed. I wonder if it is because i using a win98 startup disk, trying to install win95.

[Confoozled]

Had you used any compression utilities? If not, you'll prolly need to write zeros to the drive. Chances are the HD manufacturer has a program on thier site to do it or you can pick up a program called gwscan from http:/www.gateway.com (yes it will work on non-gateway systems) and write zeros, them fdisk and partition, then format....

[Gaccm]

what is fdisk? is it a partitioner. I'm currently just formmating my drives and trying. I tried using a boot disk from www.bootdisk.com (http://www.bootdisk.com) but my comp said non-system disk http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/frown.gif maybe when is this over i'll install linux on it, but first i need to get win up and running.