dandnsmith

Something which doesn't seem to have been highlighted (as far as I can see) - if you have XP Home, then there is no option: it's Simple File Sharing with no option for any other, only XP Pro or equivalent has the more advanced mode. This caused me a certain amount of trouble when trying to share on a mixed network with XP Home, XP Pro and WinMe, as some of the details seem to have been deliberately been obfuscated. The other 'feature', is that shares made prior to a change such as the workgroup name can be not seen until unshared and remade.

I think, since we're talking 98 here, I'd create a batch file (or 2) to run to change the interface used as the gateway - use the route command to change the defaults.

It's always going to be iffy, operating on the partition you're running your system from. Much better far to use a tool which doesn't require it - I recently tried copying combined with size change of partitions size (to a new HDD) using PM, and it screwed something up - so I did the job with Acronis TrueImage and not such a messing about with sizes. If things can get messed up when not even changing the partition you're running from, think how much worse it might be! Do do a proper partition image to somewhere 'external' just in case. I think to do it again I'd be looking to use gparted and use the gparted CD

What method are you using to do the format and reload? If you're using the Dell CDs for restoring/installing the system, you may have come up against something preset here. The invalid system disk sounds like unrecognised stuff in the first disk block, so the BIOS software pulls out the message to show it has no way of going further.

What I would try: boot in safe mode (should get default vga, I think) get to device manager, remove the monitor reboot, and let it find the new monitor Now you may have a bit of work to do on the display properties got get it the way you want, but it should be basically sorted.

Just wondering how that works: the page you linked to says you have to know the key, and then it can decrypt the stuff.

In case that doesn't do the trick, I moved to another system disk (twice for two different PCs recently) using Paragon Partition Manager - copy the partition(s) allowing to expand (as it wants, or controlled by you), and then ensure that the (correct) partition is marked as bootable before switching to the new HDD.

How about some hints as to what you want to do with it? Or do you just want stuff to fill the HDD?

You could have a look at the settings, and possibly post the results for consideration. If it's XP, then get a command window running, and try the following commands: ipconfig/all route print and then, perhaps, look at what happens when you do a tracert from C to A, and also C to B and B to C I think it will probably be a routing problem, but possibly firewall.

That last posting sounds right (my memory of installing for 98SE and Me is a bit hazy, despite having done it a month or two back). As an addon, some of the HP stuff can install bits which don't get properly removed before you try again - I have a utility which is specific for the 990C, and also one for another HP printer which some customers had, but this has since disappeared from the HP site (presumably it's considered too old, or they do it better now). I think you have to clean out the files and also the registry after the notional uninstall for it all to work. A nasty afterthought - could the Win9x stuff be there solely for network use with older OS? I don't know how much is needed, since the printer would be visible across the net, and the drivers could then be dragged from the CD, while the port is a network one.

Brian - get to device manager, then right-button on the computer icon and select Properties. You will then be able to see what each device is using in the way of resources.

I think, for the second option for booting, I'd try multi(2)drive(0)rdisk(0)partition(1) to align it with the BIOS view

If it works well in DOS - is this booting into DOS, or running a DOS window? As a place to start, how about looking to see if the floppy drivers are corrupt, or could there be something in the registry which is messing things up. After some of the troubles seen with CDs, how about checking what happens when you list a floppy content, change the floppy and then list the content again - any change?

Yes the drive does need to be specified - multi(x) specifies the controller - 0 is the first drive(0) is, with multi, always like this rdisk(x) specifies the disk number on the controller - 0 is the first partition(x) specifies the partition on the disk - 1 is the first Thus the slave drive on the 2nd IDE interface would be multi(1)drive(0)rdisk(1) If you're really hesitant, post the content of your boot.ini, and we can suggest changes.

This thread reports a limit of 127GB for FAT32 using Win98. I haven't myself pushed it that far. These limits do seem to be obscured by lack of hard sources of information. Just noticed another pertinent thread

I assume you used the 'add port' button after the LPT1 install? It worked for me with a HP DJ990C, which I've been using for some time but had recently to install on a clean Me build.

If you have both drives connected, and intend it to be used that way, I don't see that there should be a problem - just tell it where to install the second, and then the boot.ini will get adjusted to show 2 installations. You might want to customise the entries to show which is which.

I despaired of the Windows time sync stuff - and ended up using a simple little thing called nistime - the 32 bit version. I think some of my problems have been ISP dependent, as my Netgear router has problems as well.

In that case (I had it happen to me), copy the CD content to a folder on the formatted (but otherwise clean) HDD, boot from a floppy and run the setup from the folder - has the advantage that all the refs are to that folder in the case of needing other protocols or OS bits added. If the CD is working (ie accessible) from the PC you're interested in, you can do it all without changing the HDD over.

First thing is likely to be - add the motherboard drivers (especially if the thernet interface is built in) Second - make sure you have the right kind of 'modem' lead: you may need a x-over for that kind of connection, instead of a straight thru (not all are automatically adjusted) third - ensure that you have added the necessary protocols for the networking, especially the TCP/IP for your ethernet connection (and get it set to whatever is necessary for the modem)

I'm not sure i recall things correctly, but it seems to me that I've had to change the graphics adaptor manually, get that accepted, and then you can change the monitor from the basic VGA to your real capabilities. I think it was effected by removing the adaptor, and then opting to manually add hardware. If you just remove the stuff and reboot, it will reinstall it, as the OS is really stupid about such things.

Could this be a firewall blocking access? or the DNS not working? Obviously, with the 192.168.x.x IP address you're happy it has connected, so try things like ping www.google.be ping 208.69.34.230 (which is the same address, but resolved) to localise things further

That might happen if the reconnect-at-boot-automatically flag is set. You need to disconnect it, manually reconnect ensuring the flag is unset, and then disconnect again - that might be enough.

Don't know what the problem is, really, but would myself try putting in a 'new' HDD to see what happens then - you could then absolve the system on the existing HDD of having a software blockout. Apart from locking the dialup modem on some machines, I have never heard of such a block on emachines.

If you can, try adding the USB drive again. This might restore the connectivity enough to allow you to disconnect the Y 'drive'.