Windows 98SE Won't Start Up

[Gregory West]

First of all, this is an old IBM pentium II Thinkpad with a 6GB hard drive.

Of course all the original discs are long gone for this laptop.

On the startup, when I press F8 I get an ERROR message and a box to test the system. I run all the tests but still cannot get windows to start up.

Any suggestions PLEASE?

thanks,

greg

[phatcat42141]

First of all, this is an old IBM pentium II Thinkpad with a 6GB hard drive.

Of course all the original discs are long gone for this laptop.

On the startup, when I press F8 I get an ERROR message and a box to test the system. I run all the tests but still cannot get windows to start up.

Any suggestions PLEASE?

thanks,

greg

First go here -- http://www.bootdisk.com/

Then get a blank 3 1/2 floppy disk and make that then restart the computer with the 3 1/2

[Gregory West]

First go here -- http://www.bootdisk.com/

Then get a blank 3 1/2 floppy disk and make that then restart the computer with the 3 1/2

Thanks for the site...I did that without luck.

The only thing I can get working is on startup, pushing F8 I get a test box...test everything and still no windows.

Any other suggestions????

thank you,

greg

[Gregory West]

First go here -- http://www.bootdisk.com/

Then get a blank 3 1/2 floppy disk and make that then restart the computer with the 3 1/2

I tried the boot disc and it didn't work. But what did work was we removed the hard drive and put it back in. Then changed the bios to boot from the CD rom and put in the Ubuntu disc...bingo it worked.

Now we wiped out Windows 98 and have installed Linux.

For now I will work with Linux until there is a need for Window again...who knows.

tons of lurkers but not much response to the questions...

Thanks phatcat42141 you were the only one who tried to help...

greg

[phatcat42141]

Thanks phatcat42141 you were the only one who tried to help...

No problem. Sounds like you made a good choice with Ubuntu. I offer it to all my clients (I own my own computer repair service) and wave thier repair fees if they choose to let me install it on thier computers. (As long as they let me dump Windows though)

[EchoNoise]

Now we wiped out Windows 98 and have installed Linux.

Well, if you gave us explanation of what this error message was, most of us would be able to help you further. But if you feel the need for linux, congratulations for using it, you'll be amazed on what can be done

tons of lurkers but not much response to the questions...

Well you only posted this yesterday, maybe some people were not able to help because they didn't know how? Wait a little longer, and you'll be suprised on the replies you get.

[Gregory West]

Now we wiped out Windows 98 and have installed Linux.

Well, if you gave us explanation of what this error message was, most of us would be able to help you further. But if you feel the need for linux, congratulations for using it, you'll be amazed on what can be done

Tada...I found the problem, well sort of. We took out the hard drive and reinstalled it. Changed the bios to boot from the CD and loaded Linux. Through the loading process we deleted Windows, so this laptop is now strictly a Linux machine.

Thank to everyone who offered help...maybe this might help someone later...but it doesn't explain the mystery either. Some things cannot be explained I suppose.

thanks,

greg