PCTech Forums

Anyone have any ideas? I don't know what my daughter did to her computer (an old HP running windows 98se), but upon startup she got an error message "invalid system disk; remove disk etc." I tried using a floppy start-up disk, and did try using the "sys" command to maybe copy some new startup files. After that, the error message went away, but it still won't start windows. It goes to a black screen with "Microsoft (R) Windows 98 (C) Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1981-1999" after this is a prompt "C:\>". Then it waits for my command and goes no further. I wish I knew what else to do!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone tell me what to try?
This is a hand-me-down computer, so I have no restore disk. I don't have a windows 98se disk, but I do have it loaded on another computer (under windows/options/cabs), and can create a CD that way.
Any takers? I appreciate any thoughts, as I can do a little bit with computers, but certainly can't figure this out!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
scannergirl

When you get to the C promote can you do the following?

cd\Windows
win

Does this start Windows? If so you can add these two lines to your Autoexec.bat file and it should then boot into Windows.

Hi--I just tried that, but got the response "bad command or file name" (I'm assuming I would enter after cd\windows?)
Thanks!
Scannergirl

What do you get if you type: C: "Enter" Then dir?
brad

There are a few things you can try, first lets try and see if the registry in OK.
At the command prompt, type scanreg /fix, and then press ENTER.
NOTE: The /fix command-line switch causes the Registry Checker tool to repair any damaged portions of the registry.
After the Registry Checker tool finishes repairing the registry, press ENTER.
Restart your computer.

If that doesn’t work at the command prompt, type scanreg /restore and from the list of registry backups choose one that is dated before the problem started.

If you still can’t boot-up you can try the system file checker but you will need the windows 98 cab files on a CD.
Boot the system with CD Rom support, at the C:\windows> command prompt, type sfc
This should start the system file checker, if any files are damaged then select you CD Rom driver as the location for the windows CD to replace the files from.

Hi again--to Brad--typing "C: "Enter" Then dir", gets me the following:
Volume in Drive C has no label...serial number...

MMAP <DIR>
RETLOG <DIR>
MSDOS SYS
COMMAND COM
MSDOS xxx
FILE0001 CHK
FILE0002 CHK
WINDOWS <DIR>
PROGRA~1 <DIR>
MYDOC~1 <DIR>
TEMP <DIR>
ADOBEAPP <DIR>
EPOAGENT <DIR>
KPCMS <DIR>
5 file(s) 159,438 bytes
9 dir(s) 60,325,888 bytes free

This computer has 2 hard drives; when I typed in "dir" for the D drive, I got a long list that scrolled by too fast for me to really read it all. My fear is that my daughter somehow dragged the start-up files or something else vital onto the second hard drive, and it's not being read...

To Gecko--I tried scanreg/fix, and got a message that said
"There is no extended memory loaded on your computer. Make sure that you have a HIMEM.SYS file on the disk from where you are starting your computer, and then restart using the "command prompt only" option (not "safe mode command prompt only"). Depending on the location of the himem.sys file, you may need to add a line such as device=A:\HIMEM.SYS or device=C:\windows\himem.sys in the config.sys file on your boot drive"

I would do this, if I knew how!

Any thoughts?
I am really appreciative of your help!
scannergirl

scannergirl,
Try booting your system from a windows 98 boot floppy
If you don't have one you can download one from
Then try the commands from my other post.

Try putting in the cd for windows and typing COPY *.* C:\WIN98 then hit enter. If it comes up to E:\WIN98 then type C: and hit enter. If it comes up C: again prompt it to CD WIN98 and press enter.now if you are at C:\WIN98 type setup and press enter.