Hangs on POST screen

This is the screen following the BIOS screen, IIRC, it is the POST
screen?

A used unknown computer, hard drive had been wiped before, no OS.

I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.

I did reboot w/o the boot disk.

Now, the BIOS screen runs, then the POST(?) screen stops at the message
" no operating system detected"

I can't get past that point to either a prompt or c prompt to install
W98SE.

Advice?

BTW, I had a previous thread on a P133 with no hard drive, this is a
different machine.

ms

After creating the partition, you need to format the drive. Then boot with
a floppy boot disk to install the system. For information on installing
W98, go to: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html


--
Regards


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo



"ms" wrote in message ...
This is the screen following the BIOS screen, IIRC, it is the POST
screen?

A used unknown computer, hard drive had been wiped before, no OS.

I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.

I did reboot w/o the boot disk.

Now, the BIOS screen runs, then the POST(?) screen stops at the message
" no operating system detected"

I can't get past that point to either a prompt or c prompt to install
W98SE.

Advice?

BTW, I had a previous thread on a P133 with no hard drive, this is a
different machine.

ms

"Ron Badour" wrote in
:

After creating the partition, you need to format the drive. Then boot
with a floppy boot disk to install the system. For information on
installing W98, go to:
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html



I understand, Ron. But I can't get to an A or C prompt?

My boot disk can't be used until I get past that screen to an A prompt.

ms

Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you used to
partition it.
If you use a 98 boot disk:
Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure that the fd is
set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the CD in the drive.
Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the menu.
Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter assignment.
Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press Enter. ** ^ = 1 space,
do not type the ^.
When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD drive.
At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter. Ex: e:\
Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble type:
e:\setup.exe.
Windows should now begin installation.

If you used BING:
Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition maintanence in DOS
which is run from the floppy.
Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of actions on
the left.
Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98 boot disk.
Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from the CD.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


ms wrote:
This is the screen following the BIOS screen, IIRC, it is the POST
screen?

A used unknown computer, hard drive had been wiped before, no OS.

I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.

I did reboot w/o the boot disk.

Now, the BIOS screen runs, then the POST(?) screen stops at the message
" no operating system detected"

I can't get past that point to either a prompt or c prompt to install
W98SE.

Advice?

BTW, I had a previous thread on a P133 with no hard drive, this is a
different machine.

ms

"ms" wrote in message ...
This is the screen following the BIOS screen, IIRC, it is the POST
screen?

A used unknown computer, hard drive had been wiped before, no OS.

I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.

I did reboot w/o the boot disk.


There's your problem....you need to reboot *with* the boot disk, and "format c:"
After that, you can run setup from the CD after booting again with the boot disk,
with CD-ROM support.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm



Now, the BIOS screen runs, then the POST(?) screen stops at the message
" no operating system detected"

I can't get past that point to either a prompt or c prompt to install
W98SE.

Advice?

BTW, I had a previous thread on a P133 with no hard drive, this is a
different machine.

ms

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in
:

Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you
used to partition it.
If you use a 98 boot disk:
Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure that
the fd is set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the
CD in the drive. Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the
menu. Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter
assignment. Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press
Enter. ** ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^.
When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD drive.
At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter. Ex:
e:\ Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble
type: e:\setup.exe.
Windows should now begin installation.

If you used BING:
Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition
maintanence in DOS which is run from the floppy.
Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of
actions on the left.
Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98
boot disk. Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from the
CD.


Brian, thanks for the data.

I checked in BIOS, it had been set to boot C. A, I reset to A, C.

Then rebooted with the boot floppy in place.

Now it goes through the POST cycle, just after "verifying DMI pool data",
I get the message "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart"

pressing a key repeats the message, does not restart.

I still haven't gotten to a A prompt.

Advice?

ms

Let's step back for a Q&A recap moment, please correct anything that isn't
proper. Where you mention:
quote
I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.
/quote

I take it you created one 8 GB Primary volume on the drive, no
Extended/Logical volumes/partitions, correct? If so:
Did you set the Primary volume as the Active volume? If not, you need to do so
because the Primary boot volume has to be the Active volume, you set it as
Active in FDISK. If you have the Primary volume set as Active and the drive is
formatted:

Set the boot drive detection order in the BIOS to A:, CD drive, C:. Save the
changes and reboot.
Boot with only the 98 DOS boot disk in the floppy drive and follow the
instructions mentioned in my previous response. If you get a boot error message
the problem may be a loose IDE cable connection, BIOS antivirus is enabled,
corrupt boot disk, corrupt/missing system boot files, corrupt/damaged MBR, or a
damaged harddrive.

If the system files are missing/corrupt, you need to boot to DOS with the boot
disk and at the prompt type: sys c: and press Enter
If the MBR is corrupt/damaged type at the prompt: fdisk^/mbr and press Enter
**Note: ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^. Also proceed with caution, if any other
utility was used to setup the drive, Do Not use fdisk.

For info on FDISK and Format:
How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard
Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us

FDISK/Status Displays Partition Information
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/72358/en-us

How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q221829

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


ms wrote:
"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in
:

Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you
used to partition it.
If you use a 98 boot disk:
Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure that
the fd is set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the
CD in the drive. Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the
menu. Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter
assignment. Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press
Enter. ** ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^.
When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD drive.
At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter. Ex:
e:\ Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble
type: e:\setup.exe.
Windows should now begin installation.

If you used BING:
Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition
maintanence in DOS which is run from the floppy.
Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of
actions on the left.
Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98
boot disk. Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from the
CD.


Brian, thanks for the data.

I checked in BIOS, it had been set to boot C. A, I reset to A, C.

Then rebooted with the boot floppy in place.

Now it goes through the POST cycle, just after "verifying DMI pool data",
I get the message "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart"

pressing a key repeats the message, does not restart.

I still haven't gotten to a A prompt.

Advice?

ms

STOP.

The issue is:
"NTLDR is missing"
This is a former XP NTFS disk......... proceed from there...

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com/
BLOG http://peoplescounsel.spaces.live.com/ Public Notice or the "real
world"

"Most people, sometime in their lives, stumble across truth.
Most jump up, brush themselves off, and hurry on about their business as if
nothing had happen." Winston Churchill
Or to put it another way:
Morpheus can offer you the two pills;
but only you can choose whether you take the red pill or the blue one.
_______________

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
| Let's step back for a Q&A recap moment, please correct anything that
isn't
| proper. Where you mention:
| quote
| I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
| fdisk"
|
| I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
| seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.
| /quote
|
| I take it you created one 8 GB Primary volume on the drive, no
| Extended/Logical volumes/partitions, correct? If so:
| Did you set the Primary volume as the Active volume? If not, you need to
do so
| because the Primary boot volume has to be the Active volume, you set it as
| Active in FDISK. If you have the Primary volume set as Active and the
drive is
| formatted:
|
| Set the boot drive detection order in the BIOS to A:, CD drive, C:.
Save the
| changes and reboot.
| Boot with only the 98 DOS boot disk in the floppy drive and follow the
| instructions mentioned in my previous response. If you get a boot error
message
| the problem may be a loose IDE cable connection, BIOS antivirus is
enabled,
| corrupt boot disk, corrupt/missing system boot files, corrupt/damaged MBR,
or a
| damaged harddrive.
|
| If the system files are missing/corrupt, you need to boot to DOS with
the boot
| disk and at the prompt type: sys c: and press Enter
| If the MBR is corrupt/damaged type at the prompt: fdisk^/mbr and press
Enter
| **Note: ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^. Also proceed with caution, if any
other
| utility was used to setup the drive, Do Not use fdisk.
|
| For info on FDISK and Format:
| How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition
a Hard
| Disk
| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us
|
| FDISK/Status Displays Partition Information
| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/72358/en-us
|
| How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q221829
|
| --
|
| Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
| Conflicts start where information lacks.
| http://basconotw.mvps.org/
|
| Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
|
|
| ms wrote:
| "Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in
| :
|
| Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
| Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you
| used to partition it.
| If you use a 98 boot disk:
| Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure that
| the fd is set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the
| CD in the drive. Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the
| menu. Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter
| assignment. Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press
| Enter. ** ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^.
| When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD drive.
| At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter. Ex:
| e:\ Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble
| type: e:\setup.exe.
| Windows should now begin installation.
|
| If you used BING:
| Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition
| maintanence in DOS which is run from the floppy.
| Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of
| actions on the left.
| Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98
| boot disk. Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
| Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from the
| CD.
|
|
| Brian, thanks for the data.
|
| I checked in BIOS, it had been set to boot C. A, I reset to A, C.
|
| Then rebooted with the boot floppy in place.
|
| Now it goes through the POST cycle, just after "verifying DMI pool
data",
| I get the message "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart"
|
| pressing a key repeats the message, does not restart.
|
| I still haven't gotten to a A prompt.
|
| Advice?
|
| ms
|

No need to stop. Yes, ntldr is an NT file and if for any reason W2k or XP
were installed in either a dual boot or alone, all that sys c: is install the 98
system files so it can boot to FAT. The OP mentioned that the HD had been wiped
clean already before he fdisk'd and formatted the drive, at least that's what
was mentioned, and that error is not uncommon after removing an NT OS or other
possibilities I mentioned.

However, as mentioned, caution shoud be taken when using fdisk /mbr if
anything other than fdisk was used to setup the drive.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


MEB wrote:
STOP.

The issue is:
"NTLDR is missing"
This is a former XP NTFS disk......... proceed from there...


"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
Let's step back for a Q&A recap moment, please correct anything that isn't
proper. Where you mention:
quote
I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
fdisk"

I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.
/quote

I take it you created one 8 GB Primary volume on the drive, no
Extended/Logical volumes/partitions, correct? If so:
Did you set the Primary volume as the Active volume? If not, you need to do
so because the Primary boot volume has to be the Active volume, you set it as
Active in FDISK. If you have the Primary volume set as Active and the drive
is formatted:

Set the boot drive detection order in the BIOS to A:, CD drive, C:. Save
the changes and reboot.
Boot with only the 98 DOS boot disk in the floppy drive and follow the
instructions mentioned in my previous response. If you get a boot error
message the problem may be a loose IDE cable connection, BIOS antivirus is
enabled, corrupt boot disk, corrupt/missing system boot files,
corrupt/damaged MBR, or a damaged harddrive.

If the system files are missing/corrupt, you need to boot to DOS with the
boot disk and at the prompt type: sys c: and press Enter
If the MBR is corrupt/damaged type at the prompt: fdisk^/mbr and press
Enter **Note: ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^. Also proceed with caution, if
any other utility was used to setup the drive, Do Not use fdisk.

For info on FDISK and Format:
How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a
Hard Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us

FDISK/Status Displays Partition Information
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/72358/en-us

How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q221829

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


ms wrote:
"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in
:

Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you
used to partition it.
If you use a 98 boot disk:
Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure that
the fd is set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the
CD in the drive. Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the
menu. Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter
assignment. Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press
Enter. ** ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^.
When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD drive.
At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter. Ex:
e:\ Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble
type: e:\setup.exe.
Windows should now begin installation.

If you used BING:
Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition
maintanence in DOS which is run from the floppy.
Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of
actions on the left.
Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98
boot disk. Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from the
CD.


Brian, thanks for the data.

I checked in BIOS, it had been set to boot C. A, I reset to A, C.

Then rebooted with the boot floppy in place.

Now it goes through the POST cycle, just after "verifying DMI pool data",
I get the message "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart"

pressing a key repeats the message, does not restart.

I still haven't gotten to a A prompt.

Advice?

ms

1. The floppy drive is not working, the system has bypassed the floppy and
is trying to access the hard drive which has somehow got some sort of
incorrect boot procedure installed. Fix the floppy drive.

or (if you can see that the floppy is working and the system is reading from
the floppy disk)

2. The boot floppy was not prepared properly. For instance, you have simply
copied the downloaded boot floppy utility file to it, instead of executing
the boot floppy utility (which creates a proper boot floppy).
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"MEB" meb@not wrote in message
...
STOP.

The issue is:
"NTLDR is missing"
This is a former XP NTFS disk......... proceed from there...

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com/
BLOG http://peoplescounsel.spaces.live.com/ Public Notice or the "real
world"

"Most people, sometime in their lives, stumble across truth.
Most jump up, brush themselves off, and hurry on about their business as
if
nothing had happen." Winston Churchill
Or to put it another way:
Morpheus can offer you the two pills;
but only you can choose whether you take the red pill or the blue one.
_______________

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
| Let's step back for a Q&A recap moment, please correct anything that
isn't
| proper. Where you mention:
| quote
| I put in a W98SE boot disk, message "don't detect any C partition, run
| fdisk"
|
| I ran fdisk, it seemed to go fine, enabled large disk..., no partitions,
| seems to be a 8 GB hardrive. It then said to reboot.
| /quote
|
| I take it you created one 8 GB Primary volume on the drive, no
| Extended/Logical volumes/partitions, correct? If so:
| Did you set the Primary volume as the Active volume? If not, you need
to
do so
| because the Primary boot volume has to be the Active volume, you set it
as
| Active in FDISK. If you have the Primary volume set as Active and the
drive is
| formatted:
|
| Set the boot drive detection order in the BIOS to A:, CD drive, C:.
Save the
| changes and reboot.
| Boot with only the 98 DOS boot disk in the floppy drive and follow the
| instructions mentioned in my previous response. If you get a boot error
message
| the problem may be a loose IDE cable connection, BIOS antivirus is
enabled,
| corrupt boot disk, corrupt/missing system boot files, corrupt/damaged
MBR,
or a
| damaged harddrive.
|
| If the system files are missing/corrupt, you need to boot to DOS with
the boot
| disk and at the prompt type: sys c: and press Enter
| If the MBR is corrupt/damaged type at the prompt: fdisk^/mbr and
press
Enter
| **Note: ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^. Also proceed with caution, if
any
other
| utility was used to setup the drive, Do Not use fdisk.
|
| For info on FDISK and Format:
| How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or
Repartition
a Hard
| Disk
| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255867/en-us
|
| FDISK/Status Displays Partition Information
| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/72358/en-us
|
| How to Install Windows 98 on a Computer with No Operating System
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q221829
|
| --
|
| Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
| Conflicts start where information lacks.
| http://basconotw.mvps.org/
|
| Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
|
|
| ms wrote:
| "Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in
| :
|
| Fdik is not enough, did you format the drive?
| Boot with a 98 DOS boot disk w/CD support or BING if that's what you
| used to partition it.
| If you use a 98 boot disk:
| Put the disk in the floppy drive and boot the machine. Make sure
that
| the fd is set as the first device in the BIOS or do not boot with the
| CD in the drive. Select to boot w/CD support when presentd with the
| menu. Take note at the end of the floppy boot for the CD drive letter
| assignment. Once at the A: prompt type: format ^ c:\ and press
| Enter. ** ^ = 1 space, do not type the ^.
| When formatting is completed place the Win98 setup CD in the CD
drive.
| At the prompt type: assigned cd drive letter:\ and press Enter.
Ex:
| e:\ Type: setup.exe and press Enter. **If it gives you trouble
| type: e:\setup.exe.
| Windows should now begin installation.
|
| If you used BING:
| Boot with the BING floppy in the drive, boot to the partition
| maintanence in DOS which is run from the floppy.
| Select your listed drive and click the format button in the list of
| actions on the left.
| Once formatted is completed, remove the floppy and reboot with the 98
| boot disk. Again, take note of the CD drive letter assignment.
| Use the same commands mentioned above only to run the install from
the
| CD.
|
|
| Brian, thanks for the data.
|
| I checked in BIOS, it had been set to boot C. A, I reset to A, C.
|
| Then rebooted with the boot floppy in place.
|
| Now it goes through the POST cycle, just after "verifying DMI pool
data",
| I get the message "NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart"
|
| pressing a key repeats the message, does not restart.
|
| I still haven't gotten to a A prompt.
|
| Advice?
|
| ms
|