Format C:... When do I get to install Windows?!?!?

Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph

On Fri, 27 May 2005 20:36:01 -0700, Joseph
wrote:

Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph

Boot with a Win98 Startup diskette and enter SYS C:
That puts the boot files on the disk. Then it should boot. Windows
will also install the files during Setup.

Make sure no CD or diskette is mounted.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup

Follow instructions


--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"Joseph" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph

This error occurs right before the option to prompt (When you push F12, or
F8, or whatever it is).

"Bill Watt" wrote:
Make sure no CD or diskette is mounted.

What does this mean?

Thanks

Joseph





"Bill Watt" wrote:

On Fri, 27 May 2005 20:36:01 -0700, Joseph
wrote:

Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph

Boot with a Win98 Startup diskette and enter SYS C:
That puts the boot files on the disk. Then it should boot. Windows
will also install the files during Setup.

Make sure no CD or diskette is mounted.

Regards,

Bill Watt
Computer Help and Information http://home.ptd.net/~bwatt/

This is an ACER computer. It doesn't give the option to enter the bios. At
lease, it never says what to push to get there, and F1 doesn't work.

Joseph



"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup

Follow instructions


--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"Joseph" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph

On Sat, 28 May 2005 04:49:19 -0700, Joseph
wrote:

This is an ACER computer. It doesn't give the option to enter the bios. At
lease, it never says what to push to get there, and F1 doesn't work.

Joseph



"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup


No one said anything about going into the BIOS. Just put the Win98
start-up disk in the machine and after it boots up you will see the
A:\ promt. If you have no boot disk, go to www.bootdisk.com and get
one for your version of Windows.

I disagree with Bill, you don't need to put the sys files on the boot
disk, when you install Windows, it will put them on for you. At the A:
promt, just follow Jon_Hildrum's instructions above.

Follow instructions


--
Jon Hildrum
DTS MVP

www.hildrum.com
"Joseph" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I recently got a new XP, and bought the network equipment to go with it...

My old 98 (which I am now going to give to my brother) worked OK. I
networked them, then transferred all my old files into the new computer.

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

The last two older computers I did this with ended up getting into the
trash. This one is not!

Please help...

THanks

Joseph





--
The Seabat

"Joseph" wrote in message
...

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it
with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

This reports no "system code" found on any disk searched at
startup (selected by BIOS settings, see below).

This is an ACER computer. It doesn't give the option to enter the bios. At
lease, it never says what to push to get there, and F1 doesn't work.

The first message on the screen during the startup
process usually tells you what key leads you to
the BIOS menu. It is commonly the DELete key.
Hit this key as soon as you see the message.

Jon Hildrum wrote:

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup

Follow instructions

Explanations available at
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/how_to.html

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Got it Thanks all!

Joseph


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"Joseph" wrote in message
...

My next step was to format the old computer, and put Win98SE on it
with a
nice new fresh start. But when I format, then restart, it comes up to
"Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk, and then press any key"

This reports no "system code" found on any disk searched at
startup (selected by BIOS settings, see below).

This is an ACER computer. It doesn't give the option to enter the bios. At
lease, it never says what to push to get there, and F1 doesn't work.

The first message on the screen during the startup
process usually tells you what key leads you to
the BIOS menu. It is commonly the DELete key.
Hit this key as soon as you see the message.

Jon Hildrum wrote:

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup

Follow instructions

Explanations available at
http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/how_to.html

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

On Sat, 28 May 2005 13:34:27 GMT, The Seabat
wrote:

On Sat, 28 May 2005 04:49:19 -0700, Joseph
wrote:

This is an ACER computer. It doesn't give the option to enter the bios. At
lease, it never says what to push to get there, and F1 doesn't work.

Joseph



"Jon_Hildrum" wrote:

Set bios boot order to A:, C:.

Insert the win98SE Startup disk in the floppy drive and boot.

You will get an A: prompt.

Insert the win98SE CD in the CD drive. Then at the a: prompt type in
A: CDROM Drive Letter:\win98\setup


No one said anything about going into the BIOS. Just put the Win98
start-up disk in the machine and after it boots up you will see the
A:\ promt. If you have no boot disk, go to www.bootdisk.com and get
one for your version of Windows.

I disagree with Bill, you don't need to put the sys files on the boot
disk, when you install Windows, it will put them on for you. At the A:
promt, just follow Jon_Hildrum's instructions above.

Maybe you missed parts of the posts. He said "But when I format,
then restart, it comes up to "Invalid System Disk, Replace the disk,
and then press any key"

I said:
Boot with a Win98 Startup diskette and enter SYS C:
That puts the boot files on the disk. Then it should boot. Windows
will also install the files during Setup.

Nothing wrong with seeing if the disk will boot or not prior to
installing Windows.

BTW Jon Hildrum did say " Set bios boot order to A:, C:."


Bill Watt