making a copy of win98

i have gotten a compact lte 5300 laptop that work or comes on but will not
boot up. it gets to where it says hit f10 for setup and freezes, or it some
times says something about the bios boot sector.any way i have a reg-copy of
win 95,98 and xp and would like to know how to make install floppys of win 98
to try ti install it on the laptop.it doesnt have a cd rom, just a floppy
drive.can this be done.or could i put linux on it.need help bad.i'm giving
this to my 11 year old to play and learn with.thanks for any help.
mike mcc

Your problem isn't probably with the Windows installation. It's with the Compaq
Bios sectors (old Compaqs have weird ways of handling some BIOS functions.)

You most likely require the original Compaq setup disk that came with the
machine, and it's very, very unlikely that anything else will help. Suggest you
contact Compaq product support and request a replacement. As a general rule, you
can't use "generic" Windows setup CDs on Compaqs--must use customized versions
specific to the model of your machine.

Regardless, for all practical purposes, it's *impossible* to set up any Windows
newer than Windows 95 using floppy disks. Must use floppy startup diskette and
CD setup, or bootable CD setup (or network setup.)

Giving an 11 year old a Compaq laptop to "learn" on? That's downright mean! Do
him and yourself a favor--find a more generic, used desktop machine. Much better
for the stated purpose.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User

"MIKEFOTHREE" wrote in message
...
i have gotten a compact lte 5300 laptop that work or comes on but will not
boot up. it gets to where it says hit f10 for setup and freezes, or it some
times says something about the bios boot sector.any way i have a reg-copy of
win 95,98 and xp and would like to know how to make install floppys of win 98
to try ti install it on the laptop.it doesnt have a cd rom, just a floppy
drive.can this be done.or could i put linux on it.need help bad.i'm giving
this to my 11 year old to play and learn with.thanks for any help.
mike mcc

MIKEFOTHREE wrote in message ...
i have gotten a compact lte 5300 laptop that work or comes on but will not
boot up. it gets to where it says hit f10 for setup and freezes, or it some
times says something about the bios boot sector.any way i have a reg-copy of
win 95,98 and xp and would like to know how to make install floppys of win 98
to try ti install it on the laptop.it doesnt have a cd rom, just a floppy
drive.can this be done.or could i put linux on it.need help bad.i'm giving
this to my 11 year old to play and learn with.thanks for any help.
mike mcc

My first thought is that you should take it into your local shop
and have them replace the CMOS battery.

It sounds like it has lost the CMOS settings.

thanks, i will.

"MIKEFOTHREE" wrote:

i have gotten a compact lte 5300 laptop that work or comes on but will not
boot up. it gets to where it says hit f10 for setup and freezes, or it some
times says something about the bios boot sector.any way i have a reg-copy of
win 95,98 and xp and would like to know how to make install floppys of win 98
to try ti install it on the laptop.it doesnt have a cd rom, just a floppy
drive.can this be done.or could i put linux on it.need help bad.i'm giving
this to my 11 year old to play and learn with.thanks for any help.
mike mcc