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#1
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Installing windows on reformatted drive
Was given an ACER computer that had been reformatted to remove drive content.
At startup, is checking memory and giving a flashing cursor. (a: drive lights up w/ a startup disk in it, but does not execute. ) Not showing drive check or drivers of any kind executing..... nothing after memory checks but flashing cursor. Has a Western Digital 64AA IDE hard drive. Who can tell me what to do to install Windows 98SE from my CD? |
#2
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You need to go into BIOS and see that the "Boot Order" is correct.
Getting into BIOS (Setup) on your system is *probably* done using the Delete key, but it may be F1, F2, F10, or even some other keystroke. There is usually a message on the very first screen telling you what key to use to "Enter Setup." The Boot Order (or whatever your BIOS calls it) is usually a series of two, three or four items, listed numerically, showing what drive is first scanned for a bootable partition. My preference is to set Floppy first, CDROM second, and HDD0 third. If offered, "Additional boot devices" should be fourth. If the boot order is correct, but the startup disk doesn't work, you should try with another startup disk. If you still have no luck, post back. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Was given an ACER computer that had been reformatted to remove drive content. At startup, is checking memory and giving a flashing cursor. (a: drive lights up w/ a startup disk in it, but does not execute. ) Not showing drive check or drivers of any kind executing..... nothing after memory checks but flashing cursor. Has a Western Digital 64AA IDE hard drive. Who can tell me what to do to install Windows 98SE from my CD? |
#3
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Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves
the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: You need to go into BIOS and see that the "Boot Order" is correct. Getting into BIOS (Setup) on your system is *probably* done using the Delete key, but it may be F1, F2, F10, or even some other keystroke. There is usually a message on the very first screen telling you what key to use to "Enter Setup." The Boot Order (or whatever your BIOS calls it) is usually a series of two, three or four items, listed numerically, showing what drive is first scanned for a bootable partition. My preference is to set Floppy first, CDROM second, and HDD0 third. If offered, "Additional boot devices" should be fourth. If the boot order is correct, but the startup disk doesn't work, you should try with another startup disk. If you still have no luck, post back. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Was given an ACER computer that had been reformatted to remove drive content. At startup, is checking memory and giving a flashing cursor. (a: drive lights up w/ a startup disk in it, but does not execute. ) Not showing drive check or drivers of any kind executing..... nothing after memory checks but flashing cursor. Has a Western Digital 64AA IDE hard drive. Who can tell me what to do to install Windows 98SE from my CD? |
#4
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Nothing on that screen tells you what to press to enter Setup?
My apologies, I didn't read your previous closely enough--your problem isn't with the floppy drive or the disk or the boot order. Sounds more like a serious hardware problem if POST isn't even enumerating the drives. Time to open that case and check all connections, jumpers, etc. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: You need to go into BIOS and see that the "Boot Order" is correct. Getting into BIOS (Setup) on your system is *probably* done using the Delete key, but it may be F1, F2, F10, or even some other keystroke. There is usually a message on the very first screen telling you what key to use to "Enter Setup." The Boot Order (or whatever your BIOS calls it) is usually a series of two, three or four items, listed numerically, showing what drive is first scanned for a bootable partition. My preference is to set Floppy first, CDROM second, and HDD0 third. If offered, "Additional boot devices" should be fourth. If the boot order is correct, but the startup disk doesn't work, you should try with another startup disk. If you still have no luck, post back. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Was given an ACER computer that had been reformatted to remove drive content. At startup, is checking memory and giving a flashing cursor. (a: drive lights up w/ a startup disk in it, but does not execute. ) Not showing drive check or drivers of any kind executing..... nothing after memory checks but flashing cursor. Has a Western Digital 64AA IDE hard drive. Who can tell me what to do to install Windows 98SE from my CD? |
#5
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"ssb" wrote in message ... Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. To restore the ACER BIOS back to bootable settings press and hold the F10 key as you turn on the computer. You should hear two beeps indicating that the settings have been restored. |
#6
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Can't find any loose connections. I'll go to Western Digital site and verfiy
jumper settings for drive but don't imagine those would have been changed. Let me know if you have any helps on troubleshooting POST failures. Thanks! "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: Nothing on that screen tells you what to press to enter Setup? My apologies, I didn't read your previous closely enough--your problem isn't with the floppy drive or the disk or the boot order. Sounds more like a serious hardware problem if POST isn't even enumerating the drives. Time to open that case and check all connections, jumpers, etc. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. "Gary S. Terhune" wrote: You need to go into BIOS and see that the "Boot Order" is correct. Getting into BIOS (Setup) on your system is *probably* done using the Delete key, but it may be F1, F2, F10, or even some other keystroke. There is usually a message on the very first screen telling you what key to use to "Enter Setup." The Boot Order (or whatever your BIOS calls it) is usually a series of two, three or four items, listed numerically, showing what drive is first scanned for a bootable partition. My preference is to set Floppy first, CDROM second, and HDD0 third. If offered, "Additional boot devices" should be fourth. If the boot order is correct, but the startup disk doesn't work, you should try with another startup disk. If you still have no luck, post back. -- Gary S. Terhune MS MVP Shell/User "ssb" wrote in message ... Was given an ACER computer that had been reformatted to remove drive content. At startup, is checking memory and giving a flashing cursor. (a: drive lights up w/ a startup disk in it, but does not execute. ) Not showing drive check or drivers of any kind executing..... nothing after memory checks but flashing cursor. Has a Western Digital 64AA IDE hard drive. Who can tell me what to do to install Windows 98SE from my CD? |
#7
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Held the F10 but didn't get anything different, not even the 2 beeps.
"Hugh Candlin" wrote: "ssb" wrote in message ... Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. To restore the ACER BIOS back to bootable settings press and hold the F10 key as you turn on the computer. You should hear two beeps indicating that the settings have been restored. |
#8
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Checked hard drive jumper settings. They are correct. I removed the jumper
and got an "invalid drive" message. Displayed basic system config with error message. Couldn't make any changes but was able to see that hard, floppy drive is setup. "ssb" wrote: Held the F10 but didn't get anything different, not even the 2 beeps. "Hugh Candlin" wrote: "ssb" wrote in message ... Think I've now tried all keys and am not getting to BIOS. It never leaves the first screen. Not going anywhere past memory checks....... I think it is hitting a: because light comes on, just not executing startup disk. I've tried a Win95, Win98, and WinMe startup disk downloaded from www.bootdisk.com. To restore the ACER BIOS back to bootable settings press and hold the F10 key as you turn on the computer. You should hear two beeps indicating that the settings have been restored. |
#9
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"ssb" wrote in message ... Held the F10 but didn't get anything different, not even the 2 beeps. Power it off. Unplug the keyboard. Power on again. See if you get the infamous "Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue" message. Think about installing a fresh CMOS backup battery. |
#10
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Something that I like even better than unplugging the keyboard is to lay
your forearm across the keyboard pressing down several keys at once. Generally (if the boot is getting that far), you will get a Keyboard error message that tells you what key or key combination to press to enter setup or F1 to continue. In this case, you actually can do it. g PattyL "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message ... "ssb" wrote in message ... Held the F10 but didn't get anything different, not even the 2 beeps. Power it off. Unplug the keyboard. Power on again. See if you get the infamous "Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue" message. Think about installing a fresh CMOS backup battery. |
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