'missing operating system'

Hello. I've got a computer that used to dual boot to either winxp or win98
with each operating system on its own drive.
Anyway I tried to install linux -BIG MISTAKE- but it didn't work and
stopped the computer from starting. It said the linux installation had been
successful and to press any key to reboot. But when it started it halted at
the '"verifying dmi pool data' stage with the message 'missing operating
system'

So I gave up with linux and tried to get the computer back to normal. I
tried to reinstall Windows. I used the win98 start-up floppy. I used fdisk
to delete all partitions on the drive I tried to install linux on, then I
created one primary dos partition covering the drive and formatted it.
So far so good. Then I reinstalled Windows 98 with everything going fine.
But when it had installed and needed to reboot it halted AGAIN at the
verifing dmi pool ..... etc with the same message 'missing operating system'

I tried the advice found here
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm I booted with the win98
start-up floppy and typed: - sys c then tried to boot but got the same
message 'missing operating system'
Then tried fdisk /mbr but got the same 'missing operating system' message.

So now I have a hard drive that I cant partition and format to boot with
windows 98. The drive is alright as it passes the scandisk test at the start
of the Windows installation. I can read from the drive and it has all the
Win98 files on it.
It has one Active Primary Dos partition covering the whole drive. It just
wont boot anymore.
Can someone please help.
Thanks.

Try using the repair console in Windows XP. For detailed assistance please
post in a Windows XP newsgroup.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"HarryHamster" wrote in message
...
Hello. I've got a computer that used to dual boot to either winxp or win98
with each operating system on its own drive.
Anyway I tried to install linux -BIG MISTAKE- but it didn't work and
stopped the computer from starting. It said the linux installation had
been successful and to press any key to reboot. But when it started it
halted at the '"verifying dmi pool data' stage with the message 'missing
operating system'

So I gave up with linux and tried to get the computer back to normal. I
tried to reinstall Windows. I used the win98 start-up floppy. I used fdisk
to delete all partitions on the drive I tried to install linux on, then I
created one primary dos partition covering the drive and formatted it.
So far so good. Then I reinstalled Windows 98 with everything going fine.
But when it had installed and needed to reboot it halted AGAIN at the
verifing dmi pool ..... etc with the same message 'missing operating
system'

I tried the advice found here
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm I booted with the win98
start-up floppy and typed: - sys c then tried to boot but got the same
message 'missing operating system'
Then tried fdisk /mbr but got the same 'missing operating system' message.

So now I have a hard drive that I cant partition and format to boot with
windows 98. The drive is alright as it passes the scandisk test at the
start of the Windows installation. I can read from the drive and it has
all the Win98 files on it.
It has one Active Primary Dos partition covering the whole drive. It just
wont boot anymore.
Can someone please help.
Thanks.

"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Try using the repair console in Windows XP. For detailed assistance
please post in a Windows XP newsgroup.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hello. Here's some more info. I had windows 98 on drive c and windows xp on
a slave drive d.
After aborting the Linux installation. I repartioned drive c and formatted
it then reinstalled windows 98. But found that it would not boot from
windows 98 and just gave the 'missing operating system' message.

Now I've found out that this only happens when the slave drive D (with
windows xp) is attached to the motherboard. If I remove the slave drive and
just have drive c attached, then windows 98 boots fine from the master c
drive.
But I'd like to get it to dual boot again. I suspect its got something to do
with the master boot record on the slave drive and that it would be alright
if I repartioned the D drive. But I have lots of files on this drive I want
to keep. Also I don't want to go through the hassle of
re-installing/activating xp.
Does anyone know of a way to remove or fix the master boot record of this
slave drive so I don't have to wipe the drive?
Thanks.

I repeat - use the Windows XP repair console, by booting from the Windows XP
CDROM disc. For detailed help with this process post in a Windows XP
newsgroup.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"HarryHamster" wrote in message
...

"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Try using the repair console in Windows XP. For detailed assistance
please post in a Windows XP newsgroup.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


Hello. Here's some more info. I had windows 98 on drive c and windows xp
on a slave drive d.
After aborting the Linux installation. I repartioned drive c and formatted
it then reinstalled windows 98. But found that it would not boot from
windows 98 and just gave the 'missing operating system' message.

Now I've found out that this only happens when the slave drive D (with
windows xp) is attached to the motherboard. If I remove the slave drive
and just have drive c attached, then windows 98 boots fine from the master
c drive.
But I'd like to get it to dual boot again. I suspect its got something to
do with the master boot record on the slave drive and that it would be
alright if I repartioned the D drive. But I have lots of files on this
drive I want to keep. Also I don't want to go through the hassle of
re-installing/activating xp.
Does anyone know of a way to remove or fix the master boot record of this
slave drive so I don't have to wipe the drive?
Thanks.