Need quick help, building PC now

[AMDPwred]

I'm trying to install Windows. I get "Please insert boot disk", so I do and I come to a DOS prompt (A:\). What do I do from here? Could anybody walk me through this?

 

[Ausm]

If you have the full version of windows...go in the bios and set it to boot up on the cd-rom first then you are golden.

If it is an upgrade then you need to go here bootdisk an you can make a DOS bootsik which will intialize your CD_ROm then you are golden.


Ausm

 

[AMDPwred]

I tried to set the CDROM to boot first but it still asks for a system disk. Any other ideas?

 

[Ausm]

Read my second suggestion above...

Ausm

 

[AMDPwred]

I have a bootdisk and it brings me to this:

Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu
--------------------------------------------

1. Load NEC IDE CDROM driver
2. Load Toshiba IDE CDROM driver
3. Load Hitachi DVD driver
4. Load SCSI CDROM driver
5. No CDROM suppport

Which should I be choosing? We are using a TDK drive.

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok now it says I need to "create a MS-DOS boot partition to setup Windows". How can I do this?

 

[Ausm]

Hang on let me give ya the URL to the file you need....


Ausm

 

[Ausm]

http://www.mirrors.org/www.bootdisk.com/winfiles/boot98.exe

For Win 98 bootdisk

What version of windows are you running

Also is it a brand new hard drive you have there?

Ausm

 

[AMDPwred]

Win98SE
Maxtor HHD

 

[AMDPwred]

We used the Maxtor floppy and the disk is partitioning as I type. Would this take care of the problem?

 

[Ausm]

For God's sake do not load the maxblast utility...better off using the bootdisk I gave you and partion the HD from the dos prompt using fdisk

Ausm

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok I'm downloading the boot disk you gave. What are the commands for fdisk?

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok, we are in fdisk now. Thanks for that link, I'll see what happens after this.

 

[Isaiah]

Madboot is a really good boot disk also you can get it @ www.madboot.com it has lots of cool stuff on it and makes the install of windows easy

Isaiah

 

[Ausm]

make sure you have the floppy that you created in the drive

just type in fdisk at the a prompt

a:\fdisk


if it asks you if you want to enable large partitions type in Y and hit enter

it will ask you if you want the whold drive as one partition hit Y again this is the easiest for a beginner and it will also make it active saving you another step.

after that follow the directions I believe it "may" make you reboot...

then at the command prompt type in

D: and hit enter

this will switch you to the CD-Rom

then type in setup

and hit enter this should start installing Windows

 

[AMDPwred]

We did fdisk and rebooted. Now it says no OS. What do we do from here?

 

[Ausm]

Nice link Isiah I am grabbing it now...

Ausm

 

[Ausm]

make sure you have the bios set to boot off of the A drive first and make sure the floppy is in also.


Ausm

 

[Ausm]

DUH sorry forgot to add after it boots up in regard to my last comment type in

Format C: and hit enter

Drive must be formatted to load windows


Ausm

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok cool that worked, now it's telling us how much space Windows needs to install and it's holding. It said it may take a few mins, is that right? Should it take a while or go quick?

 

[AMDPwred]

We rebooted again and came to the a prompt. Then went to D drive prompt and typed Format C:. At the moment it's working. What will we need to do after it's finished? Just hit D:\setup?

 

[Snoop]

Once you fdisked you already formated? Just put the CDrom in and type setup at the d prompt