Reinstalling Win 98

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

grafxfriday - 22 Jun 2008 00:25 GMT

I have done this before without a hitch. This time I made the mistake of
uninstalling software that came with Windows, Star Office 5.0. When I insert
the eMachine cd then do 1. Restore format HDD it seems to work then a very
brief error message "can't crate extraction dir", then continual error
message, "can't create C:/OFFICE51" and "unable to process". Then the screen
says image restores then reboots and asks for Restore setup. I have 5 books
from the library but they seem to be for WIN 95. I can view BIOS, but dos
won't go to C from A. Thanks in advance for your brillancy!

Signature

Do what you enjoy for a living!

Reply to this Message

grafxfriday - 22 Jun 2008 23:27 GMT

This was a breeze last time I did this, after I installed (2) 128MB SDRAM
Memory. This is an old computer I am using for desktop publishing. It is my
wish to get as much off the hard drive as I can so I can have as much
workspace as possible. I will be loading Pagemaker and Photoshop on again
when finished restoring and eventually get a newer computer.
I have nothing on the hd I need at this time.
Ok, my two main problems appear to be 1. "can't create extraction directory"
and
2. "invalid drive specification".
The options for a RESTORE of my hard drive are
1. Restore WIN 98 will format HDD
2. Restore WIN 98 will NOT format HDD
3. Boot to DOS Prompt from CDROM
F5=safe mode,Shift+F5=command prompt,Shift+F8=step by step confirmation. I
picked
#1 and step by step this time as to read the errors.
Here are where the errors occurred:
a:\unzip - od c:\windows\system R:\winsys.img [Enter=Y,Esc=N] Y
check dir: can't create extraction directory:c:\windows\system
a:\unzip - od c:\windows\R:\winother.img[]Y
check dir: can't create extraction directory:c:\windows
copy a:\winstart.bat c:\windows\winstart.bat[]Y
Invalid Drive Specification
copy a:\lfnbk.exe c:windows\lfnbk.exe[]Y
Invalid Drive Specification
cls[]Y
cd\[]Y
cls[]Y
ECHO[]Y
ECHO WINDOWS 98 RESTORE COMPLETE[]Y
WIN98 RESTORE COMPLETE
ECHO - - - - - - - - []Y
---------- ECHO THE HARD DRIVE IMAGE HAS BEEN RESTORED[]Y
THDIHBR
ECHO PRESS ANY KEY THE SYSTEM WILL BE REBOOT[]Y
PAKTSWBR
ECHO **STORE THE CDROM IN A SAFE LOCATION!**[]Y
STCIASL
ECHO[]Y
a:\Ejected.exe r:[]Y
Press any key to reboot your computer.
There you have it the two errors. I abbreviated some of the echo repeats.
Obviously
when I press any key it wants to boot from the cd,error 200,204 insert cd.
I looked around the Bios and here's what it says:
SETUP-Primary hd is ATAPI CDROM. LBA on,BLOCK on, 32bit on,PIO auto. The
Secondary
is the same. Primary and Secondary Slave are not installed.
Floppy A(broken, I had an external (usb) floppy driver as well as a flash
drive (usb)
I was working off of). Floppy B not installed.
ADVANCED-Quick Boot disabled, 1st Boot Device:1st IDE-HDD,2nd BD:ATAPI
CDROM, 3rd:2nd
IDE-HDD.
There you have it. I hope this is a clear picture of my problem as I know
your time
is valuable. Much gratitude.

Signature

> I have done this before without a hitch. This time I made the mistake of
> uninstalling software that came with Windows, Star Office 5.0. When I insert
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> from the library but they seem to be for WIN 95. I can view BIOS, but dos
> won't go to C from A. Thanks in advance for your brillancy!

Reply to this Message

rebel - 23 Jun 2008 06:23 GMT

(snip0

>I looked around the Bios and here's what it says:
>SETUP-Primary hd is ATAPI CDROM. LBA on,BLOCK on, 32bit on,PIO auto. The
>Secondary
>is the same. Primary and Secondary Slave are not installed.

If I am reading that correctly, your BIOS isn't seeing any HDD's.

Reply to this Message

Gary S. Terhune - 23 Jun 2008 21:13 GMT

As Rebel says, your BIOS isn't seeing any HDs,so for all practical purposes,
there aren't any. That's why the copy operations failed, that's why you
can't see C:\ from A:\.. You need to check all drives, their jumpers and
connections, and then check the BIOS to see if there isn't some
Auto-detection routine. Otherwise, reset the CMOS. And since that's such an
old machine, consider the wisdom of replacing the battery while you're at it
(the CMOS battery, a quarter-sized watch-style battery.)

You don't mention make or model of your machine, so there's no way to help
you in any more detail.

PS -- Star Office 5 didn't come with Windows. It came with the computer.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

> This was a breeze last time I did this, after I installed (2) 128MB SDRAM
> Memory. This is an old computer I am using for desktop publishing. It is
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
>> from the library but they seem to be for WIN 95. I can view BIOS, but dos
>> won't go to C from A. Thanks in advance for your brillancy!

Reply to this Message

grafxfriday - 24 Jun 2008 01:54 GMT

Thanks Rebel and Gary. I appreciate your help.
First Info then a couple questions..

Info Part I History
I have a single CD that says RESTORE CD(BOOTABLE CD)eMACHINES eTOWER433i
1998-99

Error Messages:
200:BOOT FAILURE
204:REBOOT AND SELECT PROPER BOOT DEVICE OR INSERT BOOT
MEDIA IN SELECTED BOOT DEVICE.

Initially the first few times I chose "1. Restore WIN 98 will format HDD"
without step by step confirmation (this last time around I could see the
errors). I hope restarting several times then turning the computer off hasn't
caused more damage.

Info Part II New
Additionally, as I restarted the computer, the screen with basic info came
up. I
noticed 2 things;
1. Secondary Master ATAPI CDROM. Perhaps this is the reason the hard drive
is not
"C". I am tempted to change the BIOS settings to fix my drive error(it seems
obvious, primary=c) but I am not positive of the settings.

2. PCI Onboard USB Controller, IRQ10
PCI Onboard Multimedia Device IRQ10. (Some of the PCI Devices have no IRQ)
Perhaps
these two devices shouldn't use the same IRQ number.

Questions /Summary
1. Auto-detection routine? How can I tell if my old computer has this?

2. I will read up on how to find and configure CMOS. I do have dos commands
and 5 books from the library(mostly for WIN 95) but actual configurations are
hard to come by.

Reply to this Message

Gary S. Terhune - 24 Jun 2008 08:03 GMT

> Thanks Rebel and Gary. I appreciate your help.
> First Info then a couple questions..
>
> Info Part I History
> I have a single CD that says RESTORE CD(BOOTABLE CD)eMACHINES eTOWER433i
> 1998-99

Does it have a manual on it?

> Error Messages:
> 200:BOOT FAILURE
> 204:REBOOT AND SELECT PROPER BOOT DEVICE OR INSERT BOOT
> MEDIA IN SELECTED BOOT DEVICE.

Typical error. Means that no bootable device can be found, which makes sense
because your hard drives aren't being detected by BIOS. It's very simple,
really.

> Initially the first few times I chose "1. Restore WIN 98 will format HDD"
> without step by step confirmation (this last time around I could see the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> seems
> obvious, primary=c) but I am not positive of the settings.

It makes all the sense in the world that the Secondary Master is your
CD-ROM. What doesn't make sense is that your Primary Master is a CD-ROM or
other ATAPI device, instead of a hard drive.

> 2. PCI Onboard USB Controller, IRQ10
> PCI Onboard Multimedia Device IRQ10. (Some of the PCI Devices have no IRQ)
> Perhaps
> these two devices shouldn't use the same IRQ number.

No big deal. There's this thing called IRQ Sharing. Windows uses it a lot
with PCI devices. And, as noted, it's definitely not the problem.

> Questions /Summary
> 1. Auto-detection routine? How can I tell if my old computer has this?

If there is one, it will either have some way to initiate it in BIOS, or
resetting CMOS may be the way. Or you may have to look up the numbers for
the drive and input them manually. Gotta know the exact
make/model/version/whatever of the HD.

> 2. I will read up on how to find and configure CMOS. I do have dos
> commands
> and 5 books from the library(mostly for WIN 95) but actual configurations
> are
> hard to come by.

DOS won't help you, though Franc Zabkar may be able to. He's a wizard at
finding BIOS files and ripping into them, often finding hidden functions.
But you mostly gotta figure on what I described, above.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

Reply to this Message

rebel - 24 Jun 2008 08:18 GMT

>Thanks Rebel and Gary. I appreciate your help.
>First Info then a couple questions..
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>Perhaps
>these two devices shouldn't use the same IRQ number.

I don't believe anything above adds much to what (little) we already know.

>Questions /Summary
>1. Auto-detection routine? How can I tell if my old computer has this?

In the BIOS, on the page where the drives are listed, there will be a field with
selections which will include "AUTO" for type/size/? unless it doesn't have it.
But from the above I am presuming a 433 MHz machine, which is waaay after
autodetect became the standard.

>2. I will read up on how to find and configure CMOS. I do have dos commands
>and 5 books from the library(mostly for WIN 95) but actual configurations are
>hard to come by.

Enter the BIOS and step through the settable fields. Basic enough - you can
always back out without saving any changes, so go and explore. But there IS a
reason why your system isn't showing your HDD(s) - we need to find it. It may
be as Ben suggested - physical - or it may be somewhere in the BIOS settings.

Reply to this Message

Ben Myers - 24 Jun 2008 06:48 GMT

Unplug the computer, open the case and remove and reseat the cables that
connect the hard drive to the motherboard or controller card. Then go into
the BIOS setup and make sure the hard is properly configured. Use
autodetect if available and be sure to save the settings when exiting. Then
try the restore CD.

Ben

Reply to this Message

grafxfriday - 26 Jun 2008 04:31 GMT

Hi Ben, Gary and Rebel,
OK first new info then what I did(operations) then Questions.

New Info
I do have the Windows 98 book with the cd key but no book for the eMachine
itself.
AMIBIOS version 1.20, base memory 641kb, Ext. Memory 262144.
Hard Drive is Seagate U4 Model ST34311A, 4.3Gbytes, Firmware 6.01, 8944 CYL,
15HDE and 63 SECT.
Motherboard is Intel AGPse FW8243LZ. I also found jumper settings.

Operations
Hardware
I opened the computer and reseated the cable ribbons to and from the
motherboard (3) and the CDROM ribbon also.
Reseated the 2 Dimms cards and all connections on Motherboard and CDROM.
BIOS
SETUP - I reset BIOS to auto. The only thing it detected was CDROM in
Secondary Master. (the Primary Slave was 26).
UTILITY - clicked detect IDE, went to autodetect. again the only thing that
was detected was SM CDROM.
DEFAULT - Clicked load optimal.

Then proceeded to startup error 202:boot failure and 203:insert boot
diskette in A.
I inserted cd then pressed format HDD with step by step.
path=a:\ N.
a:\format c: invalid drive specification.
Restore HDD from CDROM.
Restore is now in progress.
C: Y.
Invalid drive specification.
cd\ Y
md c:\windows Y
IDS (then 2 more commands windows\system, windows\options. Same error
Invalid Drive Specification.)
a:\unzip - od c:\windows\options\R:\cabs.img (went from small r to capital R)
checkdir: can't create extraction directory

Back to BIOS - I uninstalled A. The computer beeps only once now.
Error 200 and 203, insert cd, Boot to DOS prompt from cdrom.
A:\>dir (all the files seem to be here)

Questions
Hardware
I remember there was a high pitched noise coming from the top of the
computer when it crashed. I am sure the exterior fan is working. How do I
check the other internal fan?
Could I unplug the A drive cable or could it be connected to the CDROM?
Operations
How can I reformat the drives?
Thank you all for your help. grafxfriday

Reply to this Message

Gary S. Terhune - 26 Jun 2008 07:45 GMT

It's late, and I'll maybe think of something tomorrow, but that "high
pitched noise" wasn't the motherboard speaker by chance? The one that beeps
(or sometimes screams) when you get those errors?

The other possibility is that what you heard was a hard drive squirming in
its last throws of death. If it was the Primary Master, its still being
connected would cause problems for the Primary Slave HD. (You have two HDs,
right?)

The other fan is the CPU fan, and you check it by putting your finger on its
center to stop it, then let go. It should immediately crank up to full
speed.

No, you can't use anything but a proper IDE cable for your drives
(motherboard to drives.) But that brings to mind power cables which brings
to mind the power supply, which is usually at the top of the machine and has
its own fan. If it went haywire, it might even have fried the drive(s).

Try connecting the CDROM drive as Primary Master and disconnecting the two
HDs (including their power connectors. Does BIOS see the CDROM drive
properly? If so, swap that out for one of the drives, doesn't matter which,
to see if that's detected properly, then test the second drive, again as
Primary Master. In other words, test each one completely separate from the
others. If not even the CDROM gets detected properly, then the controller
(what you plug into on the motherboard) is perhaps fried.

More in the morning when I've had a chance to read more carefully and do
some research.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

> Hi Ben, Gary and Rebel,
> OK first new info then what I did(operations) then Questions.
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
> How can I reformat the drives?
> Thank you all for your help. grafxfriday

Reply to this Message

grafxfriday - 26 Jun 2008 15:40 GMT

Hi Gary,
The high pitched noise came from the top of the tower near the CDROM. It's
tone did not sound like the beeps Windows makes. It lasted for 1.5 mins.

I did upgrade with two 128MB PC100 SDRAM. Not Dimms.

I will check the CPU fan.
The other fan (larger one,exterior) near the top of the tower, works as I
can put my hand near and feel the wind.

I will do the connections you mentioned. I just wanted to rule out as much
in the AM as possible.

Signature

Do what you enjoy for a living!

> It's late, and I'll maybe think of something tomorrow, but that "high
> pitched noise" wasn't the motherboard speaker by chance? The one that beeps
[quoted text clipped - 80 lines]
> > How can I reformat the drives?
> > Thank you all for your help. grafxfriday

Reply to this Message

Gary S. Terhune - 26 Jun 2008 16:54 GMT

> Hi Gary,
> The high pitched noise came from the top of the tower near the CDROM. It's
> tone did not sound like the beeps Windows makes. It lasted for 1.5 mins.

Honestly, that sounds like one of your hard drives bit the dust.

> I did upgrade with two 128MB PC100 SDRAM. Not Dimms.

I though you said that aftetr you installed the RAM the new installation
went well? When did you install the RAM and has the system efver worked well
since?

> I will check the CPU fan.
> The other fan (larger one,exterior) near the top of the tower, works as I
> can put my hand near and feel the wind.

That's probably the PWS (PoWer Supply) fan. You should have at lest one more
on the CPU heatsink.

> I will do the connections you mentioned. I just wanted to rule out as much
> in the AM as possible.

Remember... Be methodical.

Signature

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

>> It's late, and I'll maybe think of something tomorrow, but that "high
>> pitched noise" wasn't the motherboard speaker by chance? The one that
[quoted text clipped - 93 lines]
>> > How can I reformat the drives?
>> > Thank you all for your help. grafxfriday

Reply to this Message

Ben Myers - 26 Jun 2008 17:44 GMT

> Hi Ben, Gary and Rebel,
> OK first new info then what I did(operations) then Questions.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> path=a:\ N.
> a:\format c: invalid drive specification.

<snip>

Make sure the drive is jumpered correctly, probably "Master, slave not
present". Also, you might try the drive in a known good computer or
put a known good drive in the computer with the problem.

Ben

Ben

Reply to this Message