WHAT am I doing wrong????

OK, I just posted a question earlier about formatting, well, I have managed to get past all that (on my own) and now I am even more stuck. I am at the C:\ prompt and when I type in WIN98 copy Q:\ (the letter of my CDROM drive) win98\*.*
I get this - file not found - Q:\win98\*.*
so then I am at a C:\WIN98 prompt I type in setup.exe or install.exe and it says CDR101 not ready reading drive I.
I didnt think I had a drive I!
I have A (of course, and then C, D, E, F, G and H and even when I type in ALL the different letters it still wont do anything.
The reason I have so many drives is because I have a HD that is partitioned into like 5 different drives C, D, E, F, and G are all like 2.0
So now what?
What do I have to type in to start installing windows?

I am at C:\WIN98....what next?

 

I think members have been a bit slow in getting to your post. One reason is because the archives of past posts are overflowing with this topic. As a new member (Hi! by the way) you may not have read the Board Faq or have overlooked the part where it says to search the archives first and then if unable to find or you still do not understand what you found or if you need further explanations or are just plain curious and wish to discuss what you found, then post your question to the board. I know I personally was guilty of hanging back just for that reason. Try a search from the archives using keyword filters of fdisk, format, install or any combination. Make sure or choose win98 as the forum. I think you will see what I'm talking about. Many members both old and new still do not use the search feature of the board, so don't feel bad. This is only offered as an explanation as to why you may feel as if you have been ignored. You have not. We help all members, sometimes a little slower then usual but we'll get to ya'... That being said...

Are you using a win98 bootdisk.? This boots up into a ram drive and will move your cd rom up an additional letter, temporarily of course, as long as your using the bootdisk. If it's looking for I as your cdrom, Did you try I:\win98\setup? Why would you have a Q as your cdrom drive? You say you partitioned into 5 drives and cdrom would be the last drive letter after your logicals/extended. Unless and until you can get win98 installed and take steps to assign drive letters, if thats what you wish.

But it still sounds like your making this install harder on yourself then need be. Take a quick peek into the Past Posts and I or another shall return to this one in a bit as I am involved in in a few other running posts at the moment.

You will still find using help.net search feature easier when you limit your search to the win98 forum but since I can't link to that feature filtered directly due to a board limitation, as an alterantive or addition, albeit not the best......
Heres a googled list of help.net links. All will not be for win98 so you may have to read for topics that have win98 in them or on them. They should be fairly easy to pick out of the bunch. I have not filtered this list down very much you may wish to do so. This may lessen or pair down the number of irrelevant topics:
http://www.google.com/search?source...=site:www.windowsbbs.com+format+install+win98

 

I did do a search and couldnt seem to find what I needed on here, but I am still searching. I did try I:\WIN98\SETUP.EXE and several other variations of things for all the drives and I either get bad command or not ready reading drive I (most common response). I've tried several suggestions that were posted in here and it seems I am still doing something wrong. I have been looking under the Windows 98 forum specifically too.
The reason I thought my CDRom was Q was because thats what it has always been (had this computer for 8 yrs...just havent formatted it in probably 4 yrs. as I have one of my own and this one is my kids') I checked to make sure before I erased everything too just so I knew what drive I had to access for the CD rom support.
I wasn't being impatient, I was just trying to get this thing figured out and I did happen to get myself that far and I was just stating that as more a pat on my own back for doing it. LOL
I realize I am probably making it harder than it needs to be, but its frustrating to know that its on the tip of my brain and I cant get it, ya know?
I am using a Windows 98 startup disk, along with the CD in the CDRom. I have gone in and typed A:\, C:\, D:\, E:\, F:\, G:\, H:\, I:\, and Q:\ (comes up invalid) with the WIN98\SETUP.EXE or WIN98\INSTALL.EXE and can't get any of them to take it. SO how do I access the CD rom drive or find out what the letter is? I have typed: A:\ thru Z:\ and J thru Z is invalid.
Thank you for your response. I really do appreciate it. I am still searching the archives as well as checking out the link you gave me.


I reboote my computer, and it went thru the whole loading process..... Took me to DOS and I chose Start with CD Rom support then it goes on to say PCI bus scan complete....preparing to start windows this may take a few minutes

 

Do a dir search. Start with I:\dir /p. When you find the drive that is your cdrom the appropriate directories will show up on the screen, plus you should hear your cdrom spinup and see the light on said same blink away.

I think although it's been a while, that if you watch you screen as you boot from the floppy win98 bootdisk it should list what letter the cdrom is. If you have an oem logo that may be preventing you from watching this you maybe able to get a look behind that by hitting the tab key or the escape key, again not sure which.

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Just noticed this...

I wonder if the fact that your trying to do a setup from the path *\win98\setup maybe the problem. Perhaps its as simple as typeing the rom drive letter such as I: and typeing setup

Does this send you back to the a:\ prompt after loading the cdrom drivers?
Right up above that it should show you which drive letters are rom drives. Does it???

 

Prompt

OK, when I reboot the computer I see
Harddisk installed 0 ST32132A
CD Rom Installed GCD-R580B

blah blah blah.... Then I have this:

Preparing to start your computer
This may take a few minutes. Please wait.....
The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive H

MSCDEX Version 2.25
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1986-1995
All rights reserved
Drive I: Driver MSC D001 Unit 0
To get help type help then press enter

and then I have the A:\> with a flashing cursor..waiting for a prompt. What I dont remember is what to do next.

 

Pardon me for intruding but you should not include the \ character when querying for a drive change. Include only the drive letter and a colon.

If you are at the a:> prompt, type I: and press enter. That will give you the I:\> prompt. Then type cd win98 and press enter. Then type setup and press enter. That should get you going with the install.

Good luck.

 

Did the I: thing

K, when I type in I: it takes me to I:\>
so I type in cd win98 then hit enter.... I get this:

CDR101: Not ready reading Drive I
Abort? Retry? Fail? _

By the way... please dont feel like your intruding. I could use ALL the help I can get. I appreciate your taking the time. I really REALLY do.
I am just confused about finding out what drive letter my CDRom is. *ugh*

Hey..just did a reboot, saw this:
Detected 1 Goldstar GCD-R580B CD Rom Drive

thats all it said.. no letter indicated....?

 

Place the win98 install disk in the drive and try the command again

 

Sheesh!!!! I always do that!!! Automatic!!! Stupid me!!! I have done it for years and you'd think I would stop. My habit and my mistake. I know that when I do this changing drives and get the error, I need to type it without the backslash. Of course that doesn't help when telling someone else to do it who may not be familiar with why the drive letter change fussed. Sorry, I feel about one inch tall right now and is my face red.

Keep in mind it might be I:\setup and not I:\win98\setup. Although, the way my luck is goin' it's probably going to be the option 2.

 

If you DID have the win98 install disk in the drive bay when you got that message, it would likely mean that the disk is unreadable for some reason. It could be scratched or smudged. Try cleaning it with a soft lint free cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol. Rub from the center to the outside. If it still won't recognize it, you'll have to get another cd. Just try any cd you have to see if the drive will read it. If it won't read ANY disk, you probably have a bad cr-rom drive.

 

Hmmm, I just read your other thread.

Can you clarify please, what do you mean by a PC master cd and a master restore disk?
Is this a standard Full win98 CD install or some form of an OEM restore?

 

OK, I rebooted again........
I checked each drive.... and when I did I checked the directories on them. I have been typing in dir w......Beings I keep getting drive I, thought I would check it. Got this:
I:\ dir w
Volume in drive I is WIN98
that is the CD I have in there, but why can't I get it to read it? I type in WIN98 SETUP.EXE and get bad command or filename.

 

OK, I put in the Packard Bell Master CD and the Packard Bell Master Restore Diskette in to format. Format is completed..I shut down, take them out and insert Windows 98 startup disk and the windows 98 Cd. Computer boots up.... asks to start with or without CD rom support I choose with....it blah blah blahs and in the end I have A:\>_

I have to type in SOME kind of prompt.... somehow I have to get the windows 98 to start installing...... HOW? What letter is my CDROM?

 

You can't just type in win98 setup.exe. You will need to type the commands I gave you earlier. Dos is very particular about syntax.

Stay focused on those instructions until they work.

You need to answer the question Ann posed about what kind of install disk do you have.

Your cd-rom drive is definitely the I: drive. The message you got earlier tends to point to a bum disk or drive. Keep trying but stay focused on following the EXACT directions given and reporting EXACTLY what error message you get, if any.

 

Let's establish something. Do you actually have a Windows98 full retail install CD? It will say Microsoft on the disk and not mention Packard Bell. Tell us what yours says.

 

Just thinking....If you're using a Packard Bell Master Restore disk with a diskette in concert, it should install the complete operating system, not just do the format. Perhaps you are stopping the operation by pulling the cd when it reports "Format Complete." That's just the beginning stage. Wait and see what happens after that. They wouldn't give you those two disks just to do a format with.

 

We aren't leaving you dangling in the wind. Hang in there. If this is a Packard Bell restore things will have to be done a bit different. First we'll have to establish what make or model your computer is or at least what is on the written on the disks (Serials numbers or words) anything that will help us track down the specific directions you need to be following to restore your computer.

Note using that prompt command of dir /p should list the folders and files on any disk you use it on. Perhaps there are readme.txt that can be accessed via the floppy or the cd. These may have the very instructions we need.

Again syntax is most important. Syntax meaning the spelling, words, spaces, letters, symbols [if any] and order in which these are typed at a prompt. Any invallid or usupported command warnings means you typed it wrong. I suspect this plus the older 8x cdrom may be testing your nerves and patience but, once again, hang in there. You can get it done... I'm rootin' for ya'

 

What, no goodbye?

 

Yes it is a Microsoft Windows 98 CD.
Sorry had company show up and it was getting REALLY late last night.

See, that was my original question, (I think..geez.. so many people respond with so many different answers..its confusing)
When it finishes formatting and its sitting there waiting for a prompt in DOS, what do I do next?

 

Sorry about all the problems, something is wrong with the CD drive, I can't get it to read any other CD....gonna HAVE to take it in and have it worked on I guess, that or just admit that can't always fix a dinosaur. This thing IS really old (8 + yrs old) and its been my kids' computer for the last 4 yrs of that, so I may just have to give in and get them a different one.
I have tried every possible suggestion posted here and otherwise and nothing is working. I really appreciate everyone's time.