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windows 98 will not load

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by jfbelozer, 2006/05/03.

  1. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    For no resaon at all, my computer has decided to stop working. When I turn it on, a black screen appears with a blinking, white cursor in the upper left corner. I don't know what to do. Is windows simply refusing to load? If so, how can I fix it or retrieve my old files? Your feedback is appreciated.
     
    jfbelozer,
    #1
  2. 2006/05/03
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Was the computer moved recently? Check for a loose IDE cable, video card, monitor cable, processor or stick of memory. Have you tried booting to Safe Mode? See if your hard drive is recognized in the Bios. Were you getting any errors previous to this?
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  4. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    I HAVE recently moved the computer and all of the connections have been checked and checked again...And it doesn't give me the option to run in safe mode. I get two options when I start up: F2-SETUP and F12-Boot Menu. When I choose "Boot Menu" I'm given four options:
    1. Normal - When I choose this option, nothing happens.
    2. Diskette Drive
    3. Hard-Disk Drive C:
    4. IDE CD-ROM Device
     
    jfbelozer,
    #3
  5. 2006/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hit F2 - Setup on boot and see if the hard drive is recognised in the BIOS - as Wiskeyman posted.

    To enter Safe Mode you need to hit F8 (repeatedly) as soon as the POST screen appears (or the BIOS beeps).
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    F8 is not allowing me to enter Safe Mode, and the hard drive IS recognized in the BIOS...I press F8 so much that it starts to beep at me every time I press it.
     
    jfbelozer,
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  7. 2006/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It has been several years since I used 98 and I am reluctant to post any suggestions which may harm the chances of recovering the data. I suspect that the Master Boot Record may have been damaged.

    The important point is to retrieve your data - not backed up ?

    Do you have the possibility of hitching the drive up to another computer as slave and copying the data across to it's drive and burning to CD/DVD?
     
    PeteC,
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  8. 2006/05/03
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    The flashing cursor is the point where the computer wants to load the OS from the hard drive. Suggest booting to a startup floppy. You can type
    C:\dir [Enter]
    to see if the C: drive can be read.

    You could run setup from the Win 98 CD. After it scans the drives you may find that it will correct the problem or after it copies the command files and begins running from the hard drive.

    If you cannot get access to the drive, run the HDD manufacturer's diagnostic utilities.

    Matt
     
    mattman,
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  9. 2006/05/03
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    As Pete said:

    Take the hard disk to another computer and connect it as slave. Check the jumper(s) which will be set to either master or cable select. If cable select, you don't need to do anything. If master, set it to slave. (When putting it back in your computer, reverse any change.)

    When your data is safe, you can start being "innovative ".

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  10. 2006/05/03
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Is this a proprietary computer such as a Dell, Compaq or etc. If so F8 may not be the key to press for Safe Mode.
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  11. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    It is a DELL, yes.
     
    jfbelozer,
    #10
  12. 2006/05/03
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS

    If you are able to access Safe Mode go to Start > Run and type sfc.exe in the box then press Enter. This will check for corrupted files and should repair them. Also do you have onboard video? Do you have a spare video card to test with? If you are able to get into Safe Mode check Device Manager for any problems.
     
    Whiskeyman,
    #11
  13. 2006/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    PeteC,
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  14. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    From the "boot menu" I can press F5 to run Safe Mode, however, it displays a prompt for the A drive...A:\>

    What can I do from here to run Safe Mode?
     
    jfbelozer,
    #13
  15. 2006/05/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    See my post above - we posted together - near enough :)
     
    PeteC,
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  16. 2006/05/03
    Whiskeyman Lifetime Subscription

    Whiskeyman Inactive Alumni

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    Sounds like a bad IDE cable, 4-pin molex connector to the hard drive or hard drive.
     
    Whiskeyman,
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  17. 2006/05/03
    jfbelozer

    jfbelozer Inactive Thread Starter

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    What I get now after re-boot is "Error loading operating system "

    Thanks for your help everyone. I think I've come to the conclusion that it's broken...we'll see what happens.
     
    jfbelozer,
    #16

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