boot failure

New installation.Inserted WIN 98 boot disk and staeted up computer.Error message : "BOOT FAILURE.PLEASE INSERT DISK IN DRIVE A." Replaced at least 3 good boot diskettes.Same error message.Floppy drive light goes on,so I am assume that it is working.

 

RO

Sounds like either BIOS is looking only at CD ROM, then the hard drive and not the floppy. Check the BIOS to be sure the floppy drive seek is ENABLED. Alternatively, you might just change the BIOS to look for the CD ROM drive. Windows 98 is a bootable disk.

Dusterpilot

 

Thank You.

 

Sheesh Jerry,

You aren't long winded are you? While I can understand someone who likes to get to the point, whole sentences help insure that your point is understood.

Since we're playing charades here and your phrased response to Dusterpilots kind offer of help was, "boot failure ", I'm going to assume, based on my understanding of the words boot failure, that you have come to the conclusion that your hard drive and or floppy has failed.

? installation
Bios Check
recognized
seek sound
connector flipped

 

If you have a new installation of windows, why are you trying to boot off of a floppy? Or are you trying to install windows?
Have you tried blowing dust out of the floppy drive with a can of air?

 

Let me clarify my post.I do not have an OS.I am trying to install Windows 98.My floppy disk works fine,but my D drive does not.That is the reason I get that error message,and I do not know how to fix it.

 

When using the Win98 startup floppy, and you choose CD rom support, and the only hard drive partition is for the C:\drive, your CD drive is not the letter D:, in most cases it is E:, or could be R: instead. There is a message at the end of the boot process giving you the proper letter, watch for it.
Do you remember seeing the message about the "diagnostic tools loaded in D:\ "? This is because a Ramdrive [like a hard drive. but exists in your RAM] is created in memory, and files are extracted from the floppy into this Ramdrive, and it is given the letter D:, this bumps your CD drive letter up.

 

You are right about the RAM drive.But I used all the letters of the alphabet,and then all I get is an invalid drive specification.I am thinking about buying a new Cd-rom and see what happens next.Thanks.