Do I reformat again?

[Raeola]

I recently partitioned and reformatted a friends computer because they did something to it that wiped their entire computer. So I installed 98 on it and when they took it home they found that the modem was not found. They bought a new modem and it will not install. So they want to put a new harddrive in the computer with a new modem, but when they turn it on, it says NO OPERATING SYSTEM FOUND. Today I will go see what is going on. Is it possible that I can install winxp on this new harddrive by using the 6 floppies to create CD-ROM start up? Or do I have to stick to the win98? Do I reformat and partitioned it again? I mean do I go though the entire process of "fdisk, partitioning, then formatting" THEN install AGAIN? Help please!


Thanks!

[XxMorpheusxX]

i think the reasons for the modem is because the drivers arnt installed. The harddrive issue probably because they need to put the new harddrive as the slave drive. Its trying to act as the main harddrive. I sujest looking at there system specs because there is no point of putting xp on a slow computer.

Hope this helps.

[TimW]

Probably need some more info: Did the system work for you after you re-installed 98? Did you run any updates using the modem while you had it? I'm thinking that somewhere between your use and the move back to the friend, something either got loose (modem card ... ram...etc.) or you may have some faulty ram that is messing things up ...could cause the system to have been unstable before you got it and again after you reformatted.

[Raeola]

When I recieved it it was dead. Nothing was coming up so i did the fdisk, part, reformat, and then I installed the win98 and it worked fine! BUT....as I told them I hooked it up to my DSL here at home and it worked fine. Only the graphics sucked!! I didn't bother to even look at the modem when they took it home, but they told me that the modem was dialing up fine before they computer died.
So as I mentioned to today I will be going to their house to see what is going on. If they have the harddrives switched do I just trade the places? I think they said they have one in the orginal place and the other in a slot just under drive A. Hopefully I can just switch the drives and it will work like a charm? It is a slow computer so I guess I can humor them and do what they want me to do.
Do you honestly thing it will take the XP? Or should I just leave win98 on it? If for some crazy reason the it comes as no op systerm again what should I do....any suggestions?

Thanks!

[XxMorpheusxX]

if u need to put the os back on just use 98. It will keep there system fast.

[TimW]

Ok, now I'm starting to understand .... you have two drives .... if it is saying no os found, then for whatever reason, one of the drives is possibly changed. The one that has the os on it should be set to master (in some cases they work better if set to cable select) and the other set to slave (or also cable select). The master should be at the end of the cable and the slave on the middle of the cable connector. Compaq likes cable select. Morpheus is right that on older/slower 'puters 98 will run fine, but xp will give you more drivers and easier connections, plus better system config diagnostics. You might want to post the full system specs.

[Raeola]

I am not too sure what they system is, but let me brainstorm for a moment.....40 of ram...and the processor is Intell sometime, its a tiny computer but it gets done what they need. haha! I would die if I had to use it all the time. I am not use to the win98 OS and it drives me crazy because winXP is what I run and it is like typing on my keyboard instead of trying to type on a piano keyboard. You know what I mean.

So I will go switch the HD and see what they did. As far as the modem goes...they placed a new one in it. The computer found the new hardware, but didn't install it. I asked them if they used the disk that came with the modem but they said it wouldn't let them use it. Whatever that means. So, I guess I am going in with a blindfold on.

Thanks a bunches for the help.

[bigbazza]

Use Everest Home Edition to find out the system specs. It's free and from MG, as you can see. www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

When you run EVEREST, Click on "Computer" icon, then on "Summary", then on "Report" (at top menu), then on "Quick Report Summary", down to "Plain text". Save it to a file, as whatever name you like, (maybe PCddmmyy--with ddmmyy being the current date). Then it can be posted for all to see.

Maybe this will help solve their problems. Bazza

PS: Scroll down the report and delete all the stuff starting with Offset, to reduce the size of the report. Baz