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Thread ID: 46731 2004-07-03 11:08:00 Reformat crashed supergran (108) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
249619 2004-07-03 11:08:00 After a lot of problems today with my daughters HP 500speed, 32 ram, older computer, running 98SE we decided to reformat with the recovery cds. It got half way through then locked up. We left it for over an hour, still locked up at the same place. Ended up turning off puter, trying cd again when we turned puter back on, and can't get past a thing that says it is looking for PK zip or similar. I know we are most likely going to have to take it to the shop to be fixed this time, but just in case anyone had any ideas, thought I would post our headaches here. TIA supergran (108)
249620 2004-07-03 11:12:00 Could be a dirty CD Davesdad (923)
249621 2004-07-03 11:17:00 Let me expand a bit

PK zip (or similar) is on the CD and is used to extract the compressed files on the CD. If the CD is dirty or scratched the program may not be found.
Davesdad (923)
249622 2004-07-03 11:24:00 No, cd is clean, only ever used once before, and yes, I went up and checked, but I was wondering if when the first reformat/recover jammed, if it took away the drivers for the cd. Hence it isn't reading it. Would the boot floppy I made for my puter, totally different set up, but 98se work just to try and get the cd working? I just don't want to muck it up anymore than it already is. supergran (108)
249623 2004-07-03 11:36:00 I would make sure the CD is clean by running it under warm water from a tap. The clean softly from inside out. I would then try the CD again. If still doesn't work the disk is either faulty or the crash has caused the fault. I would then use your Win98 startup disk and format the C drive to get rid of what is on there and then try the CD again. Have you got the CD to boot first when the PC starts. Most restore CD's give options when they start, does yours have options as one of these is normally format>
hth
Berryb (654)
249624 2004-07-03 11:45:00 Ok, will try that in the morning, as I am sick to death of her puter tonight . LOL

As for the recover cd, yes it has the option of restore and reformat, totally separate jobs . We used the cd one other time, to restore Windows, and didn't have a problem, and we also didn't have a problem when we started to reformat this time, until it locked up . She previously had virus, and the puter is nearly 5 years old, and never been reformatted, which is why we decided to have a real clean out this time .

She never made a boot floppy for her puter, as she said she had the recovery cds, so didn't think she would ever need a floppy .

Just read your post again, and the floppy boots first, then the cd . I can't change it, as I can't do access anything .
supergran (108)
249625 2004-07-03 11:49:00 > Would the boot floppy I made for my puter, totally
> different set up, but 98se work just to try and get
> the cd working?

Yes

I'm not sure if you know how so this is what I would do .

At the A: prompt type D: (or the letter assigned to the cd drive) then hit enter to change to that drive .
Type dir and hit enter to list the files on the drive and look for a setup program .
Type the name of the setup program at the prompt, hit enter ans hopefully away you go .
Davesdad (923)
249626 2004-07-03 11:49:00 Floppy first then CD is fine. I would try the CD and format the drive. Then reboot the try the restore :) Berryb (654)
249627 2004-07-03 11:49:00 Try without the CD in and attempt to boot as normal with pad and pencil at the ready. Do you have any other options to choose during a normal boot up as re recovery of help. As per Davesdad's suggestion, try cleaning the CD with a lint free cloth and warm water a bit hotter than luke warm with a touch of detergent in it, wipe gently away from the centre don't rub in circles, pat dry with a clean cloth and leave a while in a warm room to dry completely. Fire it up and see what happens.

Do you have a Win98 boot CD? If not you can downlaod one from BootDisk. com (www.bootdisk.com/), look here (http:) to see what to do with the file you downloaded. From there boot with the boot floppy in the drive which will give you a A:\> prompt, after the A:\> prompt type FORMAT C: /S (no space between the prompt and format) with the hit the enter key and and let it do its thing (coffee time), once you've had your coffee and it has finsished insert the rescue CD and fire it up.

If you have any doubt about the boot disc part, ask.

Cheers Murray P
Murray P (44)
249628 2004-07-03 11:58:00 > I would make sure the CD is clean by running it under
> warm water from a tap .

That is a very very very bad idea!, that will damage the disk!
stu120404 (268)
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