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Thread ID: 44155 2004-04-09 04:33:00 Formatting problem donna (1667) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
228215 2004-04-09 07:08:00 If I boot without the floppy I get the following messsage:-
Invalid system disk
Replace the disk and then press any key

Also, from your earlier statments,
> Hard drive has been formatted
- who and how?

My son did it .... using command prompt.... format c: press enter
He just told me that he was asked something about choosing characters (he cannot remember quite what), but he chose none.

> Run win95 startup disk
- A screen mesage or what someone is trying to do via a floppy?
What someone is trying to do via floppy.

> says "starting win 95"
- White writing on the screen?
Yes, white writing.
donna (1667)
228216 2004-04-09 08:44:00 > > then "no drives found, aborting installation
- where did you get the startup disk from? And after what does this message appear?


> If I boot without the floppy I get the following
> messsage:-
> Invalid system disk
> Replace the disk and then press any key
- standard message when a MS operating system is not installed or found


>
> Also, from your earlier statments,
> > Hard drive has been formatted
> - who and how?
>
> My son did it .... using command prompt.... format c:
> press enter
> He just told me that he was asked something about
> choosing characters (he cannot remember quite what),
> but he chose none.
- possibly at the end of the format command to enter a label for the drive

>
> > Run win95 startup disk
> - A screen mesage or what someone is trying to do via
> a floppy?
> What someone is trying to do via floppy.
- ok

>
> > says "starting win 95"
> - White writing on the screen?
> Yes, white writing.
- standard message when booting from a MS startup disk

>
Merlin (503)
228217 2004-04-09 09:06:00 The following is presumed .

The floppy disk is a standard Windows 95 startup disk .
The Windows 95 CD is inserted in the cd drive .
The error message 'no drives found, aborting installation' appears after attempting to access the cd drive - by typing say . . D: and pressing enter .




If this is the case, then either:
1 . Boot off the Windows 95 startup disk and either reformat the hard drive at the DOS prompt - A:\FORMAT C:\s and press Enter (\s will install the startup files on a formatted hard drive), or at the DOS prompt - A:\SYS C: and press Enter (this will install the startup files on a formatted hard drive)
Locate the CD drive manufacturer on the Internet and download DOS driver software for the CD drive . Install the driver software - follow the manufacturer's instructions .
Restart the computer, insert the Windows 95 CD in the cd drive and install windows .
The advantage here is that the CD drive will be accessible when starting directly into DOS rather than restarting in DOS .

or

2 . Use a Windows 98 startup disk which has CD drivers included .
The disadvantage here is that the CD drive will NOT be accessible when starting directly into DOS .




Then again, if the CD drive is connected to the sound card as some early computers were designed, the CD drive will still be inaccessible .
But that is another set of instructions .



As the twig is bent, so shall the tree incline
- Alexander Pope
Merlin (503)
228218 2004-04-09 10:45:00 1. Boot off the Windows 95 startup disk and either reformat the hard drive at the DOS prompt - A:\FORMAT C:\s and press Enter (\s will install the startup files on a formatted hard drive), or at the DOS prompt - A:\SYS C: and press Enter (this will install the startup files on a formatted hard drive)

When I tried to do this I get this message:
Bad command or file name

I do also have a 98 startup disk.... would I try the same instructions???

Thanks for all the help so far
donna (1667)
228219 2004-04-09 11:09:00 For once Merlin has made a slip of the finger.
The commands should be this:- After booting from the floppy the screen prompt will be A:\> The format command to format the hard drive and transfer the systtem files is format c: /s

Note the forward slash with a space between the colon and the forward slash.

Just to transfer the system files without formatting is sys c:

[Now if you are talking of Win 95 B or C then you will will most probably need FAT 32 file system, which is enabled by going back a step to using fdisk. Win 95A uses FAT16. But if your son only used the format command, then hopefully the FAT system wont have changed, and using format command will be ok}
Terry Porritt (14)
228220 2004-04-09 11:18:00 Thanks for that Terry. Gave that a go and still got the error:
bad command or file name
donna (1667)
228221 2004-04-09 11:45:00 OK, Donna, then check that format.com and and sys.com are actually on the win95 boot floppy, as the bad command or file name message can occur when the executable program is not there , as well as incorrect syntax.

Have a look at the disk and see just what is on there, if need be make a new boot floppy and copy format.com and sys.com onto it.
Terry Porritt (14)
228222 2004-04-09 12:02:00 Had a look on the floppy and those 2 files are not there. Sorry to be a bit of a thicket, but how do I make a new boot floppy?? donna (1667)
228223 2004-04-09 12:11:00 donna
two ways
use the pc your are on now (sys A: command) but this will not give you cdrom support
or
http://www.bootdisk.com read the instructions (read1st link) there and download the boot disk you need I reccomend the 98 one all have cdrom support according to hte page
beama (111)
228224 2004-04-09 12:14:00 This is getting difficult .

Use the Windows 98 startup disk and use the install option from there .

Otherwise, at the A:\> prompt,
there will be several drives to bypass after the startup disk has finished .
C: is the hard drive and remains
D: is a temporary drive that disaapears after installation
E: is the CD drive . (it is renamed as the D drive after restarting the computer)



or use option Z

Pay someone to do this and watch how it is done .
Merlin (503)
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