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cant find the boot sequence computer can

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13 replies

by kenstophel

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After formating the hard drive with the dos format command - upon booting the message now appears "invalid system disk replace the disk and press any key"

If I boot with a W2K floppy the result is error message 7- cannot install a .dll file.
If I go into startup by pressing f10 there are no boot sequence options available to change.

I downloaded a new bios file onto a floppy and reloaded it
and it made no difference.

Without a dos prompt and without familiar setup options I am at a complete loss.

Should i clear cmos using the jumper on the system board?

The machine is a compaq 5285 that was given to my kids second-hand. Compaq cannot help because part of the serial number is obliterated and they can't provide any information without the serial number.

13 replies

by borginva

Have you tried booting with a Windows 98 boot disk?
If not, obtain one and try it.
If so, do you get a prompt there? When you do a "dir c:" on the C drive, does it show you all your available space?
If you can get access from here, then when you boot off thi disk and selecting the "Use CDROM driver", you can install your OS from here.
Let me know.

by thechas

If you flashed the BIOS, then yes, you should reset the CMOS memory.
Often a new version of the BIOS uses different CMOS memory locations for storage.

I am also concerned about the BIOS file that you loaded.
Without the Compaq serial number, how did you find the correct BIOS file?

If you plan to install W2K, you do not want to format the hard drive from a boot floppy.
Instead, boot from a W98 startup disk, and use fdisk to delete all partitions.
Then boot from the W2K CD, or a fresh W2K startup (not just boot) floppy.
(There is a program on the W2K CD that will create a startup floppy set.)

You should then be able to run setup.

Chas

by cg it

The BIOS had the boot order. The usual default is floppy then CD Rom then Hard Drive 0. If the BIOS can not find any master boot records [command.com and IO.sys] to hand system control over to on any of these drives, you'll get the error you specified. W2K doesn't make a bootable floppy disk for you to boot to. Windows 98 does as does ME. If you've formatted your hard drive to reinstall your operating system [assuming it's a Windows O/S [W2K] you have to use the W2K CD to boot from. What will happen is that a message will come up "Boot to CD Rom press any key" you press a key and you'll boot to W2K CD and start the installation Wizard. I don't think the Boot Sequence in the BIOS got changed to where you need to clear it and reset all BIOS values.

by cg it

note: some people forget to create a primary DOS partition and make it active when using disk utilities such as Partition Commander [I've done it myself] and even using Fdisk. They delete the primary but forget to create, make active and format the primary partition [which also would give you the error message you saw]. Compaq has proprietary BIOS's and even though they provide a Windows O/S, that Disk is a restore disk and not necessarily the entire Windows O/S [so you have to take it to them and spend your $$ with them to get the darn thing going again instead of doing it yourself. Without their restore CD, you might not be able to get into the BIOS to make changes.

by cg it

clarification: without their restore CD, you might not be able to get the computer going. NOT without their restore CD you might not be able to get into the BIOS.

by rboggio1

Please don't beat yourself to death. First things first. Can you boot to a floppy? If no either the floppy is dead, your boot diskette is dead or the boot sequance in the BIOS or the BIOS is whacked. If yes-- from the floppy run FDISK. Can it see a hard drive? If No- the hard drive may be dead or the BIOS has forgot what hard drive it has. Resetting the BIOS would be you first step. IF the does not help try replacing the CMOS (BIOS) battery. If that does not help you may need a tech to help. Ifyes-- can you create a primary DOS partion if NO-- the hard drive has a problem if yes-- can you format it. If no-- the hard drive may have a problem If yes-- is that partion "active" if no-- can you activate it. If no-- the hard drive may have a problem. If you have gotten this far with all yes's you should now be able load the OS from the CD rom, or Boot diskettes.

by dragononedon

If you're trying to boot from a W2K it's NTFS, not dos base. If your hard drives are formatted in DOS; W2K can't recognize it so it says that you don't have a hard drive and vice versa.
If you're operating system is W2K use your software to format your drive for you.
NTFS will only recognize DOS after it's booted up and running. And DOS will not recognize NTFS at all.

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