Trying to clean install win98 on laptop. Already ran fdisk
and format on laptop. The problem is that I can either
connect the cdrom drive or the floppy drive in the modular
bar when I boot from the start up disc. However, only the
floppy drive is recoginized. Laptop does not recognize
cdrom, so I can't install win98 from CD. I can't seem to
find the drivers for the cdrom drive either.

I am brainstorming ways to transfer win98 installation
files to the hard drive of the laptop. Can it be done with
a serial port connection?

The laptop is a Dell Latitude CP (older model)

Thats all I can think of right now. I appreciate any help
and pointers.

You have to go into the bios and make your CDROM bootable and the first
boot.

Cody

"brad" escribió

I've already been in the BIOS. Still does not work. I
typed in every letter of the alphabet to get to the cd.
nothing worked and a: and b: froze and I had to reboot.

If your laptop supplier does not provide you with a procedure for this,
follow these steps.

Boot to your startup floppy and FDISK and FORMAT the hard drive.

Copy everything from A:\ to C:\

Do SYS C: to install the boot files.

Use EDIT to edit C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS. Change every occurrence
of A:\ to C:\

Insert the CD and boot to the hard drive. Confirm that you can access the
CD.

Rename CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT (for instance to .OLD)

Install Windows.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1045201c3f33a$df72c7c0$a001280a@phx.gbl...

I only found one occurance of a: in the autoexec.bat and I
didn't find any occurances in the config.sys file

Is that right?

It depends on your boot disk. What happened when you booted to the hard
drive?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10ba401c3f378$d122a6c0$a501280a@phx.gbl...

after I changed the autoexec.bat file i swapped the floppy
for the cdrom and put the win98se CD in the drive, the
win98 splash screen appears and then it tells me it is
reading drive a: abort, retry, fail

i had already switched the bios so that it boots to the
hard drive.

the interesting thing is that if i turn off the computer
and put the floppy drive back in with the win98 startup
disk then the computer boots with the c:\ prompt.

are there any other files that need to be changed?

thanks,
brad

Try booting without either the CD or floppy installed.

Boot to floppy and do SYS C:. Double check that the BIOS is configured to
boot to hard disk first, remove both the CD and the floppy, and try again.
If that works, insert the CD and re-boot. If it doesn't, double check
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT for references to A:
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1095e01c3f40e$b989ef50$a001280a@phx.gbl...

i tried booting the computer from the hard drive without
the floppy or cdrom drives installed and it said:

Not ready reading drive A
Abort, Retry, Fail?

It seems that either I missed some places in the
autoexec.bat and config.sys files or could there be any
other files on the start up disk that are copied to the
hard drive that reference the A drive?

Just be certain I am going to start from scratch with
fdisk and format. I'll let you know what happens. Do you
think that there are other files that need to be edited?

brad

Did you try a boot to floppy and doing a SYS C: ?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:104c801c3f42b$07b02020$a301280a@phx.gbl...

yes, i did the sys c: command and then i tried booting
from the hard drive. at that point it asks if i want with
or without cdrom. I tried booting the computer both ways
and ended up the same abort retry fail

any ideas what might be the problem?

thanks,
brad

There's still something in CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT referencing the A:
drive. You could paste the contents of the files into a reply and someone
might be able to identify it.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10dad01c3f443$1e2986d0$a401280a@phx.gbl...

If Jeff will allow me to jump in here for a second, try renaming your
Autoexec.bat and config.sys files by changing the extension to bad and then see
if you can start the system normally.

--
George (Bindar Dundat ©) MS-MVP

For Windows Troubleshooting Tips see;
http://aumha.org/win4/a/tshoot.htm

"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:10dad01c3f443$1e2986d0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
| yes, i did the sys c: command and then i tried booting
| from the hard drive. at that point it asks if i want with
| or without cdrom. I tried booting the computer both ways
| and ended up the same abort retry fail
|
| any ideas what might be the problem?
|
| thanks,
| brad
| >-----Original Message-----
| >Did you try a boot to floppy and doing a SYS C: ?
| >--
| >Jeff Richards
| >MS MVP W95/W98
| >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
| message
| >news:104c801c3f42b$07b02020$a301280a@phx.gbl...
| >> i tried booting the computer from the hard drive without
| >> the floppy or cdrom drives installed and it said:
| >>
| >> Not ready reading drive A
| >> Abort, Retry, Fail?
| >>
| >> It seems that either I missed some places in the
| >> autoexec.bat and config.sys files or could there be any
| >> other files on the start up disk that are copied to the
| >> hard drive that reference the A drive?
| >>
| >> Just be certain I am going to start from scratch with
| >> fdisk and format. I'll let you know what happens. Do
| you
| >> think that there are other files that need to be edited?
| >>
| >> brad
| >>
| >> >-----Original Message-----
| >> >Try booting without either the CD or floppy installed.
| >> >
| >> >Boot to floppy and do SYS C:. Double check that the
| BIOS
| >> is configured to
| >> >boot to hard disk first, remove both the CD and the
| >> floppy, and try again.
| >> >If that works, insert the CD and re-boot. If it
| doesn't,
| >> double check
| >> >CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT for references to A:
| >> >--
| >> >Jeff Richards
| >> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
| >> message
| >> >news:1095e01c3f40e$b989ef50$a001280a@phx.gbl...
| >> >> after I changed the autoexec.bat file i swapped the
| >> floppy
| >> >> for the cdrom and put the win98se CD in the drive,
| the
| >> >> win98 splash screen appears and then it tells me it
| is
| >> >> reading drive a: abort, retry, fail
| >> >>
| >> >> i had already switched the bios so that it boots to
| the
| >> >> hard drive.
| >> >>
| >> >> the interesting thing is that if i turn off the
| computer
| >> >> and put the floppy drive back in with the win98
| startup
| >> >> disk then the computer boots with the c:\ prompt.
| >> >>
| >> >> are there any other files that need to be changed?
| >> >>
| >> >> thanks,
| >> >> brad
| >> >> >-----Original Message-----
| >> >> >It depends on your boot disk. What happened when
| you
| >> >> booted to the hard
| >> >> >drive?
| >> >> >--
| >> >> >Jeff Richards
| >> >> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >> >> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
| in
| >> >> message
| >> >> >news:10ba401c3f378$d122a6c0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
| >> >> >> I only found one occurance of a: in the
| autoexec.bat
| >> >> and I
| >> >> >> didn't find any occurances in the config.sys file
| >> >> >>
| >> >> >> Is that right?
| >> >> >>
| >> >> >>
| >> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
| >> >> >> >If your laptop supplier does not provide you
| with a
| >> >> >> procedure for this,
| >> >> >> >follow these steps.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Boot to your startup floppy and FDISK and FORMAT
| the
| >> >> hard
| >> >> >> drive.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Copy everything from A:\ to C:\
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Do SYS C: to install the boot files.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Use EDIT to edit C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and
| C:\CONFIG.SYS.
| >> >> >> Change every occurrence
| >> >> >> >of A:\ to C:\
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Insert the CD and boot to the hard drive. Confirm
| >> that
| >> >> >> you can access the
| >> >> >> >CD.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Rename CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT (for instance
| >> >> to .OLD)
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >Install Windows.
| >> >> >> >--
| >> >> >> >Jeff Richards
| >> >> >> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >> >> >> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
| wrote
| >> in
| >> >> >> message
| >> >> >> >news:1045201c3f33a$df72c7c0$a001280a@phx.gbl...
| >> >> >> >> Trying to clean install win98 on laptop.
| Already
| >> ran
| >> >> >> fdisk
| >> >> >> >> and format on laptop. The problem is that I can
| >> >> either
| >> >> >> >> connect the cdrom drive or the floppy drive in
| the
| >> >> >> modular
| >> >> >> >> bar when I boot from the start up disc.
| However,
| >> only
| >> >> >> the
| >> >> >> >> floppy drive is recoginized. Laptop does not
| >> >> recognize
| >> >> >> >> cdrom, so I can't install win98 from CD. I
| can't
| >> >> seem to
| >> >> >> >> find the drivers for the cdrom drive either.
| >> >> >> >>
| >> >> >> >> I am brainstorming ways to transfer win98
| >> >> installation
| >> >> >> >> files to the hard drive of the laptop. Can it
| be
| >> done
| >> >> >> with
| >> >> >> >> a serial port connection?
| >> >> >> >>
| >> >> >> >> The laptop is a Dell Latitude CP (older model)
| >> >> >> >>
| >> >> >> >> Thats all I can think of right now. I
| appreciate
| >> any
| >> >> >> help
| >> >> >> >> and pointers.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >> >.
| >> >> >> >
| >> >> >
| >> >> >
| >> >> >.
| >> >> >
| >> >
| >> >
| >> >.
| >> >
| >
| >
| >.
| >

I have been able to get the computer to recognize the
cdrom and i have been able to start the installation
process for WIN98SE however when it prompts me to create a
start up disk I can't do that because I would have to
remove the cdrom and install the floppy which I'm sure
would cause a problem with the installation in general.

Any suggesstions?
brad

Just click Cancel on the startup disk and ignore it. You can create one later.

--
George (Bindar Dundat ©) MS-MVP

For Windows Troubleshooting Tips see;
http://aumha.org/win4/a/tshoot.htm

"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:126f901c3f5fa$ef70ebd0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
| I have been able to get the computer to recognize the
| cdrom and i have been able to start the installation
| process for WIN98SE however when it prompts me to create a
| start up disk I can't do that because I would have to
| remove the cdrom and install the floppy which I'm sure
| would cause a problem with the installation in general.
|
| Any suggesstions?
| brad
| >-----Original Message-----
| >yes, i did the sys c: command and then i tried booting
| >from the hard drive. at that point it asks if i want with
| >or without cdrom. I tried booting the computer both ways
| >and ended up the same abort retry fail
| >
| >any ideas what might be the problem?
| >
| >thanks,
| >brad
| >>-----Original Message-----
| >>Did you try a boot to floppy and doing a SYS C: ?
| >>--
| >>Jeff Richards
| >>MS MVP W95/W98
| >>"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
| >message
| >>news:104c801c3f42b$07b02020$a301280a@phx.gbl.. .
| >>> i tried booting the computer from the hard drive
| without
| >>> the floppy or cdrom drives installed and it said:
| >>>
| >>> Not ready reading drive A
| >>> Abort, Retry, Fail?
| >>>
| >>> It seems that either I missed some places in the
| >>> autoexec.bat and config.sys files or could there be any
| >>> other files on the start up disk that are copied to the
| >>> hard drive that reference the A drive?
| >>>
| >>> Just be certain I am going to start from scratch with
| >>> fdisk and format. I'll let you know what happens. Do
| >you
| >>> think that there are other files that need to be
| edited?
| >>>
| >>> brad
| >>>
| >>> >-----Original Message-----
| >>> >Try booting without either the CD or floppy installed.
| >>> >
| >>> >Boot to floppy and do SYS C:. Double check that the
| >BIOS
| >>> is configured to
| >>> >boot to hard disk first, remove both the CD and the
| >>> floppy, and try again.
| >>> >If that works, insert the CD and re-boot. If it
| >doesn't,
| >>> double check
| >>> >CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT for references to A:
| >>> >--
| >>> >Jeff Richards
| >>> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >>> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
| >>> message
| >>> >news:1095e01c3f40e$b989ef50$a001280a@phx.gbl...
| >>> >> after I changed the autoexec.bat file i swapped the
| >>> floppy
| >>> >> for the cdrom and put the win98se CD in the drive,
| >the
| >>> >> win98 splash screen appears and then it tells me it
| >is
| >>> >> reading drive a: abort, retry, fail
| >>> >>
| >>> >> i had already switched the bios so that it boots to
| >the
| >>> >> hard drive.
| >>> >>
| >>> >> the interesting thing is that if i turn off the
| >computer
| >>> >> and put the floppy drive back in with the win98
| >startup
| >>> >> disk then the computer boots with the c:\ prompt.
| >>> >>
| >>> >> are there any other files that need to be changed?
| >>> >>
| >>> >> thanks,
| >>> >> brad
| >>> >> >-----Original Message-----
| >>> >> >It depends on your boot disk. What happened when
| >you
| >>> >> booted to the hard
| >>> >> >drive?
| >>> >> >--
| >>> >> >Jeff Richards
| >>> >> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >>> >> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
| >in
| >>> >> message
| >>> >> >news:10ba401c3f378$d122a6c0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
| >>> >> >> I only found one occurance of a: in the
| >autoexec.bat
| >>> >> and I
| >>> >> >> didn't find any occurances in the config.sys file
| >>> >> >>
| >>> >> >> Is that right?
| >>> >> >>
| >>> >> >>
| >>> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
| >>> >> >> >If your laptop supplier does not provide you
| >with a
| >>> >> >> procedure for this,
| >>> >> >> >follow these steps.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Boot to your startup floppy and FDISK and
| FORMAT
| >the
| >>> >> hard
| >>> >> >> drive.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Copy everything from A:\ to C:\
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Do SYS C: to install the boot files.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Use EDIT to edit C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and
| >C:\CONFIG.SYS.
| >>> >> >> Change every occurrence
| >>> >> >> >of A:\ to C:\
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Insert the CD and boot to the hard drive.
| Confirm
| >>> that
| >>> >> >> you can access the
| >>> >> >> >CD.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Rename CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT (for instance
| >>> >> to .OLD)
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >Install Windows.
| >>> >> >> >--
| >>> >> >> >Jeff Richards
| >>> >> >> >MS MVP W95/W98
| >>> >> >> >"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
| >wrote
| >>> in
| >>> >> >> message
| >>> >> >> >news:1045201c3f33a$df72c7c0$a001280a@phx.gbl...
| >>> >> >> >> Trying to clean install win98 on laptop.
| >Already
| >>> ran
| >>> >> >> fdisk
| >>> >> >> >> and format on laptop. The problem is that I
| can
| >>> >> either
| >>> >> >> >> connect the cdrom drive or the floppy drive
| in
| >the
| >>> >> >> modular
| >>> >> >> >> bar when I boot from the start up disc.
| >However,
| >>> only
| >>> >> >> the
| >>> >> >> >> floppy drive is recoginized. Laptop does not
| >>> >> recognize
| >>> >> >> >> cdrom, so I can't install win98 from CD. I
| >can't
| >>> >> seem to
| >>> >> >> >> find the drivers for the cdrom drive either.
| >>> >> >> >>
| >>> >> >> >> I am brainstorming ways to transfer win98
| >>> >> installation
| >>> >> >> >> files to the hard drive of the laptop. Can it
| >be
| >>> done
| >>> >> >> with
| >>> >> >> >> a serial port connection?
| >>> >> >> >>
| >>> >> >> >> The laptop is a Dell Latitude CP (older model)
| >>> >> >> >>
| >>> >> >> >> Thats all I can think of right now. I
| >appreciate
| >>> any
| >>> >> >> help
| >>> >> >> >> and pointers.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >> >.
| >>> >> >> >
| >>> >> >
| >>> >> >
| >>> >> >.
| >>> >> >
| >>> >
| >>> >
| >>> >.
| >>> >
| >>
| >>
| >>.
| >>
| >.
| >

hey guys thanks for your help. I finally got the os
installed on the laptop. Wouldn't have been able to get
that done without your help.

Thanks,
brad

Thanks for letting us know that you got it sorted out.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
"brad" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1398801c3f827$577e64e0$a301280a@phx.gbl...
hey guys thanks for your help. I finally got the os
installed on the laptop. Wouldn't have been able to get
that done without your help.

Thanks,
brad