HELP HELP HELP! for Windows98 install

[Xanthguy]

I'm setting up my new system, and every time I boot up, the computer tells me:
BOOT DISK ERROR. INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PUSH ENTER.

I've disconnected all my devices except for the DVD drive(lite-on, and I've tried my CD-RW too.) and my hard drive, which is new.
What do I do. I've set the BIOS to have the CD-ROM be the first boot device. HELP!

--XG

 

[DaiShan]

first off, are you sure the dvd drive works? is it on the primary channel or secondary channel? are you sure your disc is good? try clearing cmos and re-entering the boot sequence into the bios, see if that helps. Also make sure that the ide cable is securely attached to the dvd drive, and is facing the right way (the red stripe should face the power connector)

 

[Bunch]

Is the CD good, you could test it in another PC.
Did you try to boot off of a Windows 98 startup disk and then run the setup from the CD (or even better create the windows\options\cabs folder on the HDD and copy the CAB files off the CD to the HDD and run the install from there).
You could try and update your BIOS, is it an older PC that is having some problem with the DVD-ROM.
You could also try putting in a CD-ROM just for the install, then installing the DVD and CD-RW later.

 

[Xanthguy]

Here's some more info; I was rushing last time. My system is completely new. The hard drive has never been formatted, and the copy of windows 98 I'm using doesn't have the boot disk. I tried downloading one online, but it didn't seem to work. My computer gets stuck on "Boot from CD:_" and doesn't do anything. I've tried switching all the IDE cables and everything, but to no avail. I tried resetting the CMOS, but even if I do that and disconnect my drives, it still gives me "BOOT DISK ERROR: INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PUSH ENTER." ARGHHHH!!! This is killing me. I'm going to try and find another boot disk download online. Please keep advising.

My system:

connected:
Epox 8k7a Mobo
1.4 gig AMD
256Mg Crucial
Maxtor 40 Gig HD
Mitsumi Floppy
Lite-on DVD

disconnected:
lynksys 10/100 lan
sounblaster live! 5.1
Promise PCI ATA 100 controller
NEC Zip 100
BTC CD-RW

My computer won't even go to the DOS prompt now, no matter what I do. Please help!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Are you certain the HDD is jumpered correctly? Did you intialy start the install with the Promise PCI ATA 100 controller card connected?

 

[spanky]

you can download images for boot disks from the bottom of this page

 

[boomerang]

If I interpret your last post correctly;

Your Windows 98 CD is not bootable.

You have downloaded a boot disk.

Your computer is telling you that it cannot boot from CD. (This makes perfect sense your CD is not bootable)

You need to set your BIOS to boot from floppy first.

 

[Xanthguy]

Hey guys. Thanks for the input. I think I figured out the problem. The boot disk I downloaded initially was a fraud. I tried making a boot disk from windows XP, but it says my command.com file was invalid. I finally found someone with Windows 98 SE, and I made a boot disk from their computer, and then I'm going to Sys my C Drive to copy the command.com.
Should I run fdisk before I do this, or will windows take care of that during the installation?
Thanks for all the help.
--XG

 

[DaiShan]

you need to fdisk first, create a primary DOS partition, then reboot and run through the win98 install process (during which your drive will be formatted for windows) Let us know if you have any other problems.

 

[Xanthguy]

Everything's great now. The boot disk worked, FDISK and Format went fine, windows fully operational. Yahoo! Thanks for all the help everybody. The only problem I had that I didn't resolve was my Promise ATA 133 controller card wouldn't recongnize my CD-RW (it did at startup, but my comp. wouldn't detect the hardware.) I slaved it off my DVD and it worked fine. Thanks everybody again.
--XG