Help. Insert bootable media disk

[flesheatingpunk]

I just bought a used Hewlett Packard comp, well when I start it I get an error saying "Insert Bootable Media in appropriate drive" Well first I tried search on google for a bootable media file, and I found 2 at bootablemedia.de, so I loaded it and it wrote to a disk, but when I put it in the computer it did nothing. While writing this I got an error loading operation system. Any suggestions of what I should do? DO you think buying windows 96 software and loading would probably fix it?

[flesheatingpunk]

Ok, i downloaded windows 98 boot disk and that helped me find out the comp has windopws 98 and it says something about the computer missing Fat32 or it being corrupt.
Any ideas?

[vitualis]

Your second hand PC has a blank HDD (a good thing) and it doesn't have an O/S installed.

Thus, you will need a boot disc of some sort (e.g., there should be a boot disc that comes with your Windows CDs).

Alternatively, if you want to install Windows, you can boot directory from the Windows CD, but you may (will) have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS so that it will boot from the CD drive.

You can also make a boot diskette from another PC with Windows installed. Go to "Control Panel" and choose "Add/Remove Programs". Then click on the tag "Start up disc".

Regards.

[flesheatingpunk]

Update:
I have no cd's
I made a start up disk with the add/remove area, i'm trying to load regular files cause it didn't do anything.
One question, if i went out and bought like windows XP and installed it, do you think everything would work?

[flesheatingpunk]

neighbor ahd a Restore CD for an Emachines? will this work?
If it does could you dumb this down.

Alternatively, if you want to install Windows, you can boot directory from the Windows CD, but you may (will) have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS so that it will boot from the CD drive.

[flesheatingpunk]

Sorry, forgot to say Thanks,thank you

[vitualis]

Okay, so you have a Win98 boot diskette? Good.

However, if you don't have a Windows installation CD, you're not going to be able to install Windows on your PC (obviously). WinXP may not be a good idea if the machine is reasonable old as it may not support all the hardware. Furthermore, there may be performance issues too. I suggest you get Win98SE or Win2000.

In any case, it sounds like there may be a problem with the HDD so you may not be able to directly install on O/S on it.

Get you boot diskette and boot it. Check if you have the proggies "fdisk" and "format" on the disc.

If you don't, you are going to have to copy those files from another PC onto the disk (C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND).

Now, boot the PC again using the boot disk and run fdisk. Enable FAT32 usage. Delete whatever partitions are on the HDD. Then create a new primary partition. Save and exit.

Reboot.

Now, use format to format your HDD.

Reboot.

Now, you should be able to install Windows onto your HDD.

Regards.

[vitualis]

BTW, restoration CDs are machine specific so it will probably not work (or worse, not work properly) on your machine. You will need to get a Windows Installation CD from somewhere.

Regards.

[flesheatingpunk]

nothing to delete, i tried to format and got this message.
"Required parameter missing" Have an idea what i should do?

Thanks thanks thanks, you are helping me alot.

[flesheatingpunk]

You will need to get a Windows Installation CD from somewhere.

This will be accoplished by buying it right?

P.S i haven't worked on a computer in dos since i had a Tandy.

[vitualis]

Firstly, I presume you've already used FDISK? You must make a partition first before you can format anything. That is, use FDISK to delete any existing partitions (if any exist). And then create a new primary partition.

Reboot.

Then use format (e.g., on the command console, type format c:).

After you've finished formatting, you will need to reboot again before the PC can assess the HDD.

As for the Windows CD, you can buy it of course. There are other ways of course but I leave it up to you. I presume you've already got a PC? Didn't that come with a Windows Installation CD?

Regards.

[flesheatingpunk]

DO you think a Packard bell restore cd and disk would work on a Hewlett packard? aren't they the same company?
ALos i relised i for got to Create Primary dos partition. I'm doing that now, seems to be stuck at 0%

[flesheatingpunk]

I do have 2 other pc's one a packard bell and one an Emachines and neither came with thems since i got them rent to own. I think the restore disk is to my comp that just broke.

[vitualis]

Packard Bell does not equal Hewlett Packard.

You could try it of course, but I doubt it will work. If you really get into strife, you could just format the HDD again so you don't lose anything (except for time).

Now, delete all existing partitions before creating your Primary DOS Partition. Then, reboot and format.

Creating a new partition shouldn't take very long (5 or so minutes). If it doesn't finish, the HDD may (probably) is broken and you should get a refund.

Regards.

[flesheatingpunk]

Did the restore disk, totally fucked up everything, tried all the format stuff and creating, it says its created now but won't format still.

Can't get a refund, they don't do that.
Thanks again.

[vitualis]

Okay. So the FDISK (partitioning) worked? You should be able to format the HDD then, but you will have to REBOOT the PC before you can format...

I'm not quite sure what you did, but follow the instructions I gave before. The idea of deleted all previous partitions and then setting a new one is to start from a clean slate (i.e., your HDD is completely wiped).

After you've set the new partition, you will need to reboot. Then you can format the hard disc (i.e., "format c:" ).

After formatting the hard drive, you will need to REBOOT again before you can starting installing windows (but you will need a copy first).

If you can both partition and format the HDD, it is probably okay. If either step fails to complete, there is a problem with the PC.

I don't know how it is where you live, but in Australia, consumers are protected under the Trade Practices Act against "unmerchantable goods". That is, even if the shop doesn't have a refund policy, it MUST refund the good if the item is "unmerchantable" -- i.e., it was broken to begin with but it was sold in the premise that it was working. I would presume that a similar law would exist where you live too. The only time when I would believe this wouldn't be in effect is if you bought the PC on the agreement that you were buying it "as is".

However, make certain that there really is a problem with your PC first... From what you've posted so far, I'm not convinced that there is a problem.

Regards.

[flesheatingpunk]

Yeah it was an "AS IS" thing. I tried restarting it after i deleted then tried to format and it still didn't work.
Hmm, proabbly try to get someone to look at it before chucking it, got a sweet monitor in the deal though

P.s i live in american

p.p.s Thanks again

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: flesheatingpunk on 2001-10-26 01:59:52 ]</font>

[vitualis]

If it's only the HDD that's screwed you should be able to get the thing working by just replacing it...

Good luck.

Regards.