Major boot problem!

[uka100]

Hi my sister took her computer to university (its running win98 SE) and installed a network card, after a few days the computer wouldnt boot. I removed the network card, donwloaded a win98 SE boot disc, but the computer doesnt even get as far as reading the floppy drive. Any ideas what could be wrong? I was thinking possibly a virus but would that be that powerfull as to not let it even try to read the floppy drive?

[mujahid7ia]

downloaded Win98?

[uka100]

Yes, I donwloaded Windows98 and put it on a floppy disc .

[mujahid7ia]

LOL, but I think for a floppy it's DISK and compact it's DISC.

[wulf109]

If it won't load a WIN98 boot disk you may have a dead motherboard. Most motherboards have a jumper to clear the BIOS to default settings,try resetting that jumper. When it boots can you hit the delete key to enter the setup BIOS?
If you can get into the BIOS check the boot order.

[uka100]

This looks promising. Well I did it and it started up and said BIOS reset, restart computer to complete procedure (along those lines). I did and it wouldnt load so tomorow I will try putting the startup disk in. Because it did read the floppy drive and then go from there....thanks .

[uka100]

Thanks very much wulf! I reset the BIOS then put in a startup disk and it read it! Formated, installed xp and it's running fine, thanks again!