Help...serious answers only please

[waterwizard]

Ok, I know just enough about computers to be dangerous.  I tried to install Win 95 on a 486 computer, but never got it to do right.  I have Win 3.1 disks and wanted to install it. 

I wanted to wipe the hard drive clean and start from square one.  I was thinking fdisk, but I typed format C.  Now I cannot get it to boot up with any boot disk at all.  I tried all the boot disks I have, but none of them work.

Am I dumb, or what?  Any suggestions?  

 

[mac_philo]

Your computer might be looking for the boot disc on the CD-Rom, not the floppy.

When you turn the machine on it should say 'Press escape to run setup,' or something similar. Go into the setup menu. There is probably a way to choose whether you want it to search for a boot floppy or CD-Rom.

Is it even checking the floppy when you boot up? You should be able to hear it checking the disk. If it is checking the disk, then someone else can perhaps provide a different answer.

I'd also think about installing Linux on such an old machine, but that's another topic.

Also, when you say 'boot disk' do you mean 'installation disk'? A boot disk is just a set of procedures for booting an operating system already present on the hard drive. Your hard drive is empty, so (if I have my terms right here) a regular boot disk won't help you. The operating system is not contained on a boot disk.

 

[waterwizard]

What will I need for a clean hard drive? Installation disks won't work, either.

 

[Susan]

Blah. I had a similar problem with both my 486s when I tried to install a 3 1/2 floppy drive in one and swap hard drives to another.

Did it give you the "HDD Controller Error" and/or "FDD Controller Error" messages?

486=

 

[waterwizard]

All it says is that it's the wrong system disk, put in another disk and hit any key. (Where is the "any key" key?  )

 

[booger]

Ok, first off.  You need to make sure that your floppy drive is your first bootable drive in your bios.  To get into your bios you will have to hit a key like delete or esc or F2.  You should see it when it first comes on.

Not quite sure how knowledgable you are, so I must asked have you ever done a fresh install of any OS?

 

[waterwizard]

I bought a computer once that had the hard drive wiped clean, and I installed DOS 6.22 in it. I guess that qualifies.
I just don't know if I messed up when I did a format of the C drive.
I need to check it again and see which drive is the first bootable drive. I'm at work now, so it'll be later this evening before I can do anything.

 

[waterwizard]

Update --  I went into Setup, and found that the floppy drive boot and the hard drive boot were reversed.  I made floppy the first boot drive and hard drive second. 

Now it will boot up with a boot disk.  Will install DOS 6.22 in it tomorrow, when I have time.

Thanks, everyone!!

 

[booger]

Good Luck! 

 

[waterwizard]

Ok, another snag.

I tried to install DOS 6.22.  I put in the first disk and did the setup thing.  After asking if the language and other settings were correct, it wanted me to put install disk #1 in.  It was already in, but it kept asking for disk #1.  I couldn't go any further.

 

[mac_philo]

Does this computer have more than one floppy drive? If so the computer may be looking in the 'A' drive, while the disk is sitting in 'B.' This would be similar to your previous installation speedbump. Given that the machine and OS are 'vintage,' this could well be the problem. If so we can walk you through.

Let us know. Also, it is easier to get a sense of the problem if you post the computer messages verbatim. Every bit of information helps.

As a new Linux convert who often needs help doing various things, I've found that the best place to look first is www.google.com. Don't do a web search, choose groups. Then enter keywords that describe your exact problem. You'd be surprised how many people have posted and answered your exact question! But it doesn't always work, and then we get to have fun helping figure it out.

Best of luck!

 

[waterwizard]

Another update......

Last week, I downloaded some DOS 6.22 instalaltion disks, put them in the 486 and....it was in FRENCH!!! 

Anyway, I finally got some good installation disks, got DOS 6.22 installed (with a few minor glitches), installed Windows 3.1 (with another couple of minor glitches), and it seems to be working ok.

My granddaughter loves me again, she can play her little Bible coloring book game and a couple others now.

I can't remember how to make it go to Windows from DOS without having to type in "win" at the C prompt every time.

Something about autoexec.bat or config.sys you're supposed to put "win" in as the last command.  Anyone know?

 

[mac_philo]

Use a text editor (e.g., Notepad) to edit autoexec.bat. Make 'win' the last line.

Be sure you have a boot disk in case you screw up. Though that's unlikely.

 

[waterwizard]

Yesterday at 03:44 PM mac_philo said this in Post #13

Use a text editor (e.g., Notepad) to edit autoexec.bat. Make 'win' the last line.

Be sure you have a boot disk in case you screw up. Though that's unlikely.

It's all coming back to me now.......