Update - &quot;Urgent help, delete system files&quot; August 8, 2008

"Mary" <Mary@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:571E148B-371F-407E-BB12-B43706FC38DC@microsoft.com...

> Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on how to

> restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating files.

>

> I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a floppy disk

> "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted this disk into my

> computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

>

> "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key when

> ready...."

>

> So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also does

> not

> respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not work! What can

> I

> do now?

>

> Thanks,

> Mary

August 13, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

news:%23jfpeEN$IHA.1224@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Just to make sure, Mary, the EXE you downloaded isn't just copied to a

> floppy. You run that EXE in Windows and it creates the floppy.

>

> Which did you do?

>

That's right

just put a blank floppy in your drive

then double click on the file you downloaded from bootdisk.com

and it will create a bootable floppy

August 13, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

I think she is the same Mary and does not want to admit her mistake. Well, I

have learned it is better to admit failure, apologize and go on with your

life then to hold it all in. This was a really tough lesson to get into my

thick head. <grin>

"philo" wrote:

>

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message

> news:%23jfpeEN$IHA.1224@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> > Just to make sure, Mary, the EXE you downloaded isn't just copied to a

> > floppy. You run that EXE in Windows and it creates the floppy.

> >

> > Which did you do?

> >

>

> That's right

> just put a blank floppy in your drive

> then double click on the file you downloaded from bootdisk.com

> and it will create a bootable floppy

>

August 17, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Mary wrote:

| Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on how to

| restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating files.

|

| I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a floppy

| disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted this disk

| into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

|

| "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key when

| ready...."

|

| So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

| does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

| work! What can I do now?

You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

(a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

(b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once posted

for that...

......Quote of Candlin about...............

......Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

Other keystrokes which might work are:

AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

and power up again, as some older systems will default

to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

.......End of Quote............................

Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

different.)

(a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

(b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

| Thanks,

| Mary

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

August 17, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you butt out?

She's got enough on her plate and needs to first verify that she indeed

properly created the Startup Disk and then report whether it works of not.

If not, we'll t-shoot that issue, though I seriously doubt there's anything

wrong with her BIOS or its settings. She just didn't understand how to make

a boot disk. My goal, once she can safely access her files using a bootdisk

is to manually restore the files from the Recycle Bin, which is, from where

I sit, the only method available to get all those files (MSDOS.SYS, for

example) back to where they belong *without* having to go through any

restoration or reinstallation.

IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving BIOS, etc.,

then is the time to address that problem, not now.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Mary wrote:

> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on how to

> | restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating files.

> |

> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a floppy

> | disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted this disk

> | into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

> |

> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key when

> | ready...."

> |

> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

> | work! What can I do now?

>

> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

>

> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

>

> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once posted

> for that...

>

> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

>

> Other keystrokes which might work are:

>

> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

>

> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

> and power up again, as some older systems will default

> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

> ......End of Quote............................

>

> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

> different.)

>

> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

>

> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

>

> | Thanks,

> | Mary

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

>

August 18, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Gary, does have a point in his reply to you PCR, and I think it will be best

to let Gary handle this in this case, with Mary, if she ends up posting back.

Anyway, do you know what Hugh Candlin is up to these days? I remember a

cool fix to do with the start up menu of his with Windows 98 Second Edition

in the way it was displayed. I think it involved modifying the registry to

get it to work properly. Perhaps, you have it saved somewhere in your files,

PCR and could remind me of it.

"PCR" wrote:

> Mary wrote:

> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on how to

> | restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating files.

> |

> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a floppy

> | disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted this disk

> | into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

> |

> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key when

> | ready...."

> |

> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

> | work! What can I do now?

>

> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

>

> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

>

> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once posted

> for that...

>

> ......Quote of Candlin about...............

> ......Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

>

> Other keystrokes which might work are:

>

> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

>

> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

> and power up again, as some older systems will default

> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

> .......End of Quote............................

>

> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

> different.)

>

> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

>

> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

>

> | Thanks,

> | Mary

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Dan wrote:

| Gary, does have a point in his reply to you PCR, and I think it will

| be best to let Gary handle this in this case, with Mary, if she ends

| up posting back. Anyway, do you know what Hugh Candlin is up to

| these days? I remember a cool fix to do with the start up menu of

| his with Windows 98 Second Edition in the way it was displayed. I

| think it involved modifying the registry to get it to work properly.

| Perhaps, you have it saved somewhere in your files, PCR and could

| remind me of it.

I've always been willing to defer to Terhune. No, I don't know where

Candlin has gone, but I wish him well. I have 13 of Candlin's posts in

my Keepers folder. Do you mean this one? I'm not sure it all works...

......A Candlin post from 2002..........

Jazz up your Start Menu shortcusts to your heart's content.

Right-click the start button and select Open.

Right click and choose New/Folder.

Rename each new folder using one of the following

(cut-and-paste each one, unless you are a masochist):

Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

Inbox.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

URL History.{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

Internet Cache.{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

If you later decide you don't need a specific new shortcut, just delete

it.

It won't affect the executables in any way.

......End of Quote............................

| "PCR" wrote:

|

|> Mary wrote:

|> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

|> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating

|> | files.

|> |

|> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

|> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted

|> | this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

|> |

|> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

|> | when ready...."

|> |

|> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

|> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

|> | work! What can I do now?

|>

|> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

|> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

|> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

|>

|> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

|> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

|> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

|> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

|>

|> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

|> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once

|> posted for that...

|>

|> ......Quote of Candlin about...............

|> ......Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

|> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

|>

|> Other keystrokes which might work are:

|>

|> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

|> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

|> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

|> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

|> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

|> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

|>

|> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

|> and power up again, as some older systems will default

|> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

|> .......End of Quote............................

|>

|> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

|> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

|> different.)

|>

|> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

|> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

|> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

|>

|> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

|> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

|> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

|>

|> | Thanks,

|> | Mary

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

August 20, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Yes, I think that is the one. I will try it out later. Thanks

"PCR" wrote:

> Dan wrote:

> | Gary, does have a point in his reply to you PCR, and I think it will

> | be best to let Gary handle this in this case, with Mary, if she ends

> | up posting back. Anyway, do you know what Hugh Candlin is up to

> | these days? I remember a cool fix to do with the start up menu of

> | his with Windows 98 Second Edition in the way it was displayed. I

> | think it involved modifying the registry to get it to work properly.

> | Perhaps, you have it saved somewhere in your files, PCR and could

> | remind me of it.

>

> I've always been willing to defer to Terhune. No, I don't know where

> Candlin has gone, but I wish him well. I have 13 of Candlin's posts in

> my Keepers folder. Do you mean this one? I'm not sure it all works...

>

> ......A Candlin post from 2002..........

> Jazz up your Start Menu shortcusts to your heart's content.

>

> Right-click the start button and select Open.

> Right click and choose New/Folder.

> Rename each new folder using one of the following

> (cut-and-paste each one, unless you are a masochist):

>

> Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

> My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

> Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

> Inbox.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

> URL History.{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

> Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

> Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

> Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

> Internet Cache.{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

>

> If you later decide you don't need a specific new shortcut, just delete

> it.

> It won't affect the executables in any way.

> ......End of Quote............................

>

> | "PCR" wrote:

> |

> |> Mary wrote:

> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

> |> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating

> |> | files.

> |> |

> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted

> |> | this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

> |> |

> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

> |> | when ready...."

> |> |

> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

> |> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

> |> | work! What can I do now?

> |>

> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

> |> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

> |> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

> |>

> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

> |> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

> |> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

> |>

> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

> |> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once

> |> posted for that...

> |>

> |> ......Quote of Candlin about...............

> |> ......Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

> |>

> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

> |>

> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

> |>

> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

> |> .......End of Quote............................

> |>

> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

> |> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

> |> different.)

> |>

> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

> |> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

> |> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

> |>

> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

> |> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

> |> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

> |>

> |> | Thanks,

> |> | Mary

> |>

> |> --

> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

> |> Should things get worse after this,

> |> PCR

> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

>

August 20, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

| Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you butt

| out? She's got enough on her plate and needs to first verify that she

| indeed properly created the Startup Disk and then report whether it

| works of not. If not, we'll t-shoot that issue, though I seriously

| doubt there's anything wrong with her BIOS or its settings. She just

| didn't understand how to make a boot disk. My goal, once she can

| safely access her files using a bootdisk is to manually restore the

| files from the Recycle Bin, which is, from where I sit, the only

| method available to get all those files (MSDOS.SYS, for example) back

| to where they belong *without* having to go through any restoration

| or reinstallation.

|

| IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving BIOS,

| etc., then is the time to address that problem, not now.

You've got more knowledge & experience on it. I wouldn't be terribly

surprised if you were a tad smarter than me too. I'm just thinking

missing files on the hard drive wouldn't prevent a Startup Diskette to

work, (though I can't positively swear to it). Therefore, either it was

made improperly or the BIOS is not set to boot it above the hard drive.

The error message she gets is the same whether the diskette is inserted

or not: "non-system disk or disk error...". She already tried to get

into BIOS with a bunch of keys-- but not all of them that Candlin knew.

I wasn't worried over stepping on your toes, because I'm sure your

poodles have bit them all off by now!

| --

| Gary S. Terhune

| MS-MVP Shell/User

| http://grystmill.com

|

| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

| news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

|> Mary wrote:

|> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

|> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating

|> | files.

|> |

|> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

|> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted

|> | this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

|> |

|> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

|> | when ready...."

|> |

|> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

|> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

|> | work! What can I do now?

|>

|> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

|> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

|> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

|>

|> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

|> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

|> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

|> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

|>

|> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

|> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once

|> posted for that...

|>

|> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

|> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

|> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

|>

|> Other keystrokes which might work are:

|>

|> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

|> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

|> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

|> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

|> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

|> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

|>

|> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

|> and power up again, as some older systems will default

|> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

|> ......End of Quote............................

|>

|> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

|> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

|> different.)

|>

|> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

|> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

|> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

|>

|> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

|> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

|> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

|>

|> | Thanks,

|> | Mary

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

August 20, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Dan wrote:

| Yes, I think that is the one. I will try it out later. Thanks

You are welcome. Keep us informed. I dimly recollect some of it may not

work.

| "PCR" wrote:

|

|> Dan wrote:

|> | Gary, does have a point in his reply to you PCR, and I think it

|> | will be best to let Gary handle this in this case, with Mary, if

|> | she ends up posting back. Anyway, do you know what Hugh Candlin

|> | is up to these days? I remember a cool fix to do with the start

|> | up menu of his with Windows 98 Second Edition in the way it was

|> | displayed. I think it involved modifying the registry to get it

|> | to work properly. Perhaps, you have it saved somewhere in your

|> | files, PCR and could remind me of it.

|>

|> I've always been willing to defer to Terhune. No, I don't know where

|> Candlin has gone, but I wish him well. I have 13 of Candlin's posts

|> in my Keepers folder. Do you mean this one? I'm not sure it all

|> works...

|>

|> ......A Candlin post from 2002..........

|> Jazz up your Start Menu shortcusts to your heart's content.

|>

|> Right-click the start button and select Open.

|> Right click and choose New/Folder.

|> Rename each new folder using one of the following

|> (cut-and-paste each one, unless you are a masochist):

|>

|> Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

|> My Computer.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

|> Fonts.{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}

|> Inbox.{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

|> URL History.{FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}

|> Printers.{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}

|> Network Neighborhood.{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

|> Recycle Bin.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

|> Internet Cache.{7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}

|>

|> If you later decide you don't need a specific new shortcut, just

|> delete it.

|> It won't affect the executables in any way.

|> ......End of Quote............................

|>

|> | "PCR" wrote:

|> |

|> |> Mary wrote:

|> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

|> |> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some

|> |> | operating files.

|> |> |

|> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

|> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I

|> |> | inserted this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now

|> |> | the screen is:

|> |> |

|> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

|> |> | when ready...."

|> |> |

|> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer

|> |> | also does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk

|> |> | does not work! What can I do now?

|> |>

|> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the

|> |> Startup Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post.

|> |> (You should have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

|> |>

|> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

|> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

|> |> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the

|> |> DOS A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to

|> |> Windows.)

|> |>

|> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set

|> |> BIOS to boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what

|> |> Candlin once posted for that...

|> |>

|> |> ......Quote of Candlin about...............

|> |> ......Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

|> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

|> |>

|> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

|> |>

|> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

|> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

|> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

|> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

|> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

|> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

|> |>

|> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

|> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

|> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

|> |> .......End of Quote............................

|> |>

|> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate,

|> |> & ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys

|> |> are different.)

|> |>

|> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

|> |> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

|> |> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

|> |>

|> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down

|> |> the settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow,

|> |> someday, they are cleared, all these settings will have to be

|> |> input again.

|> |>

|> |> | Thanks,

|> |> | Mary

|> |>

|> |> --

|> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> |> Should things get worse after this,

|> |> PCR

|> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

August 21, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

The first time she go the "non-system disk or disk error..." it was because

she'd deleted all the files on C:\ and made it unbootable. The second time

was because she didn't make the floppy disk properly.

If there's no bootable CD inserted, and there is no bootable HD, AND the

floppy disk, when properly created, doesn't boot either, then we can start

wondering about what to do. Until then, I want the lady to focus on getting

a properly created boot disk to boot and then follow my instructions for

retrieving the INFO file from the recycled folder. That file contains the

info required to restore the files that she deleted.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

news:eh$FvExAJHA.4992@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> | Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you butt

> | out? She's got enough on her plate and needs to first verify that she

> | indeed properly created the Startup Disk and then report whether it

> | works of not. If not, we'll t-shoot that issue, though I seriously

> | doubt there's anything wrong with her BIOS or its settings. She just

> | didn't understand how to make a boot disk. My goal, once she can

> | safely access her files using a bootdisk is to manually restore the

> | files from the Recycle Bin, which is, from where I sit, the only

> | method available to get all those files (MSDOS.SYS, for example) back

> | to where they belong *without* having to go through any restoration

> | or reinstallation.

> |

> | IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving BIOS,

> | etc., then is the time to address that problem, not now.

>

> You've got more knowledge & experience on it. I wouldn't be terribly

> surprised if you were a tad smarter than me too. I'm just thinking

> missing files on the hard drive wouldn't prevent a Startup Diskette to

> work, (though I can't positively swear to it). Therefore, either it was

> made improperly or the BIOS is not set to boot it above the hard drive.

> The error message she gets is the same whether the diskette is inserted

> or not: "non-system disk or disk error...". She already tried to get

> into BIOS with a bunch of keys-- but not all of them that Candlin knew.

> I wasn't worried over stepping on your toes, because I'm sure your

> poodles have bit them all off by now!

>

> | --

> | Gary S. Terhune

> | MS-MVP Shell/User

> | http://grystmill.com

> |

> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

> | news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> |> Mary wrote:

> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

> |> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some operating

> |> | files.

> |> |

> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I inserted

> |> | this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now the screen is:

> |> |

> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

> |> | when ready...."

> |> |

> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer also

> |> | does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk does not

> |> | work! What can I do now?

> |>

> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the Startup

> |> Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post. (You should

> |> have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

> |>

> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

> |> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the DOS

> |> A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to Windows.)

> |>

> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set BIOS to

> |> boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what Candlin once

> |> posted for that...

> |>

> |> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

> |> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

> |>

> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

> |>

> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

> |>

> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

> |> ......End of Quote............................

> |>

> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate, &

> |> ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys are

> |> different.)

> |>

> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

> |> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

> |> © Find & select "Accept changes & Exit" in the menus.

> |>

> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down the

> |> settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow, someday, they

> |> are cleared, all these settings will have to be input again.

> |>

> |> | Thanks,

> |> | Mary

> |>

> |> --

> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

> |> Should things get worse after this,

> |> PCR

> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

>

August 22, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

| The first time she go the "non-system disk or disk error..." it was

| because she'd deleted all the files on C:\ and made it unbootable.

| The second time was because she didn't make the floppy disk properly.

I don't see where she confirmed the floppy was made incorrectly. If she

actually got it right-- then I would check boot order in BIOS Setup. She

must put the floppy above both the hard drive & any bootable CD (you've

reminded me). And may as well check to see the CD drive is empty too.

| If there's no bootable CD inserted, and there is no bootable HD, AND

| the floppy disk, when properly created, doesn't boot either, then we

| can start wondering about what to do. Until then, I want the lady to

| focus on getting a properly created boot disk to boot and then follow

| my instructions for retrieving the INFO file from the recycled

| folder. That file contains the info required to restore the files

| that she deleted.

Alright. Good luck climbing into her Recycle Bin without a toe left for

a Poodle to grab. OK, bye.

| --

| Gary S. Terhune

| MS-MVP Shell/User

| http://grystmill.com

|

| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

| news:eh$FvExAJHA.4992@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

|> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

|> | Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you

|> | butt out? She's got enough on her plate and needs to first verify

|> | that she indeed properly created the Startup Disk and then report

|> | whether it works of not. If not, we'll t-shoot that issue, though

|> | I seriously doubt there's anything wrong with her BIOS or its

|> | settings. She just didn't understand how to make a boot disk. My

|> | goal, once she can safely access her files using a bootdisk is to

|> | manually restore the files from the Recycle Bin, which is, from

|> | where I sit, the only method available to get all those files

|> | (MSDOS.SYS, for example) back to where they belong *without*

|> | having to go through any restoration or reinstallation.

|> |

|> | IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving BIOS,

|> | etc., then is the time to address that problem, not now.

|>

|> You've got more knowledge & experience on it. I wouldn't be terribly

|> surprised if you were a tad smarter than me too. I'm just thinking

|> missing files on the hard drive wouldn't prevent a Startup Diskette

|> to work, (though I can't positively swear to it). Therefore, either

|> it was made improperly or the BIOS is not set to boot it above the

|> hard drive. The error message she gets is the same whether the

|> diskette is inserted or not: "non-system disk or disk error...". She

|> already tried to get into BIOS with a bunch of keys-- but not all of

|> them that Candlin knew. I wasn't worried over stepping on your toes,

|> because I'm sure your poodles have bit them all off by now!

|>

|> | --

|> | Gary S. Terhune

|> | MS-MVP Shell/User

|> | http://grystmill.com

|> |

|> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

|> | news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

|> |> Mary wrote:

|> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

|> |> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some

|> |> | operating files.

|> |> |

|> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

|> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I

|> |> | inserted this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now

|> |> | the screen is:

|> |> |

|> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

|> |> | when ready...."

|> |> |

|> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer

|> |> | also does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk

|> |> | does not work! What can I do now?

|> |>

|> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the

|> |> Startup Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post.

|> |> (You should have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

|> |>

|> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

|> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

|> |> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the

|> |> DOS A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to

|> |> Windows.)

|> |>

|> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set

|> |> BIOS to boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what

|> |> Candlin once posted for that...

|> |>

|> |> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

|> |> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

|> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

|> |>

|> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

|> |>

|> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

|> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

|> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

|> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

|> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

|> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

|> |>

|> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

|> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

|> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

|> |> ......End of Quote............................

|> |>

|> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate,

|> |> & ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys

|> |> are different.)

|> |>

|> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

|> |> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

|> |>

|> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down

|> |> the settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow,

|> |> someday, they are cleared, all these settings will have to be

|> |> input again.

|> |>

|> |> | Thanks,

|> |> | Mary

|> |>

|> |> --

|> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> |> Should things get worse after this,

|> |> PCR

|> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

August 22, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Quote: "I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a floppy

disk

"windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive"

Didn't say she "made" a floppy disk, she specifically uses the word

"copied". Pretty clear to me.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

news:%23AHReTABJHA.1012@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> | The first time she go the "non-system disk or disk error..." it was

> | because she'd deleted all the files on C:\ and made it unbootable.

> | The second time was because she didn't make the floppy disk properly.

>

> I don't see where she confirmed the floppy was made incorrectly. If she

> actually got it right-- then I would check boot order in BIOS Setup. She

> must put the floppy above both the hard drive & any bootable CD (you've

> reminded me). And may as well check to see the CD drive is empty too.

>

> | If there's no bootable CD inserted, and there is no bootable HD, AND

> | the floppy disk, when properly created, doesn't boot either, then we

> | can start wondering about what to do. Until then, I want the lady to

> | focus on getting a properly created boot disk to boot and then follow

> | my instructions for retrieving the INFO file from the recycled

> | folder. That file contains the info required to restore the files

> | that she deleted.

>

> Alright. Good luck climbing into her Recycle Bin without a toe left for

> a Poodle to grab. OK, bye.

>

> | --

> | Gary S. Terhune

> | MS-MVP Shell/User

> | http://grystmill.com

> |

> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

> | news:eh$FvExAJHA.4992@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> |> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> |> | Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you

> |> | butt out? She's got enough on her plate and needs to first verify

> |> | that she indeed properly created the Startup Disk and then report

> |> | whether it works of not. If not, we'll t-shoot that issue, though

> |> | I seriously doubt there's anything wrong with her BIOS or its

> |> | settings. She just didn't understand how to make a boot disk. My

> |> | goal, once she can safely access her files using a bootdisk is to

> |> | manually restore the files from the Recycle Bin, which is, from

> |> | where I sit, the only method available to get all those files

> |> | (MSDOS.SYS, for example) back to where they belong *without*

> |> | having to go through any restoration or reinstallation.

> |> |

> |> | IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving BIOS,

> |> | etc., then is the time to address that problem, not now.

> |>

> |> You've got more knowledge & experience on it. I wouldn't be terribly

> |> surprised if you were a tad smarter than me too. I'm just thinking

> |> missing files on the hard drive wouldn't prevent a Startup Diskette

> |> to work, (though I can't positively swear to it). Therefore, either

> |> it was made improperly or the BIOS is not set to boot it above the

> |> hard drive. The error message she gets is the same whether the

> |> diskette is inserted or not: "non-system disk or disk error...". She

> |> already tried to get into BIOS with a bunch of keys-- but not all of

> |> them that Candlin knew. I wasn't worried over stepping on your toes,

> |> because I'm sure your poodles have bit them all off by now!

> |>

> |> | --

> |> | Gary S. Terhune

> |> | MS-MVP Shell/User

> |> | http://grystmill.com

> |> |

> |> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

> |> | news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> |> |> Mary wrote:

> |> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben on

> |> |> | how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some

> |> |> | operating files.

> |> |> |

> |> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

> |> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I

> |> |> | inserted this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now

> |> |> | the screen is:

> |> |> |

> |> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any key

> |> |> | when ready...."

> |> |> |

> |> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer

> |> |> | also does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The bootdisk

> |> |> | does not work! What can I do now?

> |> |>

> |> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the

> |> |> Startup Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original post.

> |> |> (You should have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

> |> |>

> |> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

> |> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for further

> |> |> instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS C:" at the

> |> |> DOS A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot hopefully to

> |> |> Windows.)

> |> |>

> |> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set

> |> |> BIOS to boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what

> |> |> Candlin once posted for that...

> |> |>

> |> |> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

> |> |> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

> |> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

> |> |>

> |> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

> |> |>

> |> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

> |> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

> |> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

> |> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

> |> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

> |> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

> |> |>

> |> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

> |> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

> |> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

> |> |> ......End of Quote............................

> |> |>

> |> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to navigate,

> |> |> & ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend showing your keys

> |> |> are different.)

> |> |>

> |> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy first.

> |> |> (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to enable.

> |> |>

> |> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot down

> |> |> the settings. If they are not set to defaults, and somehow,

> |> |> someday, they are cleared, all these settings will have to be

> |> |> input again.

> |> |>

> |> |> | Thanks,

> |> |> | Mary

> |> |>

> |> |> --

> |> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

> |> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

> |> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

> |> |> Should things get worse after this,

> |> |> PCR

> |> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

> |>

> |> --

> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

> |> Should things get worse after this,

> |> PCR

> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

>

> --

> Thanks or Good Luck,

> There may be humor in this post, and,

> Naturally, you will not sue,

> Should things get worse after this,

> PCR

>

August 26, 2008

Re: Update - "Urgent help, delete system files" August 8, 2008

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

| Quote: "I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

| floppy disk

| "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive"

|

| Didn't say she "made" a floppy disk, she specifically uses the word

| "copied". Pretty clear to me.

It's pretty clear but not perfectly clear. However, I'm willing to step

back & let you deal with all OP named Mary from now on & until the next

earthquake. They seem to have fairly tough ones. Good luck. I'm still

waiting for a rain to know whether I've got to fix my roof leak a third

time, anyhow. OK, bye.

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

| --

| Gary S. Terhune

| MS-MVP Shell/User

| http://grystmill.com

|

| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

| news:%23AHReTABJHA.1012@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

|> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

|> | The first time she go the "non-system disk or disk error..." it was

|> | because she'd deleted all the files on C:\ and made it unbootable.

|> | The second time was because she didn't make the floppy disk

|> | properly.

|>

|> I don't see where she confirmed the floppy was made incorrectly. If

|> she actually got it right-- then I would check boot order in BIOS

|> Setup. She must put the floppy above both the hard drive & any

|> bootable CD (you've reminded me). And may as well check to see the

|> CD drive is empty too.

|>

|> | If there's no bootable CD inserted, and there is no bootable HD,

|> | AND the floppy disk, when properly created, doesn't boot either,

|> | then we can start wondering about what to do. Until then, I want

|> | the lady to focus on getting a properly created boot disk to boot

|> | and then follow my instructions for retrieving the INFO file from

|> | the recycled folder. That file contains the info required to

|> | restore the files that she deleted.

|>

|> Alright. Good luck climbing into her Recycle Bin without a toe left

|> for a Poodle to grab. OK, bye.

|>

|> | --

|> | Gary S. Terhune

|> | MS-MVP Shell/User

|> | http://grystmill.com

|> |

|> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

|> | news:eh$FvExAJHA.4992@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

|> |> Gary S. Terhune wrote:

|> |> | Not that we're likely to hear from Mary again, but why don't you

|> |> | butt out? She's got enough on her plate and needs to first

|> |> | verify that she indeed properly created the Startup Disk and

|> |> | then report whether it works of not. If not, we'll t-shoot that

|> |> | issue, though I seriously doubt there's anything wrong with her

|> |> | BIOS or its settings. She just didn't understand how to make a

|> |> | boot disk. My goal, once she can safely access her files using

|> |> | a bootdisk is to manually restore the files from the Recycle

|> |> | Bin, which is, from where I sit, the only method available to

|> |> | get all those files (MSDOS.SYS, for example) back to where they

|> |> | belong *without* having to go through any restoration or

|> |> | reinstallation.

|> |> |

|> |> | IF it turns out that she has more serious problems involving

|> |> | BIOS, etc., then is the time to address that problem, not now.

|> |>

|> |> You've got more knowledge & experience on it. I wouldn't be

|> |> terribly surprised if you were a tad smarter than me too. I'm

|> |> just thinking missing files on the hard drive wouldn't prevent a

|> |> Startup Diskette to work, (though I can't positively swear to

|> |> it). Therefore, either it was made improperly or the BIOS is not

|> |> set to boot it above the hard drive. The error message she gets

|> |> is the same whether the diskette is inserted or not: "non-system

|> |> disk or disk error...". She already tried to get into BIOS with a

|> |> bunch of keys-- but not all of them that Candlin knew. I wasn't

|> |> worried over stepping on your toes, because I'm sure your poodles

|> |> have bit them all off by now!

|> |>

|> |> | --

|> |> | Gary S. Terhune

|> |> | MS-MVP Shell/User

|> |> | http://grystmill.com

|> |> |

|> |> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message

|> |> | news:ecaVjaLAJHA.4528@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

|> |> |> Mary wrote:

|> |> |> | Hi, thanks for the suggestion from Gary, Jeff, Philo and Ben

|> |> |> | on how to restore my windows98 system after I deleted some

|> |> |> | operating files.

|> |> |> |

|> |> |> | I went to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm, and copied a

|> |> |> | floppy disk "windows 98SE, consume, no ramdrive". Then I

|> |> |> | inserted this disk into my computer, turned on the power, now

|> |> |> | the screen is:

|> |> |> |

|> |> |> | "non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike with any

|> |> |> | key when ready...."

|> |> |> |

|> |> |> | So the computer still can not read the bootdisk. The computer

|> |> |> | also does not respond to any letters, and F1-F112. The

|> |> |> | bootdisk does not work! What can I do now?

|> |> |>

|> |> |> You are getting the same error message whether you insert the

|> |> |> Startup Diskette or not, I see by looking at your original

|> |> |> post. (You should have stayed in that thread.) Anyhow...

|> |> |>

|> |> |> (a) Ensure you have done as philo & Terhune have said & made a

|> |> |> fit/proper Startup Diskette. If that boots, post back for

|> |> |> further instructions. (Possibly the first thing to try is "SYS

|> |> |> C:" at the DOS A:\ prompt. Then, remove the floppy & reboot

|> |> |> hopefully to Windows.)

|> |> |>

|> |> |> (b) If the Startup Diskette STILL fails to boot, you must set

|> |> |> BIOS to boot the floppy before the hard drive. Here is what

|> |> |> Candlin once posted for that...

|> |> |>

|> |> |> .....Quote of Candlin about...............

|> |> |> .....Keystrokes to get to BIOS Setup....

|> |> |> Usually DEL, but F1, F2, F10 are also common.

|> |> |>

|> |> |> Other keystrokes which might work are:

|> |> |>

|> |> |> AMI BIOS: Del key during the POST

|> |> |> DTK BIOS: Esc key during the POST

|> |> |> Award BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc

|> |> |> Misc BIOS: Ctrl-Esc

|> |> |> Phoenix BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Esc or Ctrl-Alt-S

|> |> |> IBM PS/2 BIOS: Ctrl-Alt-Ins after Ctrl-Alt-Del

|> |> |>

|> |> |> If all else fails, shut down, power off, unplug the keyboard,

|> |> |> and power up again, as some older systems will default

|> |> |> to the CMOS Setup if a keyboard is not found.

|> |> |> ......End of Quote............................

|> |> |>

|> |> |> Once you are in BIOS Setup, use TAB & the arrow keys to

|> |> |> navigate, & ENTER to select. (Well, there may be a legend

|> |> |> showing your keys are different.)

|> |> |>

|> |> |> (a) Find the "Boot Order" menu, & set it to boot the floppy

|> |> |> first. (b) Hit ENTER, or whatever key shows in the legend to

|> |> |>

|> |> |> While in there, you'd better go through all the menus & jot

|> |> |> down the settings. If they are not set to defaults, and

|> |> |> somehow, someday, they are cleared, all these settings will

|> |> |> have to be input again.

|> |> |>

|> |> |> | Thanks,

|> |> |> | Mary

|> |> |>

|> |> |> --

|> |> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> |> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> |> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> |> |> Should things get worse after this,

|> |> |> PCR

|> |> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

|> |>

|> |> --

|> |> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> |> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> |> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> |> Should things get worse after this,

|> |> PCR

|> |> pcrrcp@netzero.net

|>

|> --

|> Thanks or Good Luck,

|> There may be humor in this post, and,

|> Naturally, you will not sue,

|> Should things get worse after this,

|> PCR