I know it should be an easy fix

[friedemann]

But you have to know "what" to do. Here is the info. I may have repeated myself in places " I guess that is what happens when you are in a stupor"

 

Dell OptiPlex GX1

Bios Setup Page Info:

550MhzCPU Pent III CPUID:673 Level 2 cache:512Kb intergrated

System memory: 288 MB SDRAM

Video Memory: 4Mb SGRAM

Drives: Primary Drive0:auto Drive 1:none

Secondary Drive 0:auto CD-ROM Device Drive 1: none

 

Actual CD-Rom unit in there is a Benq52x32x52(burner)

 

O.S. Win98se

 

This all worked before.

 

Then I took the Optical burner out(planning to put it in a faster pc > I have 4 computers so parts swapping was the idea<

- replacing its working optical reader-only, for the burner(which also works). Makes sense, right?

If they were car engines you are going to swap the 4 barrel carb(that is on the 6 cylinder) for the 2 barrel carb (that is on the 8 cylinder)if at all possible, right? I was using the same thought process.

 

Okay, I thought it was a simple bolt on job. And that is all I did. Unscrewed both and disconnected them and swapped them pc to pc. Both optical readers are master jumpers. I never touched that. ( I got lucky there )

However after the removal and remounting, I didn't go any farther. I had other work to do on the computer that did not involve the CD-Rom but did require me to go on the net...which I did and then I shut down the computers(powered off for the night).

 

I might have typed in the Run....Format C somewhere before I shut it down(isn't that part of what they do when they reinstall windows again into a computer?)

 

The next time I turned on the machine. I get the DOS screen "Microsoft Windows 98©copyright Microsoft Corp. "and C:\>"

I type in Dir:

 

Volume in drive C has no label

Volume serial number is 0A6D-19E0

Directory of C:\

Command.com 93,890

1 file(s) 93,890 bytes

0 dir(s) 6,129.64 MB free

 

I am not worried that stuff got lost as there was nothing to lose. But what do I need to do to get this machine up and running. I have a Win98se cd disk.

 

I have put the original optical reader back in (the burner) so am foregoing the planned swap right now.

The computer I am doing the repair work on is not hooked to the internet

 

I am using another computer to do downloads onto the floppy drive (3.5 inch disks) because there is no DOS bootup disk or things of that nature. So, if I require that information I can get it with this pc that I am talking to you with(it is a Compaq and it works)

 

The machine that is not functioning is a Dell P3. It had Win98se on it. And the burner information for the Benq optical reader(would be still in it) so I hope). The previous owner of the PC said he got all the necessary information of a "Nero" cd disk, which I have as well.

 

But the machine does not start in Windows. It reads A drive,(which I have nothing in there), When the Windows home page flashes on the screen, and then it goes to a flashing C: cursor.

 

So, I am stuck someplace that I do not know how to get out of.

The motherboard is a "Dell" A08bios.

And of course I was in there Pressing F2 for setup; also the other access by "hen pecking" F8 key

 

Again, I didn't write anything down, but I might have changed something(obviously I had otherwise I would not be in problems)

 

Hope you can help me.

 

So basically the only thing that works is the 3.5" floppy drive.

 

I would like to get this going as I have 3 machines that are basically screwed up the same way. (or close) But one at a time....the Dell first.

 

 

>>>Changing carbs is a whole lot easier.<<<

[Match]

lol your on my wave length.

 

But putting a four barrel holy on a Essex V6 off a Chevy small block is something completely different, :)

 

Right first things first If you have formated C: (Taken the engine out) first we need an engine to put back in so you will need a start up disk, but nice people that Microsoft are they tell you all about how to do that here so that saves me alot of typing :)

[Match]

Hi again.

 

Just to add to my original post, is there any reason that you want to put win 98 back on ?

 

I mean it seems a bit silly to put an old Essex V6 in with low Oil pressure and growling crank if you can afford to put the newer Chevy in!

 

you could get XP to run on that system, info here

 

the other thing that occurred to me was you mentioned you have three PC's not counting the one that your using? so looking at the bigger picture is your aim to get all three working? or maybe to swap and change the components to get 'one good one' ?

 

ether way let us know what you want to do and I'm sure that there will be an ample amount of help and advice to get you where you want to go.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Well to be honest I wouldn't bother even thinking about putting XP on a 6gb hdd as it will take nearly a third of the space up on install alone.

 

Now some editions of 98SE had boot files on the cdrom so to test this just set the bios to boot from the cdrom drive first.

 

If it doesn't have any boot files on it then you will gave to obtain a 98 boot floppy from here.

 

Bootdisk.Com

 

Set the bios to boot from A: and away you go.