----- Original Message -----
From: "William Dwyer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 9:53 AM

Subject: [PCBUILD] Reinstalling Windows 98 or ME
> I have a problem with an older computer. It is a Dell Dimension Mini Tower
8.4g HD. I had given it to my son to use and unknown to me my wife had place
a telephone on the top of the computer. Last night, he was trying to load a
program I got him for Christmas and he came into my room saying that all he
gets after turning it on is a blank screen with the message OpSys
undetected. I installed the boot up disk and restarted it but still am
                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
unable to get it to do anything. I think that the HD has been erased by the
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phone. I am assuming now that I will need to format, partion, and reinstall

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi William
You didn't describe the machine behavior when you *installed* the Startup
Disk or the related Bios settings.
I'll assume that the machine didn't recognize the Startup Disk and continued
trying to load Windows. In this case the most probable cause is the settings
in the CMOS where it should have the sequence where A comes before any
other drive letter in case you are using a floppy and the Boot Up Floppy Seek
should be Enabled in the bios settings.
In case you are using a CD to boot then CDROM should be the first drive letter
in the sequence.
Before attempting to re-partition you may use the Fdisk command to inspect
in details and see what's up with your HD paritions wether primary or the extended.

I don't think the telephone could cause any damage, even old telephones with
electromagnetic ringer cannot affect the HD in this way.

Good Luck
Bassim

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