You could try typing 'win /d:x" instead.

Or type 'win /?' to get a list of the switches.

Here is one for a forced safe mode too...
'win /d:x:m'
That will give you "an idea" where the trouble is.
(Or if it is possibly NOT a driver problem.)

If any of the above works, try typing 'F8'
"less than once per second", starting when you first
see "anything" on your monitor while doing a cold boot.
You can select command prompt there, (I used that
option to test the switches above), step by step,
and also Safe Mode.

Remove all hardware that is not necessary.
It is likely a driver issue that Windows is "choking" on.

                                Rick Glazier

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Jones" <[log in to unmask]>

> A friend is re-installing Win98 SE on his old PC.  Install seems to have
> gone fine, but he sees "Preparing to start Windows for the first time",
> then c:\WINDOWS>.  Rebooting causes the same thing.  Typing 'win' at the
> prompt just reboots, and the same thing happens.

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