Because the Compaq partition is non-dos, it is not likely that this small
proprietary partition has been damaged unless the drive was re-partitioned
as well as re-formatted.  I remember an incident like this where the
computer would freeze after reboot and it involved the L2 cache memory.
Check the BIOS settings and try reseating all of the memory.

HTH,
Anthony

>>  A friend of mine has a Compaq 2000 Desktop. He bought it from his
workplace
> > second hand and it appears to be a good one. The HD was in quite a
state,
> >cluttered with old files so I have formatted it for him and then
attempted
> >to load W98. W98 loads in the normal way with no problems. Except after
the
> > first reboot .... and then I loose the mouse and KB and can not
continue.
>
> Compaqs store their Bios in a small section of the hard drive. If you
> formatted it, you destroyed the bios. You have to search the Compaq
website
> to see if you can download the missing Bios, or you can use the Restore cd
> that comes with the Compaqs. HTH.

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