OK, you patient guys, here's what I tried:
I removed the memory stick - it does not read the BIOS or anything else when
I do.  It does not read the boot disk without the RAM in it, not the Me Boot
disk or the Win98SE boot disk.
When I put the memory stick back in I get "Invalid system disk - replace
disk and then press any key"  I get this with or without a disk in the A
drive.
With only the Floppy attached, and nothing else, with a memory stick and a
boot disk in, I get "Invalid boot diskette-Insert Boot disk in A".  I get
this with our without the disk in A, with both WinMe and Win98SE Boot disks.
\Tried another floppy drive, all the same responses.  Hard Drive IS
vibrating.
Dianne


----- Original Message -----
From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk


> Dianne
> Make sure the bios is set up to read on the floppy disk. Remove the ram
> from
> the mb ( it should have 32mb resident) and start the computer. Does the
> computer read the bios setup? If it does, re-install the memory sticks one
> ( or two if needed) at a time and check the bios. If it does not do the
> same
> as without them,  you have bad memory stick. If it is ok, connect only the
> floppy drive and see if your system recognizes it. If it does, put a boot
> disk in and see if it reads it. Let me know.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 1:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>
>
>> Hmmm,
>> I am getting very frustrated, and don't quite know what to do next.  I
>> removed all the connectors, the cd, hard drive and floppy and dvd.  The
>> computer gave me the message that I should "insert the boot diskette into
>> a:"  So I reconnected the a: drive, and put the boot disk in, back to
>> same
>> old Invalid system disk message.  So I got another a drive from another
>> computer and got the same message.  The lights were on on both the a:
>> drives, by the way.
>> I cant get into safe mode because the computer will not take me to an A:
>> prompt.
>> I then disconnected the HD and connected it into an old computer.
>> Nothing
>> happens, not even an error message.  BUT.....I am not sure about the
> mother
>> board in the machine I tested it in.  The HD is a Samsung SpinPoint
> SV0484H.
>> I am afraid of trying the hard drive in my own computer, as I don't want
> to
>> mess around with it, it has all my work in it.  Any suggestions.  Would I
> be
>> better to take it in and have it diagnosed somewhere?
>> Dianne
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 10:54 AM
>> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>>
>>
>> > Remove all of the connectors to the cd, hard drive and floppy as well
>> > as
>
>> > any
>> > other assessory. Now start the computer and see if it goes thru the
>> > bios
>> > settings. If it doesn't, remove the memory and try again. If it still
> does
>> > not, the trouble is with the cpu or mb.
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:05 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >> I took a floppy drive that I know works, got the same error when
>> > connected.
>> >> When disconnected hard drive, still got same message.
>> >> Dianne
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:45 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > Have you tried a new floppy disc drive...If it doesn't read you will
>> >> > get
>> >> > that error. The bios will not tell you if the mechanism is bad but
> only
>> > if
>> >> > can do the circuitry. Take of the hard drive cable, set the bios to
> see
>> >> > the
>> >> > A drive and see if you computer will start and read the boot disk.
>> >> > If
>> >> > it
>> >> > does, then the floppy drive is ok, if not you found the problem.
>> >> > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:58 AM
>> >> > Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hi Hugh, PHogan, Scott and John,
>> >> >> You guys are great. OK. Let me tell you what I have tried.
>> >> >> 1. I checked all the cables and made sure there were good
> connections
>> >> >> (floppy, cd, and hd).  All seemed ok there.  I went to the BIOS and
>> > under
>> >> >> IDE CONFIGURATION:  it said:  IDE Controller-Both,  Hard Disk
>> >> >> Pre-Delay-Disabled, Primary IDE Master:Samsung SV4084H, Primary IDE
>> >> >> Slave:
>> >> >> Samsung CD-R/RW Drive, Secondary IDE Master: SS06-Samsung DVD
>> >> >> Under
>> >> >> POWER
>> >> >> it said Hard Drive Enabled.  So I am assuming that all this means
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> recognizing the Hard Drive.  I attempted to boot some other disk (a
>> >> > windows
>> >> >> 98 boot disk), no go, as well as re-tried the Windows Me Boot disk,
> no
>> >> >> go.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I am going to hate to tell these folks that they have lost
> everything
>> > on
>> >> > the
>> >> >> HD, is that what you think it is?  I have a recovery CD-Rom as
>> >> >> well,
> I
>> >> > just
>> >> >> cant get it to recognize it, I changed the BIOS to read the CD
> first,
>> > but
>> >> > no
>> >> >> go there either.  Yes, I changed them back.
>> >> >> Thanks for all the help, if you can think of anything else I can
> try,
>> > let
>> >> > me
>> >> >> know.
>> >> >> Dianne
>> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> >> From: "Hugh Vandervoort" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:51 AM
>> >> >> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > In the scenario you describe I would suspect that the Hard drive
> has
>> >> >> > lost its boot files, or possibly died. The HD is the "System
>> >> >> > Disk"
>> >> >> > referred to as "invalid". Check the HD and floppy ribbon cable
>> >> >> > connections.
>> >> >> > Verify that you have a good boot floppy by trying it in another
>> >> >> > machine.
>> >> >> > Try a boot CD such as an XP install disk, or get The Ultimate
>> >> >> > Boot
>> >> >> > CD
>> >> >> > from:  http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
>> >> >> > Are the floppy and HD recognized in the BIOS?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Dianne Erdos-Rush wrote:
>> >> >> >> Hello,
>> >> >> >> I am repairing a computer with Windows Me as an OS.  When it
> boots
>> > it
>> >> >> >> gives an "Invalid System Disk. Replace the disk and then press
> any
>> >> > key."
>> >> >> >> There is no floppy or any other disk in any drive.  The boot
>> >> >> >> will
>> >> > proceed
>> >> >> >> no further.  I attempted using an Me Boot Disk, but no good.  I
>> >> >> >> went
>> >> > into
>> >> >> >> the BIOS and made sure the boot order was correct (Floppy, CD,
> HD),
>> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> on another try I reset the BIOS to default.  No Go.  Any one
>> >> >> >> have
>> > any
>> >> >> >> ideas? Let me know.  Thanks.  Dont know whether this is a
> software
>> > or
>> >> >> >> hardware issue.
>> >> >> >> Dianne
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>          PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
>> >> >> >>                      visit our download web page at:
>> >> >> >>                   http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >> >                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> >                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >>                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >>                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> >> >> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/89 - Release Date:
>> > 9/2/2005
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>
>> >>                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >>                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> >> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.19/92 - Release Date:
> 9/7/2005
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >                  Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
>> >               articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
>> >                          http://freepctech.com
>> >
>>
>>                   Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
>>                articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
>>                           http://freepctech.com
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.19/92 - Release Date: 9/7/2005
>>
>
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