Hi Dave,

I got a perfectly good 286 a few years ago now for a friend who wanted it
for exactly the purpose you specified... a cheap word processor etc.

Try renaming you Windows directory to say win31 and reinstall Windows using
the custom setup and specify a new directory. The only problem you will
have will be having enough room to install Windows again. It is quite
possible you have a bad sector or two and some of your DLL files or WIN
files are somewhat corrupted.

BTW, the 286 I supplied did run Windows and even seemed to handle multiple
programs... just not multiple file processing but as it is for word
processing only...

HTH


Trevor

----------
> From: Dreamer's Den <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [PCBUILD] an old 286 with HD problems
> Date: Wednesday, 17 February 1999 23:35
>
> Now, now, don't laugh too loud.
>
> I was given an old 286 with a 40 mb Hard Drive. I would like to
> get the critter running well enough that my kids can use it for
> homework (basic word processing) when dad needs his computer to do
> his own work.
>
> I can boot to the C: drive and see the directory (dir/w) without a
> problem. I can run other programs that are on the hard drive and
> in other directories. The previous owner had lotus, windows 3.1,
> a couple of games, and some misc other software installed.
>
> However, if I change to the "windows" directory (win 3.1) and then
> try to view the directory the following errror message pops up.
> "general failure reading drive C: abort, retry, fail?"
>
> This error message pops up every time in the "WINDOWS" directory
> only. Any ideas?
>
> There is nothing I need on the hard drive right now. So wiping the
> slate clean is a feasible idea if someone can supply step by step
> instructions. I have the disks for dos 6 and win 3.1. I am just
> not sure wether they are still good. Do I need to reformat first?
> If so how do I do it? I have seen warnings about formatting a hard
> drive on this list in the past few weeks and don't want to kill
> a potentially useful computer.
>
> Any help is sincerely appreciated.
>
>
>
>
> Dave Thuillier    Chief scripter & Master of the arcane web at
> Dreamer's Den Game Shoppe  - Hillsboro, New Hampshire
> http://www.dreamersden.com   mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
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