Windows 98 machine failed to boot

[thomas49th]

Hi, I have a machine running windows 98 and wenether i try to boot it windows 98 flickers for a second and then goes into MS-DOS with the C:\ prompt

Any ideas in howto make the machine boot up windows
THx

 

[A True Folder]

sounds like hdd failure, are all the cables securely attached? is the hdd recognised in the bios?

 

[esa193]

r you hearing a clicking sound coming from your computer?

 

[thomas49th]

nope. just flashes windows 98 loading screen then goes to a command prompt

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Here are some pretty good suggestions:

Get IT Done: Troubleshoot Windows 98 startup problems with these tips
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-6349_11-5032921.html

 

[Juice1]

Try this: put the computer back in the garbage where it belongs, unless it's a C2Q running 98

 

[lhuser]

Well, this time, it's where I'm kicking in.

Do the following commands in order:
dir

If you see a Windows and Program Files, you're good for step 2. If not, format and reinstall. I'd start checking your drive if it isn't failing.

Do That command to load Windows:
C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM

 

[forumaddict]

I am having the same prob
see windows 98 backups

 

[thomas49th]

ahhh gay. Well I try running win.com in C:\WIN98 and i get HIMEM.SYS is missing so I copy the file (which is in another directory) to that C:\WIN98 and i've checked it's in there but i still get the same error message!

EDIT:

Done it by setting autoexec.bat and config.sys except windows is loading then i get the message
blah blah VFAT is not present or unaviable blah blah

system halted

what to do now?

 

[thomas49th]

ahh i fixed that! then i booted and i needed me to set the temp paths so i rebooted only to meet the error message diskette device 0 seek failure and invalid system disk

so i tried messing around in the BIOS but i think it's a hardware problem
I think it's kaput.... any other ideas?

Thankyou