Bull Pce99

A neighbour has the above PC and I am trying to dowload Windows 95. Before inserting cd an error message appears. Invalid System Disk. Replace and Press any Key. There are not any disks in the floppy or cd drives, the floppy drive is ok. I have used a diagnostic disk to check the system proving the floppy drive works and when I get to CD-Rom drive it requests for a test disc and that I do not have. Used an ordinary music cd and it starts to read. Any ideas on what the prob may be. After re-booting the same error message appears. Thank you in anticipation!

The error you are getting usually appears when there is no Boot information on a disc for the computer to boot from. The computer doesn't recognize anything on the disc so it gives you that error.

You are probably going to have to boot the computer from a Win9x Startup floppy.

You can grab the setup floppy from here if you cannot create them yourself.

Thank you KotaGuy for your reply and the link. I have down loaded a version of Windows 95 onto a floppy and will try again to-morrow to assist my neighbour. For your information the cd for this was donated from others in PC GUIDE FORUMS once again thank you. I have tried to contact Bull PC`s but apparently are now part of Packard Bell. I will keep you informed to the outcome.

Once you get it booted with the floppy(it will boot you to a DOS prompt)… you should be able to start the install from the CD. Format the drive first to clean anything up that was on it. Then install Windows.

Just foned the guy and he is so thrilled. Will do as you indicated and ,, again thanx

Formatted a floppy and down loaded Win, 95a, wboot.exe ver4.950A, tried to boot it but will not read the disc, I tried a Win, 98, it accepted it and started to read then error message. This does not support Win 98 or some words similar. What next. Have you any further suggestions Thanx

Perhaps this may be of significance. TREND CHIPAWAY VIRUS. ON GUARD NOW DETECTING BOOT SECTOR TYPE VIRUS BIOS VERSION 1.62 And then the error appears.

Two possibilites.

It may be possible the computer has a Boot Sector virus. In this case, boot with the Setup floppy as before. When you get to the C:\ prompt, type in fdisk /mbr, this will rebuild the Master Boot Record and you should be able to install Windows.

Could also be the Boot Sector virus scan is interfering with the install. You might want to turn that off from inside the BIOS.

Let me know how it goes.

Booted with 98 floppy to c:\ prompt, would not read 95 floppy??? still will not read cd, will try your two possibilities this afternoon and keep you informed Thanx

Will not respond to ..fdisk/mbr but responds to fdisk. Are there any other dos commands that I can use ? PS: How can I format the HD? or do you not advise it???

Re format. I used my brains for once (Always wondered what they where for), and down load this info from Google. Format disc for any hard drive. To use or not to use.That is the question ?

http://home.pacbell.net/dbk4297/fdiskformat.html

You need a space in between fdisk and /mbr. Wont work without the space. And yes, like I said in an earlier post, you will need to use the format command as well. the command will be "format C:" There is a space in between format and the C:

Have re formated but will not read the Winows 95 Install CD or floppy. After shutting down and booting up again returns to original error? Used FORMAT C: to format, would nor accept FDISK /MBR. System will read a copy of Win 98 Master Boot. Are there any other options to use from DOS Commands Thanx

"ON HANDS AN KNEES PRAYING" Please help meee !

Haven't forgot about ya… I do have a life to live

Ok… so from what you say, it sounds like you have formatted the drive and you still get the error… is this correct?

Strange that it won't read the setup floppy anymore.

Go into the BIOS of the computer and see if the hard drive is even being detected in the BIOS. If it isn't, try uplugging the IDE cable from the hard drive and the motherboard and reconnecting them. If that doesn't work and the hard drive still isn't detected in the BIOS, the drive itself could possibly be pooched.

It could also be that Boot Sector virus scan… did you try disabling it?

You might also want to try switching the boot sequence for the computer from within the BIOS. Maybe try moving the CD-ROM to the first spot on the list and reboot with the CD in. Or the floppy drive. Sounds like it could be set to boot from the hard drive first

Unfortunately, with just a plain setup disk, there isn't too much you can do in the way of diagnostic trouleshooting.