Invalid system disk

What OS are you using?

also do you have a non-bootable in the floppy drive?

Win 98

No disk in the drive had even tried removing the cd,floppy drive. Same result.

I can only suggest that you boot up with a Windows 98 startup floppy and at the A: prompt type in sys C: then hit enter on the keyboard. This will transfer the system startup files onto the hard disk.
Remove the floppy then reboot. If the above works then you will boot to the desktop.

bacillus is right on. You can also run  scandisk/autofix C:  and    scanreg/fix C:   from the A:\ prompt   to perhaps correct any errors. If you can get it to boot up in Safe mode, you can go to Start/Run and type/enter    SFC    and then run the System File Checker for corrupt or changed files. One .dll file that seems prone to get corrupted in W98 is   setupx.dll    ; the trick is to find another computer running W98 and copy that file from Windows  to a Floppy Disk and then use that as a restore source when SFC asks for it.

I tried to reboot with the recovery disk in the a: drive. I was able to get to the A: prompt. I then typed sys C: then got, bad command. I then found the diagnostics for inspiron 7500 disks and am in the process of running it at this time to see what happens.

Any other ideas? Thank you.

Thanks, I will give this a try when the diagnostics program finishes. I wasn't able to boot in safe mode before. I have the win 98 flopy and cd rom, possibly find the file there.

HAve run the inspiron diagnostics and found nothing wrong. Tried to start still get the invalid system disk. I put in the rescue disk in and started, it brought up items to reastore. It checked the  cmos box, I went in and ir was restored to when the rescue disk was made in 2002. Restarted and still unable to get going. When I get to the A: prompt, what ever is entered I get a bad command message. I tried your scandisk/autofix C: and get the bad command msg.

Have tried win 98 CDROM and get the can't be run in dos message. Running out of ideas.

Okay, as soon as the splash screen ends on bootup, hold down the control key and you should boot to a DOS screen-W98 Startup Menu. Select Command prompt Only and enter Scandisk/autofix   and then      scanreg/fix  at the C:\ prompt. You will need to reboot after each. BTW, the previous suggestions were for the W98 Boot Disk. The W2k Rescue Disk does not recognize those commands

I have to have the win 98 disk in the A drive to get it to work. I held the controll down, then picked   Command prompt only, then it goes to a screen asking for .1) Start win 98 setup from cd-rom. 2) start computer with cd-rom support. 3) start computer without cd=-rom support. I picked #3 it then goes to the A:\> prompt, I tried your commands there and got Bad command or file name. I then changed to C:\> and tried and got the same. Isn't working the way I read your instructions.

Not sure where would the space be? when I changed from A:/> to C:/> I changed from A prompt to C prompt then tried the commands, was that correct way to do it?

Thanks for your patience and help. also which line should I choose when it asks to, 1 start win98 frm cdrom, 2 start comp with cdrom support or 3 start computer w/o cdrom support?

Put the w98 Boot Diskette in the floppy drive. Turn on the Laptop. When you get the Startup menu, select start your computer without CDROM support. At the A:\ Prompt, type and enter   Scandisk/Autofix C:    the space is between the x and the C:

Then remove the Boot Disk and reboot. Hold down the Ctrl  Key when the action bar on the splash screen nears its end. You should boot to a Screen-Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu with 6 choices. Pick (5)Command Prompt Only and at the C:\prompt, type    scanreg/fix    Now if the harddrive is shot, neither command will work or finish, but you should not be getting the Bad Command or File message from the scandisk/autofix C: as that program is on the boot diskette, not the harddrive like the scanreg/fix  command