Since you cannot boot to the hard disk after installing SP1, it would be helpful to know if you can boot to something else. If you have a Windows 98 boot disk, put it into the computer and restart. See if it will boot to the disk. If so, then your problem is most likely that the SP1 download got messed up in transfer and messed up Windows on your computer. You may need to reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows all over.
A "rescue disk" will often try to repair or replace important files on your hard drive. If the repair disk has not been kept udpated as you have made changes to your system, it will not work. Download the CDENAB.EXE from this link:
It would also help to know what the system is choking on behind the splash screen - attempt to press "ESC" key at boot to see if the splash screen will turn off and show text of what BIOS is attempting to load (unsuccessfully).
Also, at this point I'd prepare to get my hands a bit dirty. As a guess I suspect that the system is choking on one of the IDE drives - likely the hard disk itself. I would place a boot floppy in the drive after unplugging both the IDE1 and IDE2 ribbon cables from the mb. (with the tower unplugged, obviously).
This may free the system to boot into BIOS as well as to boot to the floppy disk.
This is one of the more severe reactions I've ever read of an SP1 install. I'd be really interested to see what solution you come up with.
BigBrother
2 Intern
•
4.8K Posts
0
January 26th, 2003 23:00
schoepmd,
Since you cannot boot to the hard disk after installing SP1, it would be helpful to know if you can boot to something else. If you have a Windows 98 boot disk, put it into the computer and restart. See if it will boot to the disk. If so, then your problem is most likely that the SP1 download got messed up in transfer and messed up Windows on your computer. You may need to reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows all over.
Steve
schoepmd
2 Posts
0
January 26th, 2003 23:00
It never goes to the drive ... floppy or hard disk.
Tried a rescue disk ... never gets there.
- Mark
BigBrother
2 Intern
•
4.8K Posts
0
January 26th, 2003 23:00
schoepmd,
A "rescue disk" will often try to repair or replace important files on your hard drive. If the repair disk has not been kept udpated as you have made changes to your system, it will not work. Download the CDENAB.EXE from this link:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/download/index.asp?fileid=R19775
Follow the instructions to make a boot disk from the document at this link:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1030669
Try to boot your computer with this boot disk.
Steve
NVRambo
1.9K Posts
0
January 27th, 2003 18:00
It would also help to know what the system is choking on behind the splash screen - attempt to press "ESC" key at boot to see if the splash screen will turn off and show text of what BIOS is attempting to load (unsuccessfully).
Also, at this point I'd prepare to get my hands a bit dirty. As a guess I suspect that the system is choking on one of the IDE drives - likely the hard disk itself. I would place a boot floppy in the drive after unplugging both the IDE1 and IDE2 ribbon cables from the mb. (with the tower unplugged, obviously).
This may free the system to boot into BIOS as well as to boot to the floppy disk.
This is one of the more severe reactions I've ever read of an SP1 install. I'd be really interested to see what solution you come up with.
e-mail:
stewATbellsouthDOTnet