Used computer..... drive wiped clean...cant re-install windows.... HELP

[Jayce8]

I got a computer from my work that they wanted to get rid of. They wiped the drives clean and when i tryed to re-install windows I couldnt get it to read any of the discs that I have. I have cd and floppy discs.
It is a Dell computer.


I wanted to give it to the kids so that they will have a computer and leave my laptop alone.

All i need it to do is let them play games....   Can anyone help???

[ianbell]

What o/s are you trying to install? - if trying to start from CD should probably start with the BIOS reset to "Boot from CDROM".

[Jayce8]

They gave me 3 floppy discs for windows NT and said that they should work...

[Jayce8]

Can I use my vaio laptop to make cd's that will work on a dell pc?  It has vista on it but i have another laptop (Compaq) that has XP on it..  would any of these work??  Im not that computer smart so im sorry if these questions sound stupid.....

[patio]

Even Windows for Workgroups was more floppies than that...I don't think NT would fit on 3 floppies.

[Jayce8]

What would my options be for making this computer run just for the kids to play games on? 

Is it worth trying to fix??

[ianbell]

No Microsoft Windows fits on 3 floppys [I assume you mean they gave you  3.5 floppys?]  - even W95 needed a CD. My suggestion for what it is worth if you just want a system for the kids to play with is find someone with a W98CD and install code who will let you use it - Microsoft no longer support W98 so pirateing the o/s is no longer an issue.  To find out what is on the floppys stick one in a PC, open in MSDOS mode and at the C:> prompt type in a: to change to a: drive and then at the a:> prompt type in DIR and this will list what is on that floppy.

[WillyW]

Even Windows for Workgroups was more floppies than that...I don't think NT would fit on 3 floppies.

Possibly they are just boot disks?

[WillyW]

What would my options be for making this computer run just for the kids to play games on? 

Is it worth trying to fix??

You said it is a Dell, correct?
It would be good if you could post more info about the computer.  Everything you can find.   Model number, especially.

You're going to need install disks for an operating system.   Either floppy or CD.
You might want to check out eBay.    I bet you could find Win98SE there, and not have to spend a lot of money.

Before you do that though,  you might want to wait for some feedback here, after you identify your computer with more info.    No need to buy something  that won't work,  right?