computer help,wont boot to operating system

[stingray]

operating sys windows 98 second,press start button screen runs post then goes into black screen with a > at top left on screen > this is white and flashing nothing other than that is on screen ,i can keep restarting computer but is same all the time,the bios is reading the hard drive ok.please help

[Computer_Commando]

Remove floppy disk from A-drive.

[stingray]

thank you for reply but i have no disk in drive a .I HAVE TRIED ANOTHER HARD DISK BUT THIS HAD A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BUT MY COMPUTER READ THE HARD DRIVE AND WENT TO BLACK SCREEN AGAIN BUT A MESSAGE ON SCREEN THIS TIME REPORTING THE HARD DISK SOFTWARE PROB.I DONT THINK THE PROB IS MY HARD DISK,IS THEIR A WAY TO GET INTO SAFE MODE TO RESTART COMPUTER,PLEASE HELP THANKS

[comda]

Ok when you get the screen A:\ (means the computer is reading from drive a floppy) but if you don't have a floppy in there try this. type  C:\ and hit enter then you should get this symbol C:\ instead of A:\. After C:\ is inserted type win and hit enter. the computer should start loading windows 98 SE.
 
P.S if the A:\ drive doesn't switch to C:\ type cd( change Directory) then C:\
Different computers react  diff.

 Good luck!

[stingray]

I HAVE TURNED COMPUTER ON THIS TIME IT RUNS POST SCREEN THEN GOES TO BLACK SCREEN WITH AT THE TOP LEFT HAND OF SCREEN A FLASHING WHITE  - MINUS SINE ONLY NOTHING OTHER THAN THIS .THANK YOU FOR REPLY

[comda]

oh then if i were you i would reinstall win. Do you have the disks?

[dahlarbear]

1.  Boot Floppy.  If the system has an operational floppy drive, make and then boot from Windows 98 SE boot floppy.  See http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm.

Once you've booted the floppy, use it to access and examine the hard drive.  You can run "scandisk /all" from the floppy to verify and attempt to fix file system errors on the hard drive.

2.  Diagnostics.  Before reinstalling Windows, you should probably run diagnostics on both the system RAM and hard drive.  Ask if you need links for these "free" diagnostics.

[stingray]

ok will try this,thank you

[dino_cuyag]

please send computer specs... so that we can evaluate your PC.

[Allan]

please send computer specs... so that we can evaluate your PC.

1) What exactly are you going to evaluate?
2) The thread is a month old

[S1L3NTSN1P3R]

I'm guessing your MBR is corrupted. Sorry

[patio]

1) What exactly are you going to evaluate?
2) The thread is a month old

And now unfortunately it's brand new again...

[Allan]

Looks like you have a new resident necromancer.

[patio]

This is only one of about a dozen or so so far...
PM sent.