Invalid System Disk after format C: of my hard drive?

Question

That's what I get all the time now. I tried altering the boot sequence. I tried making new copies of a startup disk. No change. All I want is to understand what has happened here after the format of my hard drive and why I can't reboot the hard drive with the startup disk and then install my new copy of Win 98 2nd edition on my old computer. Can anyone help?

This will probably have to be an ongoing Q & A for me. Thanks.

Answer 1

Are you sure one or all of the copies of the startup disk were originally formatted as a system disk (i.e. bootable)?

Answer 2

you have probably done the wrong format

boot from your win 98 cd when loaded go to c:\

when at

C:\type in Fdisk

when f disk pops up you will have various choices

choose the one to delete disk first

then when done

Choose the one to create and format

I am doing this from memory as I have not done it for 2 years

You will have to follow instructions and check as you go

when finished press the number 4 key and it should tell you what your hard drive now is if

C:\ is set for primary drive etc

Hope you can follow this

Answer 3

It says that because you just formatted the hard drive without  putting the system files on it

boot up with floppy or CD you get to drive a:\

type the followings

a:\  format  c:/s  press enter

follow to the end of format after format is done remove the floppy or cd turn computer off turn it on the computer will boot up to c:\  

type  dir/w press enter now all you see on the screen is one file called command.com

this is the dos operating system that boots up the computer

Answer 4

as far as i know with w98 you need a floppy to boot from, then use the w98 cd to continue installing