Hi v55,

normally if both drives are showing during the startup (POST) then the BIOS is already set ok to see both drives. Normally all you will have to do is set the Boot Sequence so that when you boot up the computer looks for the windows OS install CD which must be in the master drive. In teh BIOS can you see where the 'Boot Sequence' or 'Boot Order' or similar is? That needs to be set to 1) CD 2) Hard Disk It doesn't really matter after numbers 1 & 2. Can you see where that is?

OMG i just wrote everything in detail and i lost the post!!! the computer disconnected

i went into the bios and pressed F5 to set back to defaults, also checked the boot order, which is correct and showing the actual models

then on start up showing as follows...

Detecting primary master ...ST360015A
Detecting primary slave ...none
detecting secondary master ...hitachi CDR-8130
detecting secondary slave,,,,toshiba DVD-Rom SD -M1612

hardware monitor found error, enter setup for details
press F1 to continue DEL to enter setp

so ther is a bunch of files missing so to continue i press any key
to continue
so next telling me cant find registy or SYSTEM .INI file

vnetsetup.vxd is missing
press any key to continue
verdir.vxd is missing
press any key to continue
dfe.vxd

press any key to continue

and then i get msnp32.dll cant load this dynamic link library
and on pressing ok i get on windows finally but i n my computer there is still no D or E file

same place ....
any more suggstions? thanks in advance!

Well, sounds like you have the boot order and drives setup just fine there. The 'hardware monitor error' is normally something to do with either power or heat. First thing to check is that all the power connector from the PSU to the motherboard is connected correctly, then also check that the CPU fan and any other fans are connected properly and powering/spinning. Assuming that everything is ok in that department I would suggest going into the BIOS and checking all the power and temperature settings. It might just be that a setting such as 'case open' or 'cpu warning temp' has been activated and, assuming that nothing is overheting dangerously it would just be a case of turning that particular hardware monitor off. I remember having a very similar issue and scratching my head for aaages, then I put the case side on and all was well, lol. Hope that helps.

My money would be on a cable not correctly plugged in somewhere or a case open setting being activated.

Thanks guys but the monitor problem is minor and it boots to windows fine...it's the loss of drives that has not been sorted out???
no idea where to turn to next....i realise there is a load of files missing question is how to get them back into the computer with no D or E drive or usb stick????? really am ready to smash the thing up...

Oh. . so you're not trying to install an OS from fresh anymore? I didn't realise the PC was actually booting into windows o_O You're using Windows 98 then?

Try this:

a. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
b. On the Tools menu, click System File Checker.
c. Click "Extract one file from installation disk," type the name of the file you want to extract in the "Specify the system file you would like to restore" box, and then click Start.
d. In the Restore From box, type the path to the Win98 folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM. Type the destination folder in the Save File In box if necessary, and then click OK.
e. Click OK, click OK, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

ok i have tried that, but i still can't do it, because i have no D or E drive!! i can't load in windows 98 disc so it can copy it can i, i have no drives???
feel like i am going round in circles.

i can scan for altered files but i can't extract any files so i can restore!

i did want to re format windows 98 again from afresh but can't see how i can do it with no drives is it possible if i insert the
start up disc in floppy and when it asks for help?

i think best thing is for me to take the HD out and sling it agains the wall, and look to buy another one...if i were to call someone out, their charges are too high, i can buy another drive!

hi v55,

if your bios is recognising the drives and they are showing on post and you have the boot sequence correctly set as you say then assuming all your hardware components are working normally then there should be no problem in booting from cd and installing an operating system from scratch (even if you cannot see the drives once in windows as it curently stands). what does your pc tell you when you try to boot from cd ?

Hi grunt i haven't tried that yet, i wasn't sure what would happen, i may have a go today and get back to you all.

but yes i checked again last night and i can see both drives coming up on post....toshiba dvd and hitachi cd rom....just isnt showing in my computer at all.

by the way how sure are you i can boot from start up disc and windows 98 disc?


I'VE DONE IT! booted from floppy disc/format C: setup etc....and the drives have come back, hooooray....
I need to re-format again properly as i can't load in my Nvidia files, but the main thing is i can see drive D and E!!!
i can't get my usb to work yet...all minor compared to the original problem it's all loading up nicely and no monitor error.

cheers guys for having patience...if my computer goes corrupt etc, i just reformat the whole thing, every 6 months or so, i burn off important stuff so am never worried about losing anything! i have learnt they do go wrong!

thank you

glad you got it sorted out in the end