[JAILBR3AK3R]

So i'm a 12 year old boy, (don't troll) and my dad brought down an old computer and told me i could fix it up. So far I'm doing very well. I plugged in all the power cords and plugged in my SATA HDD and formated it but now I have a problem. When I boot windows 98 up, it brings me right to a command prompt screen like this:


Windows 98

C:\<_

I formated the disk before this so that is the cause, but what I need help on is to just boot normal. I tried the boot menu thing but that doesn't seem to work. I'm trying to install Windows Vista Ultimate but I don't know how I'm going to start the disk if I can't even boot the computer.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

Also, I formated the disk because it was coming up with a RAM BiOs error. Then I took the sticks out and put the most bulky sticks next to the Intel Pentium 4.That fixed the RAM error, but then I got another RAM error. It said i didn't have enough memory to initialize windows or something like that :P. Before that error came up, it had said something about missing files. So I formatted the disk. Now I'm trying to install a new OS. That brings me to the problem I have now.

Thanks in advance.

[DoubleHelix]

Windows 98? What are you doing with RAM chips? What exactly are you trying to do? What do you think you're going to use Windows 98 for? You can't even install a modern web browser on that.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

I'm trying to get windows 98 working. When it's finished booting it goes straight to a command prompt. Like this:

Windows 98 1998-2000

C:\

The years aren't accurate cause I couldn't remember lol. But there was rapid beeping about a week ago and that was the BiOs RAM error I was talking about. I have Award BiOs on my system. So I ut unplugged the RAM sticks then put them back in. That fixed the beeping, and it started up for the first time with display. Then i got another RAM error with windows. It said that there wasn't enough memory for windows.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

Bumpity bump bump bump

[Triple6]

Well if you formatted the disk then you no longer have Windows 98. Do you have a Windows 98 installation CD? You'd be better off trying to find a cheap copy of Windows XP or trying a free Linux distro such as ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com/

[JAILBR3AK3R]

Originally Posted by Triple6

Well if you formatted the disk then you no longer have Windows 98. Do you have a Windows 98 installation CD? You'd be better off trying to find a cheap copy of Windows XP or trying a free Linux distro such as ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com/

Yeah, i have thought very much about getting Linux. I have a Windows Vista CD im going to put on before i get Linux. But how would i go about installing the OS at this point?

[Triple6]

Vista is not going to run very well if at all on a Pentium 4.

To install an O/S you boot from the installation media, ie. the CD, DVD, or USB stick that contains the O/S you want to install.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

When i start up my computer, can i set it for starting off of the USB? How would i do that?

[Triple6]

You would have to check the BIOS, usually DEL or F2 to enter it. The computer may or may not support booting from USB if its a Pentium 4, the earlier ones didn't always have such as option.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

So, how would i install Linux if it didn't support booting from the USB?

[DoubleHelix]

From a CD.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

Alright, my computer supports booting from USB but there are a few options for it. USB-HDD, USB-ZIP, USB-SDD (I think it was sdd i forgot). Which one do i pick?

[Triple6]

USB-HDD may work for a USB stick.

USB-HDD - Hard Disk Drive
USB-ZIP - ZIP drive

The last one is likely USB-FDD - Floppy Disk Drive.

[JAILBR3AK3R]

Alright. I tried the USB-HDD option and it gets stuck on "Verifying DMI pool data..." I only let it load for about 15 minutes then i shut it down. I hate to ask again but any ideas?