[chuck2291]

I have an old Sony Laptop. It came installed with windows 98. It was given to me and all i received was the computer and power cord...no disk, documentation, or anything. I need to mention also that there is no cd drive, just floppy. The problem is the nothing loads. I was wanting to install DSL(damn small Linux) on it. Is there anyway to do this by using a jump drive? Any suggestions would be great. I really just want to get it up and running again.

As of right now, i have a windows 98 boot disk(that i attained LEGALLY) Im not sure what to do to get this computer up and running again. If anyone could help again with this it would be great. Thankx guys already for your help.

[blues_harp28]

Hi will it start in Safe mode..tap F8 at startup.
If no..boot from the floppy.disk.
Type.
dir c: [note space] this will list all files present.
Then type.
sys a: c: [note spaces] this should copy files from the disk.
Remove disk restart see if that works.
If no..boot from floppy.
Type.
fdisk /mbr
This should repair Master boot record.
Remove disk..restart.

[chuck2291]

Thanks a lot, its going to windows now but its not loading the taskbar icons etc. I get an "illegal operation" from explorer in module EXPLORER.EXE. Anyway to fix that?

[blues_harp28]

Hi it could be for many reasons check suggestions here.
http://www.colba.net/~hlebo49/errexplo.htm

[chuck2291]

This looks to be the error im getting:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191609


I tried their method to resolve it, but i keep getting invalid switch message.

[blues_harp28]

Hi without a Cd drive and an install Cd I don't know where you go from here.
Check System File Checker.
Start>run>type
sfc
Let it scan it will show what files may be missing.
But it will ask for the CD.

[SDFOX 7]

I was also thinking DOS prompt scanreg.exe.

Boot, F5 to Command Prompt,

C:\scanreg.exe

[chuck2291]

Originally Posted by SDFOX 7

I was also thinking DOS prompt scanreg.exe.

Boot, F5 to Command Prompt,

C:\scanreg.exe

I just did that. Computer loads fine now. is there anyway to install a distro of linux now. i want to get away from windows on this computer. I have to do it without a cdrom though. Any thoughts

BTW...Thanks guys for the help. This is farther than ive got with this computer in a long time.

[blues_harp28]

install without a Cd?
Check http://damnsmalllinux.org/

[blues_harp28]

Hi Google Running Linux without Cd rom.

http://www.lockergnome.com/linux/200...hout-a-cd-rom/

[chuck2291]

Originally Posted by blues_harp28

Hi Google Running Linux without Cd rom.

http://www.lockergnome.com/linux/200...hout-a-cd-rom/

Ive tried googling but i cant ever get the computer to boot from a usb drive. I read the article at the link you gave, if i was to do that would i be able to get rid of windows or would that be like a dual boot?

[blues_harp28]

Hi I haven't used Linux on Xp let alone 98.
You usually d/load Linux files to desktop and burn to a Cd and open a file to allow it to boot from the Cd.
Win98 dosen't show USB in the Bios so running Linux from a USB flash drive at startup dosen't work.
My suggestion would be to post your question in the Linux forum and Im sure the Linux experts will help you there.

[AcaCandy]

This can be moved. PLEASE let's not start yet another thread for the same problem.

[blues_harp28]

I apologize AcaCandy for such a suggestion.

chuck2291 click on the Red Triangle above you join date and ask one of the Moderators to move your post to the Linux Forum.

[AcaCandy]

Moved and thread title changed to attract more attention.