Ive formatted hard disk, how do i get windows back on???

stevenson · 03-22-2006, 11:54 PM

Hi ive just formatted my laptop hard disk drive and when i start the lap top back up get the folling massage:

Invalid system disk
Replace the disk and then press any key

how do i get a windows operating system back on?
Ive tryed inserting a windows98 and a windows ME cd in the cd rom drive but they just spin in the drive and thats it!
PLEASE HELP!!!

Dropkickmurphys · 03-22-2006, 11:57 PM

you need to configure your bios to boot from CD first....

stevenson · 03-23-2006, 12:07 AM

Ok thanx for that info, i think i can get into the bios menu, i have done so before so i should be able to again!
I assume its just a matter then, as u say,to change the boot order and gat the pc to boot from the cd first! thanx!

)
I will log back in shortley and tell u if it works!

**The_Other_One** · 03-23-2006, 12:08 AM

Or, if your machine's rather old(which I doubt this) but you'll need a boot disk of some sort. I beleive most Windows CDs have an option to write boot disks.

OvenMaster · 03-23-2006, 12:31 AM

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm should have something that would help

Tom

sniperchang · 03-23-2006, 01:02 AM

If you boot from windows XP CD, you can easily install windows through the CD, just follow the steps on the CD and you should be fine.

stevenson · 03-23-2006, 03:22 AM

Well the good news is that ive re-installed windows 98 !

) I changed the boot order via bios to boot from the cd drive first instead of the hard drive and it worked! The windows cd was detected and ive re-installed a nice new fast windows !

The bad news tho is that my graphics are in 16 colour mode!

(
Ive obviously tried to change em to 256 colours via display settings but there no colour option eccept 16 coulors!!!
I know for a fact my graphics card suports 256 coulors as it use to display em before the format and windows re-instalation!!!
Does any one know how to get the 256 colours back please? Again theres no option in the display setting ONLY to have 16 colours.

mrbagrat · 03-23-2006, 03:57 AM

Have you installed the drivers for the monitor and video card?

Rehcamretsnef · 03-23-2006, 04:47 PM

yeah, hopefully you have a disk with all the motherboard and onboard drivers, if not, try to get the internet to work on your laptop, and download everything u can from windows update (if it works like that in 98, hell, idk)

stevenson · 04-01-2006, 04:01 AM

Hi no i havent got a disk with the drivers on for the graphics card or moniter, not sure why i should need a driver for "unknown moniter" when the moniter is attached to the laptop!

(

Bigger problem tho, systems crashed!!!
so ive had to reformat drive c: but when tryin to reinsatll windows
get a mesage saying scandisk checking areas of drive C:
Gets to directory structure then says scan disk has encountered a data error reading cluster 3104, scan disk will try to continue past this error but it just freezes at 70%!!!

(
I assume the hard disk is knackered?

03-22-2006, 11:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
stevenson New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Ive formatted hard disk, how do i get windows back on??? Hi ive just formatted my laptop hard disk drive and when i start the lap top back up get the folling massage: Invalid system disk Replace the disk and then press any key how do i get a windows operating system back on? Ive tryed inserting a windows98 and a windows ME cd in the cd rom drive but they just spin in the drive and thats it! PLEASE HELP!!!

03-22-2006, 11:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dropkickmurphys Diamond Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Worthing, UK (Uni at Kent) Age: 20 Posts: 2,469	you need to configure your bios to boot from CD first.... __________________ *Main PC:* Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz (OC @ 3.375GHz), Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard, 4GB 8500 1066mhz RAM , 512MB Geforce 9800GTX+, 500GB Seagate 7,500RPM HDD, Lite-on 20x DVD+RW, OCZ GameXStream 850W PSU, CoolerMaster Black Centurian 534 Case, Samsung 19" SyncMaster 940BW monitor / Samsung 19" TV, Windows 7 Pro / XP Pro (Dual Boot) *Laptop (Acer Aspire 5720):* Intel T7500 2.2GHz, Intel Graphics X3100, 2GB DDR2 Ram, 160GB HDD, 15.4" Acer CrystalBrite Monitor. *Xfire:* poultrygeist *Steam ID:* unpdave

03-23-2006, 12:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,297	Or, if your machine's rather old(which I doubt this) but you'll need a boot disk of some sort. I beleive most Windows CDs have an option to write boot disks. __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

03-23-2006, 12:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
OvenMaster VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Red Sox Nation Age: 50 Posts: 2,184	http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm should have something that would help Tom __________________ Frankenbox III: CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ * MOBO: Biostar K8M800 Micro AM2 * RAM: 2x1GB Kingston DDR2 667 HDD: 2x WD 160GB, Seagate 320GB (640GB total) * OPT: 2x Pioneer DVR-115DBK DVD burners PSU: Antec Basiq 500W * GPU: PNY GeForce FX5200 256MB AGP 8x * MON: ViewSonic LCD VA721 CASE: EvTek midtower * SND: Diamond Xtreme 5.1 * OS: XP Home SP3 * ROUTER: Linksys WRT54GS Last edited by OvenMaster; 03-23-2006 at 12:33 AM.

03-23-2006, 01:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
sniperchang Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,028	If you boot from windows XP CD, you can easily install windows through the CD, just follow the steps on the CD and you should be fine. __________________ CPU: Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Skt939 Toledo @ 2.4Ghz Motherboard: Asus A8V-E SE VidCard(s): BFG 9800GTX 512MB PCI-E; eVGA 6200 PCI (Secondary) Mem: Corsair 2x1 gb TWINX C2 PT XMS HardDrive: Western Digital 8m Cache 250GB 7200RPM Monitor(s): 2x CRT 17" Phillips 107B5/107T6 and LCD 22"wide Samsung 226BW (Triple Display) Multiple Display 101

03-23-2006, 12:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
stevenson New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Ok thanx for that info, i think i can get into the bios menu, i have done so before so i should be able to again! I assume its just a matter then, as u say,to change the boot order and gat the pc to boot from the cd first! thanx! ) I will log back in shortley and tell u if it works!

03-23-2006, 03:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
stevenson New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Well the good news is that ive re-installed windows 98 ! ) I changed the boot order via bios to boot from the cd drive first instead of the hard drive and it worked! The windows cd was detected and ive re-installed a nice new fast windows ! The bad news tho is that my graphics are in 16 colour mode! ( Ive obviously tried to change em to 256 colours via display settings but there no colour option eccept 16 coulors!!! I know for a fact my graphics card suports 256 coulors as it use to display em before the format and windows re-instalation!!! Does any one know how to get the 256 colours back please? Again theres no option in the display setting ONLY to have 16 colours.

03-23-2006, 03:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
mrbagrat banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: See above Posts: 1,237	Have you installed the drivers for the monitor and video card?

03-23-2006, 04:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rehcamretsnef Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 46	yeah, hopefully you have a disk with all the motherboard and onboard drivers, if not, try to get the internet to work on your laptop, and download everything u can from windows update (if it works like that in 98, hell, idk)

04-01-2006, 04:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
stevenson New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5	Hi no i havent got a disk with the drivers on for the graphics card or moniter, not sure why i should need a driver for "unknown moniter" when the moniter is attached to the laptop! ( Bigger problem tho, systems crashed!!! so ive had to reformat drive c: but when tryin to reinsatll windows get a mesage saying scandisk checking areas of drive C: Gets to directory structure then says scan disk has encountered a data error reading cluster 3104, scan disk will try to continue past this error but it just freezes at 70%!!! ( I assume the hard disk is knackered?

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