Is it the BIOS setup screen that you want to display? That doesn't always display anything when the computer starts up normally. You have to press a key to get to the BIOS setup, usually F1, F10, or DEL, though it's hard to know which for a particular computer. Did you try the function keys to try to get the BIOS display? It sounds like you had your Windows 98 disk in the CD drive when the computer started. That's why the computer tried to install Win 98. Without a CD or floppy in, does the computer attempt to load an operating system from the hard disk? Does it have an operating system installed now, and is the OS in "working order"? I would try to start the computer with a Linux CD (Knoppix) in the CD drive. That will run whether or not there is a valid operating system (Windows) on the hard drive; it won't affect Windows if Windows is installed. If the Knoppix CD does run, it will allow you to check out the other hardware in the computer, and even allow you to view what's on the hard drive -- so you can decide whether to overwrite it with a new Windows install. Linux is also a good choice for an operating system for an old computer like that, if you want something newer and better than Windows 98 and don't want to spend money on XP. Knoppix Linux can be installed on a hard disk, but there are better distributions for permanent installations. Kraig --- On Fri, 7/17/09, Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> wrote: > From: Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> > Subject: [COMPUTERS] Weird > To: "Computers" <COMPUTERS@rootsweb.com> > Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 4:47 PM > This is  funny.  I decided > to build my grandsons a computer just to play games > on.  I picked up an used motherboard at Goodwill.  > I had a ATX case.  I built it putting HD, CD, and > floppy.  I was going to install WIN 98SE.  It > would run XP but I didn't want to buy a copy.  I > plugged it in and the monitor stayed dark for a few > seconds.  I have a 98 start up cd and all at once it > started preparing to install WIN 98.  The bios never > did come up.  The system is running great other that > when you turn it on, Windows starts.  I figured that it > came from a HP or E-Machine and the bios was on a old > partition.  I am not positive who made the > motherboard.  Is there any way to get it to show the > bios in bootup.  I would care but I am afraid that some > time I might need it.  I have everything in the > computer and it works ok.  Have you ever heard > something like this before. > > Joe >

When I first tried to start it, I hit every key that I knew that might bring up the bios. Now with a operating system installed, nothing in the floppy or cd drive, it boots straight to Win 98 and runs normal. The only difference is you don't see the start up. When I said that that is tried to install the system, I meant that it prepared for me to insert the 98 disk which I did. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "K Jones" <kraigjones2000@yahoo.com> To: <computers@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 6:13 PM Subject: Re: [COMPUTERS] Weird Is it the BIOS setup screen that you want to display? That doesn't always display anything when the computer starts up normally. You have to press a key to get to the BIOS setup, usually F1, F10, or DEL, though it's hard to know which for a particular computer. Did you try the function keys to try to get the BIOS display? It sounds like you had your Windows 98 disk in the CD drive when the computer started. That's why the computer tried to install Win 98. Without a CD or floppy in, does the computer attempt to load an operating system from the hard disk? Does it have an operating system installed now, and is the OS in "working order"? I would try to start the computer with a Linux CD (Knoppix) in the CD drive. That will run whether or not there is a valid operating system (Windows) on the hard drive; it won't affect Windows if Windows is installed. If the Knoppix CD does run, it will allow you to check out the other hardware in the computer, and even allow you to view what's on the hard drive -- so you can decide whether to overwrite it with a new Windows install. Linux is also a good choice for an operating system for an old computer like that, if you want something newer and better than Windows 98 and don't want to spend money on XP. Knoppix Linux can be installed on a hard disk, but there are better distributions for permanent installations. Kraig --- On Fri, 7/17/09, Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> wrote: > From: Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> > Subject: [COMPUTERS] Weird > To: "Computers" <COMPUTERS@rootsweb.com> > Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 4:47 PM > This is funny. I decided > to build my grandsons a computer just to play games > on. I picked up an used motherboard at Goodwill. > I had a ATX case. I built it putting HD, CD, and > floppy. I was going to install WIN 98SE. It > would run XP but I didn't want to buy a copy. I > plugged it in and the monitor stayed dark for a few > seconds. I have a 98 start up cd and all at once it > started preparing to install WIN 98. The bios never > did come up. The system is running great other that > when you turn it on, Windows starts. I figured that it > came from a HP or E-Machine and the bios was on a old > partition. I am not positive who made the > motherboard. Is there any way to get it to show the > bios in bootup. I would care but I am afraid that some > time I might need it. I have everything in the > computer and it works ok. Have you ever heard > something like this before. > > Joe > :-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~: Take pity on Digest subscribers and remember to SNIP when replying. :-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~: ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COMPUTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Guess what, I turned it on and used the keyboard as if it was a piano. It came up. I narrowed it to F1 that brings it up. Thanks for your help. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "K Jones" <kraigjones2000@yahoo.com> To: <computers@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 6:13 PM Subject: Re: [COMPUTERS] Weird Is it the BIOS setup screen that you want to display? That doesn't always display anything when the computer starts up normally. You have to press a key to get to the BIOS setup, usually F1, F10, or DEL, though it's hard to know which for a particular computer. Did you try the function keys to try to get the BIOS display? It sounds like you had your Windows 98 disk in the CD drive when the computer started. That's why the computer tried to install Win 98. Without a CD or floppy in, does the computer attempt to load an operating system from the hard disk? Does it have an operating system installed now, and is the OS in "working order"? I would try to start the computer with a Linux CD (Knoppix) in the CD drive. That will run whether or not there is a valid operating system (Windows) on the hard drive; it won't affect Windows if Windows is installed. If the Knoppix CD does run, it will allow you to check out the other hardware in the computer, and even allow you to view what's on the hard drive -- so you can decide whether to overwrite it with a new Windows install. Linux is also a good choice for an operating system for an old computer like that, if you want something newer and better than Windows 98 and don't want to spend money on XP. Knoppix Linux can be installed on a hard disk, but there are better distributions for permanent installations. Kraig --- On Fri, 7/17/09, Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> wrote: > From: Joe Snow <snowman31@localnet.com> > Subject: [COMPUTERS] Weird > To: "Computers" <COMPUTERS@rootsweb.com> > Date: Friday, July 17, 2009, 4:47 PM > This is funny. I decided > to build my grandsons a computer just to play games > on. I picked up an used motherboard at Goodwill. > I had a ATX case. I built it putting HD, CD, and > floppy. I was going to install WIN 98SE. It > would run XP but I didn't want to buy a copy. I > plugged it in and the monitor stayed dark for a few > seconds. I have a 98 start up cd and all at once it > started preparing to install WIN 98. The bios never > did come up. The system is running great other that > when you turn it on, Windows starts. I figured that it > came from a HP or E-Machine and the bios was on a old > partition. I am not positive who made the > motherboard. Is there any way to get it to show the > bios in bootup. I would care but I am afraid that some > time I might need it. I have everything in the > computer and it works ok. Have you ever heard > something like this before. > > Joe > :-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~: Take pity on Digest subscribers and remember to SNIP when replying. :-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~:-~: ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COMPUTERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message