XPS 4100 crash, won't boot help

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

My XPS 4100 crashed. I believe my HD was infected with a virus via an
internet gaming lobby. Anyway, I removed the HD & installed a new one, &
formatted it. I want to load WIN 98 into it, (Previous was 95b).
Now when I boot up, after the bios check, it tells me to insert boot
disk into "A". (I have boot disk already inserted at start).
I cannot get past this message, It tells me improper boot disk in "A" .
Problem is it appears my "C" HD is working, but my "A" floppy drive is
not. There is no indiction that my floppy is on, no light, no floppy
drive motor activity. There is no floppy activity during the boot
sequence at all. I know the floppy works, I used it before the crash, it
was fine.
I believe I need to default boot to "A" in bios, but I cannot get into
the bios. Not sure how, I do not get the "Enter bios message option"
when the system bios is loading. It just loads till I get "improper boot
disk, insert boot disk & enter". I cannot get past this screen.
Thanks all feedback appreciated.
Steve C.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Press "Del" to enter BIOS. Make a new boot disk at www.bootdisk.com. How
are you getting "improper boot disk in A" message if floppy drive is not
working? The floppy drive lights never comes on? Have you checked the
floppy drive data cable and power cable? Maybe you jarred one of them loose
when you replaced the hard drive.

PS: You don't have to replace the hard drive to get rid of the virus!

<lobotomy@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:28051-416FCD58-117@storefull-3178.bay.webtv.net...
> My XPS 4100 crashed. I believe my HD was infected with a virus via an
> internet gaming lobby. Anyway, I removed the HD & installed a new one, &
> formatted it. I want to load WIN 98 into it, (Previous was 95b).
> Now when I boot up, after the bios check, it tells me to insert boot
> disk into "A". (I have boot disk already inserted at start).
> I cannot get past this message, It tells me improper boot disk in "A" .
> Problem is it appears my "C" HD is working, but my "A" floppy drive is
> not. There is no indiction that my floppy is on, no light, no floppy
> drive motor activity. There is no floppy activity during the boot
> sequence at all. I know the floppy works, I used it before the crash, it
> was fine.
> I believe I need to default boot to "A" in bios, but I cannot get into
> the bios. Not sure how, I do not get the "Enter bios message option"
> when the system bios is loading. It just loads till I get "improper boot
> disk, insert boot disk & enter". I cannot get past this screen.
> Thanks all feedback appreciated.
> Steve C.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

WZsr,
Thanks for your response, you have helped me already with the DEL key to
enter BIOS, please stay with me here, thanks.
I rechecked as you suggested, data & power cables OK, no floppy light at
all at any time. Error is "Invalid Boot Disk".
Thanks for boot disk site, I am going to try that one also.
Now that I am in BIOS, under "BOOT" this is the setup:
1st. boot device ATAPI HDD
2cd. boot dev.= ATAPI CDROM
3rd. boot dev.= Option ROM (RAM?)
4th. boot dev.= Disabled.
This seems to me like I am missing floppy, am I wrong?
Thanks
Steve

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I would say you are missing a floppy drive. If no light comes on (the
floppy drive) during post, then the floppy is not getting power or it has
failed. Replacement floppy drives are cheap and can be purchased locally.
Take you old one with you. My best guess is that you are not getting power
to the floppy. Doublecheck and make sure the power connector is on tight.
Make sure there is not a setting in the BIOS to disable the floppy.


<lobotomy@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:25308-416FEE38-357@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net...
> WZsr,
> Thanks for your response, you have helped me already with the DEL key to
> enter BIOS, please stay with me here, thanks.
> I rechecked as you suggested, data & power cables OK, no floppy light at
> all at any time. Error is "Invalid Boot Disk".
> Thanks for boot disk site, I am going to try that one also.
> Now that I am in BIOS, under "BOOT" this is the setup:
> 1st. boot device ATAPI HDD
> 2cd. boot dev.= ATAPI CDROM
> 3rd. boot dev.= Option ROM (RAM?)
> 4th. boot dev.= Disabled.
> This seems to me like I am missing floppy, am I wrong?
> Thanks
> Steve
>