Greetings http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
I get this error when I boot my PC. I can not therefore get to Win 98.

The error ---> "Invalid Partition Table" will not allow my operating system to open. I can not even get to a C: prompt or an A: prompt. I've tried 2 different boot disks, thinking one was maybe bad. My flopping drive reads the disk, but will not allow access to the files on the disk.

The system just halts right at that error. I can not access floppy files or even get to any drive prompts.

Please help a guy in distress. Thanks A Bunch!
- Brock Kincade (Howell, MI)

Go into the BIOS setup and make sure that the hard drive is set to autodetect and the the boot order is a: then c:...

Also from a know clean computer either make or download a new bootdisk (and write protect it by sliding the litlle tab down) and go to BootDisk (http://www.bootdisk.com) and download an anti-Virus program called f-prot.

You can also try swapping the cable with a known good one.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

MJC,
OK, changing the boot order got me to an A: and a C:

Re-partitioned drive. Then when I try to install Windows 98.....
It freezes right after it says --> "Windows will now do a routine check of your System" then scrambles letters all over the DOS screen and locks.

Tried the F-Prot utility, didn't work. And, it said "disk is full" so it couldn't finish the process. Also tried McAfee Emergency Boot Anti-virus software. Didn't find any infected areas. But, it doesn't seem to want to read drive C. Because of "bad media type" error I'm getting now.

I'm a mess over here. It's an old lady's computer across the street from me and I'm trying to help. But failing miserably.

Please help this nice lady and me get this thing going?
Thanks again, everyone has been so helpful. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Ok, Brock,

Let's backup a little and get a little more info, what kind of computer and how old, amount of memory, and any other system info.

Include the exact error messages you are getting.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

Ok, I went and checked on f-prot...it seems that they changed the setup of that disk a little, it used to be set up to run a RAM drive (a special way of setting up a portion of RAM to act as a drive) and set it up that way, but I guess that the virus definitions have gotten too large to fit on a single floppy with the RAMDRIVE program on it.... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif, so if the hard drive is actually toast, no it would not set up, and I think you may have to consider that you are dealing with a failed drive. If you know the manufacturer of the drive you can go to their website and download a diagnostic utiliy for the drive.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.