On board serial port 1 conflict? Crashed! Help!

[luthierpro]

Hi, I posted twice last week with this problem, there seems to be no end to it! As brief as I can explain, during an upgrade to Windows 95, yes it is an old computer! The power went out to the house, when the lights came on the computer was in limbo with neither operating system causing configuration problems. When booting up she says on board serial port 1 conflict. No other details. When trying to reload upgrade or old version (3.11), it comes up with an error loading PROGMAN.EXE. It is giving me no options and I ran a scandisk, and checked all the obvious in bios setup etc. She is just stuck! Any knowledge in this would be greatly appreciated, if I can get it fixed right I'll gladly pay for your help as there is no one in my area willing to take it on! Thanks

------------------
Jim

[mjc]

If you can get into the BIOS setup try and either return the settings to the default values (if there is an option to load the system defaults load them -- something like <f5> to load default) or disable COM1 in the setup and see if it will allow you to install, also make sure that there is nothing connected to the port.

Can you access the drive from DOS? Is there any thing important on the drive that you want to save?

A couple of tips on posting here, it isn't necessary to start a new thread each time, just continue the old one.

If some of the suggestions didn't help keeping all together helps to show what has and hasn't been tried...

Exactly how old is it? Did it previously have Win95 on it?

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

All Control Agents must memorize Rule 5 before proceding to Rule 6

[luthierpro]

I tried all the above except turning off the port. I cant find it! I also do not know what it is for? I can start a download of Windows, it had only 3.11 on it, and it stops halfway through saying it can not load PROGMAN.EXE? I know it is probably simple for an advanced user but it is boggling me! Another prior error was "unable to open KERNEL executable? Probably all just parts of Windows, but it is confused as one version was 76% setup and it quit all at the worst possible time is my guess. There is no other history of problems with the system. I am loading 95 for a friend, it is not my computer, and I have never had any trouble before. I guess it is just the same as quitting an upload and running out of time and it asks if yoiu want to discontinue setup? Power just quit so it gave the warning "Windows may not operate" truth to the statement! I really need her up and running at least to the old 3.11. If you know someone who can help all the way through this please let me know, I will gladly make it worth their time. Thanks

------------------
Jim

[mjc]

Before we start there are a couple of things about the system that we need yo know:

1. CPU and memory

2. Is this an 'off the shelf' machine, like a Compaq?

Also COM1 could be called Serial 1 or something else like that, also some BIOS don't have everything easily found, sometimes the info is on other pages that are accessible through what looks to be a single item, just look for things like <page up> or something like that when you highlight an item (sometimes <enter> will take you to the additional info).

Then you can go here (http://www.bootdisk.com/) and download a boot disk (look for either a DOS or Win95a one). This will give you a known good and clean bootdisk....

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

All Control Agents must memorize Rule 5 before proceding to Rule 6

[luthierpro]

It is an Acer 486DX, it has , I believe 4meg RAM but it could be 16? IT is a strange system as it does not boot up like any other I have seen before. At least how it did. It is completely stock off the shelf purchased at Best Buy in 1-95. I will try the bios pages again but they are hiding this stuff pretty good as I could not locate hardly a thing before, but I did return it to original configuration. It appearantly did not work. Thanks

------------------
Jim

[luthierpro]

I tried a few more things, booting with the HD off and straight to DOS. No help, disabling it through setup, and changing configuration. No help. The #s match the ones on the HD, so I assume it is correct. I really think it is just missing too much original start up info lost during upgrade. The important thing I forgot to mention is the message while it tries to boot. It says this version of Windows will not run on dos 6.x or earlier? It should be 6.22. I am getting more lost by the minute. Thanks

------------------
Jim

[luthierpro]

I got the config. problem resolved. Tried loading original backup disks for Windows, same error. PROGMAN.EXE? I guess I'll try the 95 download now? Is this safe if it will not even run 3.11? Some mess! I still need an expert again! $$ is no issue at this point. Thanks

------------------
Jim

[mjc]

So when you get the boot disk put it in and boot to it. It should come up a: and then a flshing cursor. Then type "sys c:", then reboot and see if it gets into DOS, should be at c: with a flashing cursor.....If at this point you get cn't get anything nad you know that there is nothing on the the drive worth saving then you can put the boot disk back in boot to it and then type "fdisk" and see what info it brings up.....and then you may need to format c and start all over.....

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

All Control Agents must memorize Rule 5 before proceding to Rule 6

[luthierpro]

I should be more descriptive. It seems to want to download the operating system fine, when it gets through the first part( first 3 disks of 6 )it just shuts down to a blank screen with the message PROGMAN.EXE thing. I think it is confusing two systems as 95 was 76% complete when it crashed. I can get into dos fine and promt the drives, A & D just fine now. Just cant get Windows to load or come up? Sound more to something that makes any sense now? It has me stumped! Thank

------------------
Jim