Screwed up my computer/ need help
 

My computer keeps telling me that I need to re-install windows. I've got no idea how to do it. It's a Win98 system and I have the original system disk with the product key code. I could sure use some help.

Is there anything on that disk that you're attached to?

If there is, get a new disk and install onto that - otherwise you'll lose it all.

I may be possible to salvage the existing install, but that requires a certain degree of Windows know-how, and you may be better off buying the 2nd disk and then trying to salvage your stuff off the old one later.

Oh, and the install: put the Windoze CD in the drive, and boot the box, the install should start automagically.

If it doesn't, you need to set your BIOS to boot from the CD.

There's a bunch of how-to's out on the net, which can do a better job of describing the install than I can.

http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/clean1.htm
http://diveintomark.org/archives/2003/08/04/xp

If it were me, I would upgrade to at least Win2K; I can't stand XP though. If you were closer I'd lend you my installation media.

I've set the bios to boot from cd but no luck it doesn't do it.

Hmm. Is the CD you have really an OS CD, or is it one of those 'utilities' CD's?

No doubt it's an OS cd.

Kev:

You have pics on your puter that I hope will never go offline.

I'll be right over.

Sing..... I've also got pics that I hope never go ONLINE!!