reformating problem

I am having a problem reformating my computer. I actually started reformating this 5 years ago, but had so many problems that I bought a new computer. Well, I now would like to fix the old one, and am still having the same issues.

I started by using a reformating disk that came with my computer, which I had done countless times before, and I selected the option to completly reformat the hard drive. Well, that worked fine, but then I tried to set-up the windown 98 program, and it would not work. As well, now every time I try and restart my comp it says that I have an invalid disk in the drive. I have now purchased windows XP and would love to install this on my computer, but have no idea how as I still cant get it to recognize any set up disk in the cd rom.

I am really not sure what to do, and I am getting really frustrates. If andone can help, please let me know. You can email me at dawn_beckwith@hotmail.com

Thanks
Dawn

What exactly happens when you boot the XP CD?

Nothing, I cant get the system to recognize the cd or the drive at all. I am not really sure what I am doing wrong?

Are you saying that the BIOS does not recognize your CD drive?

If it does is it set to boot the CD prior to the hard drive?

If it says anything i.e. error messages; please post them in full.

originally the computer was set to start the floppy then hard drive, then cd rom. I have since changed it to start the cd rom first and it doesnt make any diffrence.

The error message is "Invalid system disk Replace the disk and press any key"
It shows this message even when both disk drives are empty.

Do you know the manufacturer of the hard drive? If so you can try their diagnostic tool in case the hard drive is failing. Links here: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

XP does it's own formatting so this shouldn't be an issue if the drive is functional.

As to the error message:

http://www.google.com/search?q=Inval...ss%20any%20key

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=In...ey&sa=N&tab=wg

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...341fee96f3009d

Faulty drive? Faulty disk?

Hope this helps at this point. I am off to another job. Perhaps others here at D-A-L will have other ideas for you. I'll be back tomorrow