Boot error message....

[Nanci252]

Unit is a Dell Optiplex GX 1, seller said it ran 98, rec'd. thru ebay sale, no further info avail. re: previous usage habits..... upon plugging it in, I receive this error message after the Dell boot screen ...

Press spacebar NOW to invoke Hardware Profile/Last Known Good Menu
Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

1) does not appear to allow keyboard arrows to nav. the screen while screen is showing..Nor does it allow for spacebar to make that action happen....to reach Last Good...
2) entered setup, tabbed (the required key to nav), thru to bottom of first page, and it would not allow arrows or Alt P to nav. to second page.
3) Internal inspection shows no cables worn, wires mis-connected, loose articles, etc. All sounds appear clear and normal.

4) No recovery disc avail. for this machine. I have a machine still in 98, but diff. specs......not sure whether to make a boot disc off it ?
5) I have several new hard drives avail. if needed - but I think this kid simply tried to wipe the drive before he shipped the machine, and failed.
Now I must pickup where that left off, and get 'er back up and running.

Thanks in advance for any clues.
Nanci

[snowmonkey]

Windows 98 does not have the option for "Last Known Good Menu" or WINNT directory ....so I guess that machine did not have Windows 98.

Ask for using different Windows 98 Boot cd / disk, that should be just find, you can even download Windows 98 boot disk from Internet and perform that task of formatting and resizing / recreating the partition.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Cheers

[Nanci252]

I had that part figured out once I saw NT in flickers of info !! lol

Got it going. Installin' XP now.
Thanks for the link.
Nan