Hi, Paradoxic,
I know it's a little late for me to ask this, but did you make a floppy boot disk, using Win98/98SE? If so, put it in your floppy drive.
Here is a link:
http://www.mcse.ms/archive248-2005-4-1576419.html
These are other files will be available on a floppy boot disc, from which you can install to the harddrive. You might have to download the files for the boot disk from one of the suggested sites in the link above.
When you get your system up and running again, here are steps to make a floppy boot disk for your computer:
Insert the Win98/98SE CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start/Programs/Windows Explorer
Double click on D:/ , if that is your CD-ROM drive letter.
Find and open the folder; Tools/Mtsutil/Fat32ebd (stands for Emergency Boot Disk)
Double click on the file Fat32ebd.exe and follow the instructions to create the Boot Disk.
Then remove the CD from the CD-ROM.
Now, we must test the Boot Disk to see if it works.
Shut down the computer; then turn it back on with the Boot Disk still in the computer.
When a screen comes up, use the up and down arrows on the keyboard to select "Boot with CD-ROM support". Then press Enter.
It will show some things about the computer, and then come up to the A:\> prompt.
Now, insert a CD (any will do) into the CD-ROM.
Wait until it "spins" and the light goes off.
Now, at the A:\> prompt, type in DIR D:
It will now look like A:\>DIR D:
It should show all the files on the CD.
If so, the Boot Disk is good. If NOT, repeat all the above.
If it's good, then remove the CD, manually turn off the computer, and remove the Boot Disk. Turn on the computer and it's ready to go.
I also use Win98SE, and the boot disk is a "must have".
I do wish you the best, and if any of the above doesn't do the trick, then please post back.