I have a IBM 390X laptop, and the computer has successfully completed the hard disk data wiping process. Al Data on the computer is now unrecoverable.
The computer is designed for win98, and I have a CD Windows 98 Second Edition. What are the steps I need to take to get this computer working again? I have tried booting with the Windows CD, that doesn't work, I have tried using a windows 98 recovery disk, I still can't get the win98 CD to start, and download. I have tried moving the CD Drive to the top in the BIOS, but nothing I do works. Since I don't know what I am doing, I need some expert help. Thanks kcrago

Can you tell us the message the laptop displays when trying to boot from CD? Does it try to read the CD? (watch for the drive access light)

How did you wipe the hard drive?

When I boot up with the Windows 98SE disk in the drive, the drive starts to blink, then the screen goes to the message the computer has successfully completed the hard disk data wiping process. Al Data on the computer is now unrecoverable. The hard drive was wipped clean, because the last owner of the computer did not want anything left on the hard drive... it seems like the computer just reads the floppy drive, because when I put in a Win98 recovery disk the computer brings that up with no problem. Thanks Kcrago

Boot up with the win98 recovery disk (startup disk) and have the 98 CD in the drive.

When it has booted off the floppy type "d:\setup.exe" and press return. With a bit of luck, this will initiate the setup program on the cd!

I just did what you suggested, and all I get is a Bad command or file name I typed d:\setup.exe, next to the A:\ and I typed D: to get to the D Drive
And I still get the same error message Bad Command or file name

If that is the case kcrago I would suggest typing "dir setup.*" without the quotes see if you even see a setup file.. if not it may be in a sub directory or not even there.. maybe if you can do "dir /p" and post the list we could help you find the file you need.

The windows 98 startup disk was made with the computer I am using, not with the computer I am trying to start. So maybe since the CD Driver is not the same that this startup disk lists which is the OAKCDROM SYS, that's why the cd driver is not being read, and if that is the case how can I get a start up disk that would work. The BIOS on the laptop that I am trying to get started lists ATAPI IDE CD-ROM DRIVE Could that be the problem I am not using the right startup disk.. Listed below is what shows for the startup disk I am using.

ASPI2DOS SYS
ASPI4DOS SYS
ASPI8D0S SYS
ASPI8U2 SYS
ASPICD SYS
AUTOEXEC BAT
BTCDROM SYS
BTDOSM SYS
COMMAND COM
CONFIG SYS
DRVSPACE BIN
EBD CAB
EXTRACT EXE
FDISK EXE FINDRAMD EXE
FLASHPT SYS
HIMEM SYS
OAKCDROM SYS
RAMDRIVE SYS
RAMDRIVE SYS

Howdy:

If you used a Win98 boot floppy, then there is no way that d:\setup will work as the boot floppy makes a d: drive as a temp Ramdrive..

If you watch as you boot using the boot floppy AND choose "Start with cd-rom support", odds are your cd-rom is now e:\ drive..

So, with the Win98 cd in the drive, change to the e: drive and type in setup and see what happens!

Murray