Adding Reply Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic Oh My Geez-- A Challenge: Help with WINDOWS 98 Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post Just Add Water Posted at 10:58 am on Jan. 2, 2009 I have this old Acer computer system, windows 98 that we had stopped using years ago since we couldn't figure out whats wrong with it. When you boot it up the screen comes on and will proceed to go to a black screen and repeat the phrase " Insert system diskette and press Enter key to reboot" According to my dad, when you put the disk in, nothing ever happens.  All the while you get to hear this odd crackling sounds coming from the CPU. My dad says it must be something with the hard drive, but I have no clue.  Anybody know anyway to get the computer up to the home screen or is it trashed?

Replies Naptime Posted at 7:40 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Quote: from stinaaa at 11:01 am on Jan. 2, 2009 Acer=horrible. This. obvious child Posted at 4:20 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 I'd do that but got no space for it. espresso8097 Posted at 3:08 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Quote: from Tangaroa at 4:42 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Or you can put it out of its misery by taking it to a computer recycling place, it is probably too slow to do anything useful with. Or I'll take it, hook up an external drive, and use it for NAS. obvious child Posted at 2:46 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Quote: from Tangaroa at 12:42 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Or you can put it out of its misery by taking it to a computer recycling place, it is probably too slow to do anything useful with. That depends. Small scale non-profits, poor schools and other places have uses for obsolete but otherwise functional computers. Macropiper Posted at 2:42 pm on Jan. 3, 2009 Or you can put it out of its misery by taking it to a computer recycling place, it is probably too slow to do anything useful with. espresso8097 Posted at 7:05 pm on Jan. 2, 2009 Quote: from obvious child at 8:56 pm on Jan. 2, 2009 Don't even bother with Windows. Install Linux. If the computer is that old anyways, running a low resource OS like Ubuntu will be much better. Xubuntu would be even better.  Or for blazing fast speed run Puppy.  With some work Puppy can look amazing, just install some good packages. obvious child Posted at 6:56 pm on Jan. 2, 2009 Don't even bother with Windows. Install Linux. If the computer is that old anyways, running a low resource OS like Ubuntu will be much better. espresso8097 Posted at 12:08 pm on Jan. 2, 2009 I would recommend just finding a Win2k CD and installing that.  Will at least be able to use flash drives without needing to track down drivers and troubleshooting for over an hour just to end up having the system crash. xEnragedSyphersx Posted at 11:07 am on Jan. 2, 2009 There is a sorta creme sperating the processor from the heat sink. It's possible that the cream could've dried up and causing some problems. If you can't get past the Acer loading screen. (You never see anything that has to do with windows.) Could be something to do with a corrupted windows file causing the failure. In disk it may mean the OS disc. If it doesn't load the disc, then could be the bios messed up. If it is take the battery out of the computer for 30 seconds replace it and turn back on teh computer. (That should reset the bios) If that doesn't work I wouldn't even bother taking it to a repair person, the coputer is to old. Take out the ram, hard drive, disc drive, and any other thing removable. Spare parts can always be sold or used for upgrades. Just Add Water Posted at 11:03 am on Jan. 2, 2009 Oh i have it booted up now-- the crackling sounds have stopped, btw. Hrm..... Just Add Water Posted at 11:02 am on Jan. 2, 2009 Well, it  may not be worth it, but could we put a new hard drive in it? stinaaa Posted at 11:01 am on Jan. 2, 2009 Acer=horrible. Tex the drummer Posted at 11:00 am on Jan. 2, 2009 sounds  like memory. see if one of the chips is loose bellreavue Posted at 10:59 am on Jan. 2, 2009 yeah its pretty much trashed you cant get the home screen w/o the disk working and if the disk doesnt work, then the hard drive is fried pretty hard to fix that -.- All 14 previous replies displayed.