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operating system not found?

15 years ago

I have a win98 machine that hasn't wanted to boot up for quite some time. Just made some weird sounds. So, I left it sit for a few months and remembering that my external hard drive stopped working and then started working after I unplugged it for a while, I tried to boot the 98 machine and it went to the Dell splash screen, then to window that said "operating system not found"..I have no idea what to do next.....

TIA

Jean

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Comments (4)

zep516
15 years ago
Make sure there is now disk in the drive first. Then reboot the machine and see. If it can't find the Operating System it's a sign the drive has failed.
jean_mi_z5
Original Author
15 years ago
No disk in the drives..I just now tried my boot disk which I had tried before and did nothing but this time, a window came up and was able to get into the help file. But I don't have a mouse that will work with this old machine. So I'm stuck in the help file. I will have to try to find one before I can go much further.
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bpgreen
15 years ago
You should be able to get around without a mouse. The tab key will get you to different areas of the page. Sometimes the alt key is needed (for things like the menus). But a well written program will not require the use of a mouse. Microsoft didn't even list a mouse as a system requirement for Windows 98 (sadly, starting with Windows 2000, a mouse is considered a requirement).
owbist
15 years ago
Jean go to the small one man computer store where they may keep older stuff. There are 2 options, you can look for the mouse with the lager round connector OR there is an adapter you simply place in the outlet on the tower and plug your PS2 mouse into that.

Value Village or any similar benevolent type store is worth taking a look, you never know what might show up in those places.

You might also consider joining your local Freecycle and ask if anyone has either the old mouse or the adapter they no longer need. You might just be pleasantly surprised.

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