???if anyone can help please do so. now going on to business. I erased my whole hard disk becuase my computer wasnt startin up and i did the whole format C: /s and fdisk stuff but everytime i start the computer it goes into ms dos and i dont really no what to do from here. when i try to write the down to go to the cd rom DRIVER [D:] the description says no specified driver or something around there. oh and i have TRIED H: and E: letters for the cd rom driver. NEED HELP BAD. I have a windows xp but i dont know what version it is now since i used a windows 98 boot disk . i think its windows 98 since it says that in the ms dos mode. My problem is getting the cd rom driver to work in ms dos since i have the windows 98 cd and getting the computer started into windows explorer. sorry for the long letter but i want to get a good answer so i gotta give a good description. Wow, what a great post...

You used format /s so you transferred the DOS system files (msdos.sys, command.com etc) from the WIN 98 bootdisk to your hdd. Enter A: to return you to the bootdisk command.com. Put your OS cd into the drive and at the A: prompt type R:\setup where R: is the letter allocated to the cdrom by the bootdisk driver.

OR -

Change your bios to start first from your cdrom. Put your OS cd in the drive and re-boot then follow the onscreen prompts.

Note that the cd's must be the full version not an update.

Good luckthanx ill try this and see if it works. but uhhhh.... whats a
os cd or whatever you called it. you guys sure are fast in answering the questions. i usaully dont trust sites like this with the furoms and stuff but you guys have a great site. iahvent been dissapionted yet wich is a good thing and saves me the web searching stuff. thanks alot, keep it up
i tend to write long messeges. its a habit. see wat i meanos cd is operating system cd, in short, your xp disk.
Follow Dusty's ADVICE.the advice you gave didnt work but i checked out the checklists and basic troubleshooting on this site and it worked but now im stuck because the system is asking for a product key and i dont know where it is. Is there someway i can get the product key code from this or other place by looking and telling you the numbers that are found on the cd. Are you using a proper, legitimate, non-pirated version of XP?? If not, I cannot assist you. If your XP is legitimate then have a look around the casing of your pc for a sticker showing the Certificate of Authenticity label, the product key for your cd will be shown there.thanx i GOT the system working and now im in windows.Congrats - thanks for getting back