Was given an older ACER PC for grandsons.  Was told it was reformatted to remove drive contents (but know little else and can't contact givers).

Problem:
-Not executing startup disk
-Only screen at startup is ACER bios v2.0, good memory check (48Kb Memory, 64KB SMRAM), then flashing cursor; no prompt

Here are specifics:
-ACER Aspire 2239 (91.AA772.GT7)
-Drive was formatted to remove drive contents.
-Do not have restoration software for system
-Am trying to INSTALL Windows 98SE but will not execute startup disk (Do not know what OS was on system before, but going w/ Win98 because of RAM/disk size and have original CD)
-Entered BIOS w/ CTRL/Alt/ESC and drives, boot order fine (even has correct date/time)
-jumper on Western Digital WD64AA is showing 'master' but is only fixed drive in system
-if change WD64AA jumper, get an 'invalid drive' error
-Doesn't appear that POST is completing (only screen at startup is ACER bios v2.0, good memory check, then flashing cursor; no prompt)
-a: lights up, but doesn't execute startup disk
-Have tried several startup disks
Just an update......

Left running and eventually a 'Serial port conflict, equipment config' error displayed.  Changed serial port settings, and now will eventually go through POST and display config menu at top of screen with an 'illegal system disk, replace disk and press any key' error.

(TAKES maybe 30 minutes from power on to do this.  Sits with same screen as before and flashing cursor during the wait)

The a: lights every so often and the 'illegal system disk' error redisplays.

Possible the disk is needing to be partitioned, waiting for disk files?  Or could the a: be bad even if light comes on?Removing unnecessary card,  made no difference.  

I removed the 'master' jumper on the hard drive.  Now the system goes right
through POST on power up, but still comes up w/  'invalid system disk,
replace disk and press any key' error (when boot order is A, then C) or
'insert system disk and press enter to reboot' (when boot order is only A).  
I tried using just a system disk w/ fdisk, format and sys rather than the
startup disk but still didn't execute.  I've tried swapping the floppy drive
w/ another  -- didn't help.
Hello how are you? First of all goto system BIOS setup and restore factory default settings. Then change the booting sequence to 1. CD rom 2. Hard Disk 3.Floppy.
Now turn your computer off and change the hard disk jumper settings to factory defaults. Now turn your PC ON and insert windows 98 bootable CD into the CD Drive and it will boot....

HOPE this will solve your problem. Take care of you and others and be happy.
Bye...
Dur-E-WahabWhen I changed floppy drive and cable from another computer, the POST went right thru and startup disk initiated from floppy.  Problem now is that CD is not WORKING.  Generic drivers loaded w/ startup and CD was recognized/configured as E:.  The CD drive runs off a Sound Blaster 16 sound card.  I've read that should load manufacturer drivers if CD doesn't work.  Have downloaded sbw9xup.exe (SB16 update drivers).  How do I get them to load at startup w/ startup disk?

*Also, not showing an option for booting from CD in BIOS, just A:, C: or combination of both.CD's were something new, no IDE interface on motherboard.  No such thing as bootable CD, so no option in BIOS.  CD connected to sound card because that's where the audio was.  CD's were for audio.

I'm guessing the computer is a Pentium 60.  I was given one like that and after HD was formatted, I couldn't get Win95 to install, even with a Win95 boot floppy.  It refused to see the CD for the INSTALLATION.  If you temporarily install a standard IDE CD to the motherboard, you might get Windows to install.