when repeatedly attempting to start Windows 98, I am receiving
message: Data error reading
drive C. Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?  
Any thoughts on how to proceed with a successful startup?

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Request for Question Clarification by hummer-ga on 17 Nov 2004 13:32 PST

Hi abababaga,

Do you have your emergency boot disk?

"Sooner or later, you'll need to use your emergency boot disk to get
your computer up and running. Insert it into drive A:, turn your
computer off, curse for about 10 seconds, and turn it on again. It
will eventually bring you to the A: prompt. So far, so good; you're in
DOS. Now type DIR C:. If you get a string of files that look familiar,
praise the heavens: your data is OK. Type SCANDISK C: and let it try
to find the problem. (Warning: ScanDisk's "fixes" may render your data
unretrievable. Make sure your files are backed up and read about
ScanDisk below before trying it.) If ScanDisk gives you a green light,
type SYS C: to restore the files that make your hard disk function."
http://www.toejumper.net/rescue3/reinst3.htm

Good luck,
hummer

Sounds like the computer is having trouble reading the hard drive
(where the operating system, Windows 98, is stored). This may be due
to a damaged cable, hard drive, or motherboard/drive controller.

These are especially common in older computers (5 years or older). 

First, I'd recommend trying a different cable to connect the drive to
the controller (on the motherboard or expansion card).

If this doesn't rememedy the situation, you may wish to replace the
drive. Try first a drive that you know to be functional. If the known
functional drive fails, it may be time for a new motherboard and in
essence a new computer.

If it is the hard drive's fault:
Older drives are cheap, but small (storage-wise) and as likely to fail
as the one you're replacing. Depending on the type of drive, usually
EIDE, you can buy a new one with ample space and the ability to be
used on a newer computer later for around $0.75 per GB of storage. If
you would like to recover the information on the drive, there are some
sevices available which can do this in many cases, though the cost is
a factor.

It could be any number of things as to why it is doing this. Anything
from a bad virus, bad hard drive, to a bad cable.You could try under
your bios and see if it is set up in there properly.  What you could
do is try a different hard drive and see if it is readable. If not try
replacing the cable. But then again if it was a virus. Hmmm were you
getting any error's prior to this, or was it acting up? All of the
info we can get from you will help.

First off are you getting any "clicking" on the drive when you start
up the computer?  If you hear clicking or scratching from the hard
drive, most likely it is damaged internally and you cannot read from
the disk.  If this is the case you will 1) have to buy a new drive and
reinstall an operating system, preferably something newer than 98, 2)
if you want to retrieve the data you can send it to a company who will
open up your drive and extract the data out of it literally.  Disk
Savers is one of those companies.

Second, if you havent already checked the cables, just look for either
loose connections or cables that seem broken, cut, worn out, etc...

Third, if all else fails, if oyu look at the front of the drive there
will be a small set of pins joined together by either a black or white
"sleeve".  This may be loose or not there for starters, if it is there
remove it and then try turning the computer on, but remember which one
you took it off.  If you can give me the model of the driveI can tell
you other options