Building first computer

I am buidling my first computer, and I am ready to pull my hair out. Everything was going fine until I tried to install windows. After I installed windows and the system restarted I received the error: Enter location of Command.com. On further investigation I found that the hard drive will not boot. I tried to sys the drive several times and everything appeared to work, but it still would not boot. I ran fdisk again and formated the drive to FAT16 and now the drive WILL boot. Why would the disk not boot in FAT32 ???? The motherboard is a SE440BX-2 motherboard with a 500 P-III processor. The system will boot to a CD or a Floppy. I have ran scandisk and norton disk doctor and found no errors. HELP!

1. RE: Building first computer
lbyard Oct-24-00 05:19 PM
In response to message 0

What version of Windows are you trying to install?

2. RE: Building first computer
BBATES Oct-24-00 05:54 PM
In response to message 1

Windows 98 SE

3. RE: Building first computer
lbyard Oct-24-00 06:53 PM
In response to message 2

Run a virus scan...
Do this: http://duxcw.com/digest/Fromshop/software/windows/startup/startup.htm
or do the following from the Win 98 SE after booting to the CD-ROM
Remove all partitions from the hard disk with fdisk
Execute
A:\fdisk /mbr
to restore the manufacturer's boot track
and do this:
http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/software/windows/upgrade/intro.htm
Do not sys the drive or use the /s flag with format. The Win 98 SE upgarde will not install if you do.
Larry

4. RE: Building first computer
BBATES Oct-24-00 07:09 PM
In response to message 3

Thanks for the help Larry, I'll try what you suggested and let you know the result..
Keep up the good work
This site is an valuable tool to all

5. RE: Building first computer
BBATES Oct-25-00 01:07 AM
In response to message 3

Worked like a champ Larry, Thanks a million