Or PlusNet, also 14.99 for 2Mb/s unlimited if you don't do much P2P downloading (21.99 for unlimited P2P).

BTW 7.99 for a dial-up account is pretty expensive if you don't use it. I have a load of pay-as-you-go accounts with e.g. Freeuk, OneTel that cost nothing unless I use them. They all have associated email addresses that last forever if you pick up your mail regularly.

SC, boot from a W98 startup disk (floppy) and install W98 over the top. But why, if you want to install XP in the end?

SC, don't think you can go backwards in upgrading, like you have attempted from 98 to XP without completely reformating your disc. Here you need more help than I can offer.
But I am sure someone will come along.
opto

Kayak, tried that, it runs scandisk which is where our problem starts. Justn want to get back to a stable system Have tried fdisk to format but won't let me do taht.

That's sorted SC, knew help would not be far away :-)

Thanks Opto.

I think Opto is right. If you want XP in the end then cut your losses and install XP from scratch. It's probably not a good idea to upgrade from 98 to XP anyway.

Bit tough if you've got data files on there but you could install it as a second disk to a working computer with sufficient fiddling, in order to get them off.

Umh! I think I will watch and read with interest.

Mega, yes thats easy but the method depends on the MP3 thing you get, 10CD's wont take up much space so almost any MP3 player could handle them.

If you into HiFi then these are not hifi but they can sound prety good as long as you keep the compression as high as you can.

The market leader is the Apple Ipod series, they are all pretty good but they are not the cheapest, other good makes are iRiver and Sony.

Kayak, I use the old pipex address for buying from companies like Amazon and play.com etc, I am just lazy haveing to goto to the sites and change my contact details ;-)

I do haev a hotmail account with is ok for now

I just got xp activated by phoning Microsoft and told them I was us an OEM version which cam witht the PC and the gave me a new ID no ;-)

Tim,cheers mate iRiver has been mentioned by someone else,will take a look on ebuyer later..

Rick...

Seymour, you cant downgrade to win98 as xp will have formated your harddrive to NTFS system, which win98 say what the **** is this, you need to format the drives again ;-(

Hum. I 'm out of my depth.

How do I format the drive? Have tried fdisk, it does a scan and stops at 7% saying there are errors and it can't proceed.

Thanks Rich btw. I see the problem.

Adam et al

Have a look at http://www.saynoto0870.com/... and save yourself some money with those '0870' phone calls.

For instance, try ringing Pipex on 0800 0317317 (9m to 5pm) for free and have yourself transferred to CS.

Alternatively, you could ring Pipex Technical support:

on 01707 299509 on a Geographical Call Rate
or better still,
on 0845 0778324 on a Local Call Rate.

SC,

XP and 2000 will ask if you wish to format your drive during setup. If you are using the 98 setup disk for FDISK you may wish to get another copy, as it may be the size of your hard drive (oh er! ;-)

Here is a great site for install disks: http://www.bootdisk.com/

You made need to use the FDisk for larger hard drives. Found at the bottom of the list: http://www.bootdisk.com/utility.htm

Hmmmm SC, if Fdisk stops with errors by all means try what ADAM suggests but I suspect you will end up buying a new drive. Cheap these days so you might like to save time and do it anyway. Get a fast one (7200rpm). Western Digital are very good.

well I got cut off again, nearly 4hours connects time, so I dont think its at my end

Kayak, I think you're probably right. I've an old 6Gb W98 drive I'll stick in to try. Th PC is to be given to a charitable cause and as I've already shelled out quite a bit getting this up to speed I'll trythe economy option first. Its purpose is to run Powerpoint and one other program only.

edit, just tried the XP install option from CD and I've got a message "unmountable_boot_volume" Sounds terminal. I've already taken the data off so no worries there.

I think this is an ex-hard disc. This hard disc is dead, deceased.....

Doc, local call rate isnt much of a bargain these days, many of us pay a flat 2 or 3 p per call for geographic calls and 0845's are often more than that probaly about 4p per minute. 0845 are not much better than 0870 both are a ripoff.

and 3 cut offs during the night and day, done and checked everthing Pipex told me to and still cant work it out ;-( : @-(