If the system produces an error message or a beep-coded error signal before the beep signaling that the BIOS has passed successfully and the operating system is about to load, then the problem is most likely hardware related. If the error message or beep-coded error message occurs after the beep signaling that the BIOS has passed successfully and the operating system is about to load, then the problem is most likely in the operating system or is software related.

Creating the Windows 9x Startup Disk
A startup or boot disk is necessary to start the computer when it otherwise will not start, and it also allows diagnostic programs to be run in order to determine what is causing the problem. Creating a boot disk first requires a blank disk (any files on the disk being used will be erased by this procedure).

To create a Windows 98 startup disk:

1. Label a blank diskette "Windows 98 Start-up Diskette".
2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
4. Click the Startup Disk tab and then click Create Disk.
5. Insert the blank diskette into the diskette drive and click OK.

Using the Windows 9x Startup Disk
One of the most important tools for a technician is a boot disk. The Windows 9x startup disk (boot disk) allows access to the system when the OS has become corrupted. To use the disk, insert it into the floppy drive and restart the system. Make sure that the BIOS settings are set to boot from the floppy drive. The system will boot with only the necessary files and drivers to start. Use the Windows 9x startup disk to gain access to the operating systems files and use the built-in troubleshooting tools on the disk to identify the cause of the problem.

In addition to the system files that are needed to start the system in a minimal or DOS mode, the Windows 9x startup disk provides many diagnostic programs and CD-ROM drivers. The startup disk also contains a RAM drive and an EXTRACT.EXE command that can be used to copy .CAB files from the Windows 98 CD.

Using Windows System Tools to Troubleshoot Startup Problems
The Windows operating system provides many other troubleshooting tools referred to as System Tools. They can be used to isolate and correct issues and can be very helpful when troubleshooting a system. Load the system tools configuration utility from the command line by typing MSCONFIG.EXE. This is a useful troubleshooting tool that can interactively load device drivers and software options. This utility can be used to systematically go through a step-by-step process of viewing the files of the CONFIG.SYS and the AUTOEXEC.BAT files. It can enable or disable items until all the problems are identified.

If inspecting the CONFIG.SYS and the AUTOEXEC.BAT files does not solve the problem, the System Tools utility provides other options. Lower level configuration settings such as real-mode disk access, and VGA standard video settings can be inspected. The Device Manager can also be started from the MSCONFIG View option, allowing technicians to troubleshoot protected-mode device drivers. Checking to verify that system files are not missing or corrupted is another option. Other items that can be inspected are corrupted registry entries, viruses, and possible hardware conflicts.