You have several options: first ask for the startup (boot) disk that was with the computer. You can try to use any Windows 9x boot disk to bring up C:\> The boot disk is merely a group utilities to bring up DOS.

If the vendor messed with CMOS, and you don't have Internet access, you can go to the library with a blank floppy and download Killcmos.com. You can get a copy from http://www.utilitygeek.com (unzip and copy the files onto a boot disk). When prompted, type killcmos and you should be able to get into your bios setup and set the boot sequence to, say, A:, C: and
CDROM.

Finally, make sure that nice little laptop you bought for a song does not suffer from any terminal hard drive illness. Hopefully not.

If all else fails, I might be able to send you a copy of a universal boot disk.

Blessings,
Gerard

: I just bought a IBM laptop from work,used,but before they gave it to me they wiped out the hard drive.I can't get a dos prompt so I can instal windows.Can anyone help me?Thanks Terry