Try running the repair option off the Win2k cd.
 
Boot off it like you would to install, but instead of hitting "Enter" to install, hit "R" at the screen. Choose fast repair and then have Win2k cd find the installation for you.

Yeah, I did that and i'm back on win2k, but is there a possible fix so i can use SP2, i want to use SP2 because i've heard it has better memory management,compatibility all the good stuff, any ideas?

Should work fine. Did you install the specifics VIA drivers ?
---> http://www.viahardware.com (lastest news)
---> http://www.viatech.com (official)
 
Regards

yup... 431 beta i believe.... i dunno, i think when sp2 installs it overwrites the ide driver.. its kinda funny cause, it only effects the 20 gig hd, not my other hd, so maybe it's something to do with the ATA/100 interface.. so what elese could this be....?

I had two hard drives one the master, the other the slave. I was dual booting with 98. I tried SP1 and got the message you are talking about. After reading many reply's from the forum. I decide to check my hardware out. I had two things wrong. One was that my second hard drive was on cable select and it had Win2k on it. I changed the jumper to slave. No problem. Then installed the SP1. Same thing again. I was hot. But then someone her suggested that I put Win2k on the master instead of the second drive and believe it or not. It fixed the problem. I now have SP2 on my system without a hitch. Other then SB Live Gamer has to be set to basic acceleration in DX to run D3D games without the crackling.
 
I hope this helps. And by the way if you have an SB Live the other fix is get a different sound card.

My advice, don't use VIAs drivers. SP2 has its own, and they work very well IMO. VIAs stuff always messes up my machine.
 
I have no problems with an SB Live! either. Its most strange to me how some ppl do though.
 
--Cynan.

hmm... I own a SB Live... and Win2K is on the master HD... so i guess i wont be using SP1 or SP2 for awhile, i guess i'll go pokeing around the computer checking the jumpers, and what not..