The ipconfig command is used with NT.
The Netstat command is used to see TCP connections. You may also see the UDP connections if you use the Netstat -a command.
The Ping command (packet internet groper) command is used to check connectivity with a host.

Since the PC has completed POST, the first set of instructions would be found at the root of drive C, which in turn will start Windows98.
The floppy disk will hold the first set of instructions, and if it is unavailable then the root of drive C:\> will be sought.
Once POST has been completed the CPU seeks the MBR (master boot record).
Once POST is complete, ROM BIOS is assigned the responsibility of seeking the MBR which holds the first set of startup instructions.

On a PC with a single operating system then the MBR (Mater boot record) will load the appropriate files to start the operating system.
If the PC is capable of booting to multiple operating systems then the ROM BIOS will go to the MBR which will then point to the partition table for the startup menu, where the user can choose the operating system to boot to.
The CPU does not have any brains, and thus does not have the responsibility of locating the MBR.
Regardless of the device that is being booted the first set of startup instructions will always come from ROM BIOS.
The drive root (c:\>) holds the information that is required to load the operating system, it does not hold the MBR.

MBR is corrupt or missing.
NTDEDECT has failed to load.
COMMAND.COM is corrupt.
The NTLDR file has failed to load.

If command.com was corrupt the message would indicate that there is a problem with command.com.
NTDEDECT and NTLDR are both NT files.

KERNEL32.DLL.
Windows directory.
System folder.
Win386.swp file.

The most likely cause of this problem is a corrupt swap file.
Virtual Memory may be defined as an area of hard drive space that is used to simulate RAM. As applica-tions, and operating systems became larger (Microsoft Windows), there was a need for lots of RAM. Vir-tual memory solved this problem beginning with the 80386 CPU. The operating system cannot tell the difference between RAM and Virtual memory.
The default size of a swap file is, 1.5 times the amount of physical RAM on the system board.
Virtual memory may also be referred to as a swap file or more appropriately today it is called a pagefile.

Install Windows 98 SE with large hard drive support.  
Reformat the hard drive overlay that comes with the drive.  
Contact the motherboard manufacturer for a BIOS upgrade.  
Reinstall Windows 98 from the OEM CD.  
Use fdisk inside of Windows 98 from DOS prompt.  

When the fdisk program was used to partition the drive; if large disk support was not chosen at the onset then the operating system will need to be reloaded after this has been configured through the fdisk pro-gram. Also when performing this it will need to be the 32 bit version of the fdisk program.
Secondly, the BIOS needs to be able to support large disk, thus it would be possible that a BIOS upgrade be required.

Just insert the Windows XP Home Upgrade CD and perform the installation.  
Install more memory in preparation of the upgrade.  
Check for a Windows 98 CD to prove upgrade eligibility. 
Use the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor to verify that the hardware and software are compatible with Windows XP.

The Upgrade Advisor is a tool that checks your system hardware and software to see if it is ready for up-grade to Windows XP. If you run Upgrade Advisor while you are connected to the Internet, and if your system needs updates that are available on the Windows Update Web site, Upgrade Advisor will find and install the updates for you.
Download size: The Upgrade Advisor download is large (approximately 50 megabytes), and is recom-mended only for download over a high-speed Internet connection, such as DSL or cable modem.
Installation verbiage: The Upgrade Advisor is the same tool that is used to scan your system for com-patibility issues before you install Windows XP. For that reason, some of the language in the tool may imply that you are actually installing Windows XP.
Upgrade scenarios: The Upgrade Advisor checks for upgrade eligibility to Windows XP Professional only. Please use the link in Step 1 below to find out whether your version of Windows is eligible for up-grade.

Winipcfg
Ipconfig
Ping
Tracert

Packet internet groper (PING) is used to check for connectivity between 2 hosts. ICMP (internet control message protocol) is used to echo the request to the sender. 4 requests are sent and hopefully 4 responses are received, meaning that zero packets were dropped due to exceeding the TTL.
Some of the PING switches that you need to know are:
-t is used to continually ping the host. uh oh,... To stop this command, use Ctrl +C.
-a resolves the address that is pinged to a host name
Remember that /? May be used with any of the TCP utilities as a help command
The Tracert command is used to see the rout that a packet takes to the destination. It is a good way to find bottlenecks.
The ipconfig command is used to view IP configuration on NT machines, and may be used on win 9.x machines.
The difference in using with NT versus Win 9.x is that with Win 9.x the MAC address will not be seen.
The Ipconfig /all may only be used on NT machines only.
The winipcfg command is used to view IP configuration on Windows 9.x machines.

From a command prompt use the Ping localhost command. 
From a command prompt use the Ping local host command. 
From a command prompt Ping the default gateway. 
From a command prompt Ping the far side of the router.  

Ping localhost may be used to check the TCP binding to a NIC card. It provides the same results as ping-ing 127.0.0.1. Make sure that you are familiar with the switches that are used with the Ping command, and expect to see a few questions on this.
Pinging the far side of the router and the default gateway has nothing to do with communications on the local network. These would be used to help determine why we cannot leave the local intranet for the internet.
Ping local host is incorrect because it should read Ping localhost (one word).

Boot from a DOS floppy. Run Winnt32.exe /u to do the upgrade, and When prompted, choose to convert the existing file system to NTFS.
Boot into the existing Windows 95 installation, and run Winnt32.exe from the windows 2000 Professional CD to do the upgrade.
Boot into the existing Windows 95 installation, and run Winnt.exe /u to do the upgrade. When prompted, choose to leave the existing file system as Windows 95 will only upgrade if the file system remains as FAT. You can convert to NTFS later by running the convert.exe command.
The upgrade is not possible because Windows 2000 does not support upgrades of Windows 95 ma-chines.

Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT Workstation must be upgraded by running Winnt32.exe while booted into the existing operating system. Running Winnt.exe, Performing a network installation, booting form the Professional CD or booting from the 4 boot floppies will perform a clean install. Running Winnt32.exe from the existing OS is the only way to upgrade.

Configure the DHCP server to delete address conflicts.
Add a scope option to enable dynamic DNS on client computers.
Run the ipconfig /release command and then the ipconfig/renew command on each client computer.
Add IP address reservation for the servers.

By releasing and renewing the IP configuration of the clients, they would release their current IP address configuration and they would obtain new IP addresses from the DHCP server.