Compaq 1592DMT Laptop

[skysoldier173rd]

I am a newbie trying to figure out a problem with this laptop. First let me say I am by no means a pro, but someone trying to learn computer repair, currently taking some classes in same. What better to do than collect a few that don't quite perform correctly and try to repair. I am delighted to find this forum and I hope someone will have pity and give me some suggestions occassionally. Well, having said that I will address my current project. The person I picked this up from bought it from an auction and couldn't get it to boot into windows 98 which is the current operating system. He took it to Best Buys and paid them $60.00. Their bill says "install operating system". He gave me the disc they gave him which is marked X08-96171 on the sleeve and has "1592 driver" written on it by hand. When turned on the computer without the disc i get nothing but a blinking cursor. If i put the disc in and goes right to the Windows 98 screen just as it should and then to the startup menu and stays there for a few seconds and then goes blank except for a blinking cursor and stays in this condition . Any suggestions would be appreciated.