The Bootprom
or
3C90X is a DIP
Here is picture of the bootprom on your NIC, (link below) it is the second one on the list. Because your machine will not boot, you cannot access the soft code to disable the bootprom.
Until you get the OS installed on a local device you won't be able to boot.
If you remove the NIC, you will bypass the bootprom completely, it will be out of the loop.
Even after removing the NIC, you will still require a locally bootable disk, either a floppy or a CD. That disk must be in a physical device that is properly configured so that it is accessible. The message from your BIOS is very specific, no partition with a boot record is being found.
Your current situation seems to be a physical issue, even without an OS the drive bay doors should open and close.
It may be that the bootprom on the NIC is creating a scenario that appears to be physical but I am guessing it really is a physical issue right now.
I think your best bet would be to proceed with just the floppy, the HDD and the CD to try and get the OS installed, no NIC, no DVD drive. In the BIOS make sure the boot settings are Removable Drive, HDD, CD-Rom, check to ensure that the floppy is being accessed (Floppy Seek setting). If possible verify that the installed devices are being identified. You can boot a motherboard off of a floppy with nothing installed but a video card, this ensures the motherboard is OK.
If you want to remove the bootprom and you don't have a chip puller,you can slide the pointy end of a cap for a Bic pen into the gap between the chip and the mount and then slowly push, do this from both sides and the chip will "pop" out.
The alternative is to take the computer to a local technician, ask to have your OS installed and the task is done, might even be done before Christmas. <s> I am sharing in tech related tasks today, I will be rebuilding two PII 366's for two different relatives.
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