Strange Win2000 re-installation problem

[Guest]

I am running Win2000, SP4 on a system with NTFS and only scsi HDD, using
Adaptec 29160 HDD controller. I can boot normally into windows but over time
a few issues have arised so I need to reinstall a fresh copy of Win2000 on
top to refresh the setup.

The PROBLEM: when i boot from the win2000 CD and go into either setup or
repair windows cannot locate the win2000 installation. If i go through the
repair option it says cannot locate the win2k installation and all i can do
is F3=quit. If i go through the setup option it displays my HDD partition but
say unknown file system ..???... I have even loaded the scsi drivers (new
ones too) manually using F6 option when booting from CD, no difference.

I have loaded the windows recovery console option and it shows up as a boot
option. I have booted into the recovery console and it found my NTFS
partition with windows installation and i ran chkdsk C: /R successfully.
However i cannot reload windows to fix my other issues including IE6
crashing. I have tried everything at least 2-3 times each. I'm perplexed, can
anyone help?

 

[Guest]

snodogs, it sounds like the Win2K media isn't detecting the correct scsi
drivers for your scsi card. When you boot using the 2K media, you'll need to
hit F6 (or Alt+F6 I don't remember the combination, but it will say it at the
bottom of the screen while its doing the initial load) In any event, doing
this will allow you to use 3rd party drivers so that your scsi card is
detected properly. It'll prompt you for the correct path, so have a floppy
ready with the drivers.

I hope this helps,

 

[DL]

And does your Adaptec Card require you to use F6, during the early part of
win installation, to install Adaptec drivers?

 

[Guest]

Hello DL;

No, the adaptec card does not require the use of F6 to install the drivers,
but i tried it as one of the possibilities to see if it would make a
difference in order to be thorough. It did not. The result is the same
whether i let windows load the adaptec driver on the oriiginal windows 2000
CD or the slightly newer one utilizing the F6 option.
thanks for asking.

 

[DL]

What size is your HD, and what sp version is your win2k cd?

 

[Guest]

HDD is 36GB Quantum Atlas 10k2 SCSI U160. The win2k Pro CD is the OEM -SP1
version.

 

[DL]

Well at least hd size doesnt seem to be the problem.
Since Adaptec state the win2k default driver is all that is required that
wouldnt appear to be the problem.
I think I would try the quantum hd checking utility, possibly also moving
the card to another slot, maybe new cables and an exhaustive memory check
www.memtest.org
I cannot think of anything else

 

[Guest]

I'll try the 4 suggestions.
Is there any way there is more than one MBR or boot sector that gets
accessed differently depending on the boot method? Because a normal and
console boot and access obviously work OK but a CD boot does Not access
it.... Just a thought.
thanks

 

[DL]

Win2k cd installation problems are very often the result of failing memory,
allthough I would have expected win to detect the installation, and any
memory problem to appear later in the install

 

[Walter Sutton]

I am running Win2000, SP4 on a system with NTFS and only scsi HDD, using
Adaptec 29160 HDD controller. I can boot normally into windows but over time
a few issues have arised so I need to reinstall a fresh copy of Win2000 on
top to refresh the setup.

The PROBLEM: when i boot from the win2000 CD and go into either setup or
repair windows cannot locate the win2000 installation. If i go through the
repair option it says cannot locate the win2k installation and all i can do
is F3=quit. If i go through the setup option it displays my HDD partition but
say unknown file system ..???... I have even loaded the scsi drivers (new
ones too) manually using F6 option when booting from CD, no difference.

I have loaded the windows recovery console option and it shows up as a boot
option. I have booted into the recovery console and it found my NTFS
partition with windows installation and i ran chkdsk C: /R successfully.
However i cannot reload windows to fix my other issues including IE6
crashing. I have tried everything at least 2-3 times each. I'm perplexed, can
anyone help?

Have you considered checking to see if there are BIOS updates for your
motherboard OR firmware updates for your SCSI card?