XP/Win98 Hard Drive Issue?

[grativo]

I'm trying to build three windows 98 client computers. I have three
different HD's from 20 GB to 250GB, all of which used to run XP's.
However, I can't install Windows 98 on them because they all give me HD
writing errors when beginning to install. It isn't even recognized as
c: when booted from Win98 setup disk. If the HD's are dead, I would
understand....but HD's aren't dead...they all run fine when used as a
slave drive on a XP machine. I've tried getting the clean utility to
overwrite the entire HD with 0's, FDISKed them to create primary DOS
partition, and formatted them with FAT32 using Partition Magic, but
no matter what I try to do, same thing on all three HD's. Is there
something I'm missing here?

Grativo

 

[Rod Speed]

I'm trying to build three windows 98 client computers. I have three
different HD's from 20 GB to 250GB, all of which used to run XP's.
However, I can't install Windows 98 on them because they all give
me HD writing errors when beginning to install. It isn't even
recognized as c: when booted from Win98 setup disk.

Is that in just one PC ?

If the HD's are dead, I would understand....but HD's aren't dead...
they all run fine when used as a slave drive on a XP machine.

Then if you are seeing the same problem with 3 drives in one PC,
the problem is in that PC. It could be a flakey power connector,
the metal tunnels in the molex connector can open up over time.
Try one of the connectors off one of the optical drives.

It could be a bad cable in that PC or a bad motherboard too.

I've tried getting the clean utility to overwrite the entire HD with 0's,
FDISKed them to create primary DOS partition, and formatted them
with FAT32 using Partition Magic, but no matter what I try to do,
same thing on all three HD's. Is there something I'm missing here?

If you are getting that effect in just one PC, most likely its got a problem.
The 98 install does use the system more aggressively than most and I
did at one time use an install as a quick test for hardware problems.
One time it was something as basic as that motherboard didnt like
the mix of memory installed. That was the only symptom, it wouldnt
install 98 properly.

 

[PeteK]

Have you tried a small partition size (say 1 GB) ? If I recall correctly
(Please check you partition magic docs), Win98 will only boot to an active
partition on the 1st HD.

Pete K

 

[Rod Speed]

Have you tried a small partition size (say 1 GB) ? If I recall correctly
(Please check you partition magic docs), Win98 will only boot to an active
partition on the 1st HD.

That is not correct. I used to boot it off other physical drives fine.
It will only INSTALL on the first HD, a different matter entirely.

 

[Jim]

You want 3 different PCs to install Win98 on them as client.
Perhaps it would be okay to suggest placing each hard drive as the first
hard drive seen by the PC. Normally primary, master. That is if all are
the run of the mill onboard ide types.
On each of these hard drives, create one primary partition. Make that
partition active. Format it. FAT32 of course.

http://www.48bitlba.com/win98hbi.htm

Write errors may be due to marginal RAM, or flaky power supply, as well as
the hard drive itself. Ron mentioned the ribbon cable as well. Replace
with 80 wire version.