HDD compatibility?

[Guest]

Thanks Anna, Using the 'Windows 98/Me startup floppy disk' is what I was
looking for, I will look up the rest on my own, it is worth a try. Thanks.

 

[Randella]

FDisk, brings back memories... of yesterday actually, it was too weak
to complete a drive format... Too bad they quit developing it in the
80s?

-Randy

 

[Anna]

FDisk, brings back memories... of yesterday actually, it was too weak
to complete a drive format... Too bad they quit developing it in the
80s?

-Randy

Randy:
While it's true that the FDISK command rarely has a place in an XP
environment, it may serve a purpose to resolve the OP's problem. As I
indicated in my previous comments (see above), we have used the DOS
FDISK/FORMAT commands in a few instances (rare as they might be) where we
were unable to partition/format a HD during the XP installation process. We
were never able to determine just why the XP partition/format process
failed, but it did. Obviously it's not a technique that I would recommend
routinely, but just as a last resort in cases like the OP ran into. If I had
to guess I would say it probably *will not* work to resolve the OP's
problem, but it's worth a try since no harm can come of it if it does fail.
And more's to gain if it does work.

BTW, the primary function of FDISK was (and is) to create one or more FAT
partitions on a HD; it was (is) not used "to complete a drive format". For
that, one would use the FORMAT command.
Anna

 

[Randella]

Good catch Anna, but why not zero-fill?

-Randy

Randy:
While it's true that the FDISK command rarely has a place in an XP
environment, it may serve a purpose to resolve the OP's problem. As I
indicated in my previous comments (see above), we have used the DOS
FDISK/FORMAT commands in a few instances (rare as they might be) where we
were unable to partition/format a HD during the XP installation process. We
were never able to determine just why the XP partition/format process
failed, but it did. Obviously it's not a technique that I would recommend
routinely, but just as a last resort in cases like the OP ran into. If I had
to guess I would say it probably *will not* work to resolve the OP's
problem, but it's worth a try since no harm can come of it if it does fail.
And more's to gain if it does work.

BTW, the primary function of FDISK was (and is) to create one or more FAT
partitions on a HD; it was (is) not used "to complete a drive format". For
that, one would use the FORMAT command.
Anna

 

[Anna]

Good catch Anna, but why not zero-fill?

-Randy

It's difficult to believe a corrupted MBR is at the root of the OP's problem
since the issue here is a failure to partition/format the HD using the XP
OS. But I wouldn't be averse to the OP using a "zero-fill" program prior to
undertaking a partitioning/formatting operation.
Anna

 

[Randella]

If a corrupted MBR can cause system instability and system malfunction
as microsoft claims... how is that hard to believe?

Besides I don't believe it is just the MBR that is messed, I think his
drives have markers and that there are different software issues at
work in combination with a limited BIOS function as indicated by his
ability to only "see" 80 gig at the POST.

Eliminate the software problems and markers with a zero fill.

Eliminate the BIOS problem when you can prove that it is the BIOS
alone.

Then eliminate the problem... Then you can use your 80s style FDisk
and utilities...

-Randy