help please re boot problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hogwarts
  • Start date Start date
H

Hogwarts

hello,
I have tried to format a hard drive using fdisk. The format went ok, but
when I tried to install win 98 from the cd rom checkdisc started and froze
at 2%. Since then I can't boot from a cd or from a startup disc. I have
tried altering the boot sequence in the BIOS, but it makes no difference. I
can't even get a dos prompt so that I can use FDISK functions. Is there a
free utility programme that can get me back on track?

Thanks
Adrian
 
Most hard drive vendors have there own ultilites to format and partition.
Find out what harddrive you own and check out there web site. Of course your
hard drive might be dying.
 
hello,
I have tried to format a hard drive using fdisk. The format went ok, but
when I tried to install win 98 from the cd rom checkdisc started and froze
at 2%. Since then I can't boot from a cd or from a startup disc. I have
tried altering the boot sequence in the BIOS, but it makes no difference. I
can't even get a dos prompt so that I can use FDISK functions. Is there a
free utility programme that can get me back on track?
Click to expand...

Not sure how you're going to get things back up and running if you can't
even boot from a startup/boot disk, but if you do, here's some basic
info for creating partitions.

When you use Fdisk you are not 'formatting' the drive but partitioning
it ready for formatting afterwards. Did you format the drive after you
had used Fdisk? This could have been where the problems started, if you
didn't.

Normal it goes something like this:

Put in floppy boot disk and start computer.

Use Fdisk on floppy to set up drive partitions making sure the primary
partition (if more than 1 partition is created) is set to active.

Restart computer and boot to floppy again, this time using format to
format your newly created partitions.

Reboot to Win98 Cd rom and install O/S.
 
Hello,
Sorry, I deleted the partition using fdisk , created a dos partition and
set the active partition, then formatted using format c: /s. All went well
until I tried setup from the CD then checkdisk started and froze at 2%. I
have cleared the cmos and I have established that I can boot from a floppy
when the hard drive and cd rom is disconnected. Also, when the pc boots all
get is a memory test which lists 327680 KB ok. Also I have two hard drives
(not connected at the same time), that normally work fine and it is the same
problem whichever I try which makes me think that it could be a problem with
the motherboard
 
you have the ROM and HD on the same channel?
You have HD set to master or( WD lone drive)?
Bios set to 'auto' detect IDE?


Hogwarts said:
Hello,
Sorry, I deleted the partition using fdisk , created a dos partition and
set the active partition, then formatted using format c: /s. All went well
until I tried setup from the CD then checkdisk started and froze at 2%. I
have cleared the cmos and I have established that I can boot from a floppy
when the hard drive and cd rom is disconnected. Also, when the pc boots all
get is a memory test which lists 327680 KB ok. Also I have two hard drives
(not connected at the same time), that normally work fine and it is the same
problem whichever I try which makes me think that it could be a problem with
the motherboard
went ok,
but and
froze
Click to expand...
disc. I
have Is there
a
Click to expand...
 
The hard drive is on the primary ide1 as master and the cd on ide 2 as
slave. The bios seems to automatically detect the hard drive. I have
managed to boot from a floppy by just installing the hard drive and the
floppy. I used fdisk to create and set an active partition and then I
formated using format c:/s. This worked ok. Because of the conlict with
the floppy and cd rom I tried to install win 98 by booting from the disc. I
got a message saying that there was already an operating system on the drive
and I could not install windows that way. I had to use setup from the dos
prompt D: setup. This was working ok. Sandisk started and all the checks
were ok. Windows started to install components needed for setup then it
froze. The cd rom light stopped flashing and the cursor on the screen kept
flashing. I have tried a few times and I can't get passed this stage. I
have copies of WI n2000 and xp pro, is there another way I can get the
operating system going.
JAD said:
you have the ROM and HD on the same channel?
You have HD set to master or( WD lone drive)?
Bios set to 'auto' detect IDE?
Click to expand...
 
western digital drive? Lone drive master?
why CD-ROM on secondary "slave"?
what have you configured it as? CS?
Check or swap ribbon cables
Your CD-ROM has been verified ok?
I would format the drive sounds like a botched install or old install
is present
 
Hogwarts said:
The hard drive is on the primary ide1 as master and the cd on ide 2 as
slave. The bios seems to automatically detect the hard drive. I have
managed to boot from a floppy by just installing the hard drive and the
floppy. I used fdisk to create and set an active partition and then I
formated using format c:/s. This worked ok. Because of the conlict with
the floppy and cd rom I tried to install win 98 by booting from the disc. I
got a message saying that there was already an operating system on the drive
and I could not install windows that way. I had to use setup from the dos
prompt D: setup. This was working ok. Sandisk started and all the checks
were ok. Windows started to install components needed for setup then it
froze. The cd rom light stopped flashing and the cursor on the screen kept
flashing. I have tried a few times and I can't get passed this stage. I
have copies of WI n2000 and xp pro, is there another way I can get the
operating system going.
Click to expand...
If all you have on the IDE2 is the CD drive, then it MUST be set to MASTER!
 
The hard drive is on the primary ide1 as master and the cd on ide 2 as
slave. The bios seems to automatically detect the hard drive. I have
managed to boot from a floppy by just installing the hard drive and the
floppy. I used fdisk to create and set an active partition and then I
formated using format c:/s. This worked ok. Because of the conlict with
the floppy and cd rom I tried to install win 98 by booting from the disc. I
got a message saying that there was already an operating system on the drive
and I could not install windows that way. I had to use setup from the dos
prompt D: setup. This was working ok. Sandisk started and all the checks
were ok. Windows started to install components needed for setup then it
froze. The cd rom light stopped flashing and the cursor on the screen kept
flashing. I have tried a few times and I can't get passed this stage
Click to expand...

Just try 'format c:' don't bother with the /s. That not only formats,
but also copies system files onto the drive which is why you got the
error message saying the there was already an o/s installed on that
drive. You should then be able to install by booting from the disk.

Just one other thing, go into the BIOS and look for something like virus
protection and disable it. It basically stops anything being written to
the boot sector of the hard drive which is required during the win98
install. Normally, if enabled, it warns if anything is trying to write
to the boot sector anyway, but disable it for now anyway just to be on
the safe side but, if all goes well, don't forget to re-enable it once
98 is installed.
 
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