Is there an MVP or someone who can help?

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Guest

I have been up all night trying to fix my Compaq. I went to the microsoft
site and followed the instructions for a clean install. I get through the
part where it formats a partition and then reboots, but when it comes back to
life it stops after the splash screen and says "ntldr: couldn't open drive
multi (0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)"
Now, I have done research all over the internet and done just about
everything suggested. I copied the ntldr in i386 and the ntdetect.com from
the same place and put them on c: as instructed and have gotten no further.
I have downloaded the only bios update for my model from Compaq but I can't
get it to install in the recovery console because it's supposed to be done
via xp - which apparently is only half installed. HELP! I'm without my
favorite machine! I have a 98se but get a wierd message about runtime
error. I also have the machines recovery cd but only get the same runtime
error message when I try that.
 
Scorpiobuzz said:
I have been up all night trying to fix my Compaq. I went to the microsoft
site and followed the instructions for a clean install. I get through the
part where it formats a partition and then reboots, but when it comes back to
life it stops after the splash screen and says "ntldr: couldn't open drive
multi (0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)"
Now, I have done research all over the internet and done just about
everything suggested. I copied the ntldr in i386 and the ntdetect.com from
the same place and put them on c: as instructed and have gotten no further.
I have downloaded the only bios update for my model from Compaq but I can't
get it to install in the recovery console because it's supposed to be done
via xp - which apparently is only half installed. HELP! I'm without my
favorite machine! I have a 98se but get a wierd message about runtime
error. I also have the machines recovery cd but only get the same runtime
error message when I try that.
Click to expand...

What kind of XP are you trying to install? Full retail? Upgrade? Generic
OEM?

What I would do if I were you is find out what brand of hard drive you
have, go to the hard drive manufacturer's web site and download the
floppy formatting and partitioning tool (not the CD!). Boot your
computer with the floppy; let it install and then follow directions. I
would, if I were you, do the full format (it will take hours, like maybe
six or seven, so don't get impatient; go watch a movie or two), not the
quick one. Once the format is done, partition it and reboot into the
BIOS and set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM. Stick XP in the CD ROM and
reboot and off you go. If you have an XP upgrade, you will be asked to
prove you have your Win98. You can prove this by sticking the Win98 CD
in when asked. Remove it, put the XP CD back in and continue the
installation.

Do all of this with no peripherals like a camera, printer or scanner
hooked up or connected to the Net. All you want is the keyboard, mouse
and monitor connected.

Once you have XP installed, do a clean up/chkdsk/defrag. If you have
SP1, install SP2 and do a clean up/chkdsk/defrag again. Make sure the
Windows firewall is enabled, connect to the Internet and then go get the
updates at Windows updates. If you have onboard video and sound, you may
need to go to Compaq's web site to get the drivers or XP's generic
drivers might do the trick. Then install your programs. Then install
your devices like your printer, camera, scanner, etc. Then do another
clean up/chkdsk/defrag, activate Windows and you're done.

Be sure to NOT have your anti virus auto scan enabled while installing
*anything*. It would be the last program I would install so I don't have
to continually disable it before installing each one of my programs.

Alias
 
I am using the generic OEM disc, and I went into the repair console and
formatted the c: drive from there thinking that there must have been some
hang-up with the format, but I still got nothing. I really need this baby up
and running pretty quick. Any ideas?
 
Scorpiobuzz said:
I am using the generic OEM disc, and I went into the repair console and
formatted the c: drive from there thinking that there must have been some
hang-up with the format, but I still got nothing. I really need this baby up
and running pretty quick. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I posted them below. Do that. Don't use XP to format the drive,
use the hard driver manufacturer's tool that you put on a floppy.

Alias
 
It is a generic xp oem disc that I got from a friend ages ago. I had
installed it on the compaq about a year ago and had no problems at all until
I decided to do a clean install and that's when the problems began.
 
Dixonian69 said:
what do you mean by "generic" OEM?

Are you trying to install Win 98 or xp?
Click to expand...

If it was 98 he wouldn't get the ntldr error; ntldr does not exist in 98.

Steve N.
 
You could also use an old-fashioned DOS-floppy with FDISK on it to remove
all partitions completely, and then restart the XP installation from CD,
create a new (NTFS) partition, and install on that.
 
You have:
a win 98 se! CD?
the machine recovery cd! OS?
a generic xp cd!

good for you!!

do you have a Product key and COA for any of them?
 
Wouter said:
You could also use an old-fashioned DOS-floppy with FDISK on it to remove
all partitions completely, and then restart the XP installation from CD,
create a new (NTFS) partition, and install on that.
Click to expand...

In some cases where a non-M$ OS or boot loader has been installed using
fdisk in this manner often does not help. I believe what Alias is
referring to is a zero-fill utility that completely erases a hard disk
by filling every available sector with zeroes, as if it were blank from
the manufacturer and as close as you can get to a "low-level format"
these days (a true low-level format cannot be performed on modern hard
drives.)

Steve N.
 
Scorpiobuzz said:
I have been up all night trying to fix my Compaq
Click to expand...

Did your compaq originally come with an embedded OS and recovery disc or a
WindowsOS on disc??

If it is the former then you may have removed the embedded partition during
the format, in which case the recovery disc wont have anything to recover.

The OEM disc will require an OEM product key ( licence). Some OEM's are
linked to a particular pc manufacturer ie HP.
 
I am fairly sure I erased the compaq partition that held the info needed for
the recovery cd to work. That's why that is shot. I have a generic XP PRO
OEM CD with the key sticker that I got off a friend. It loads the first part
fine (ie. the partition in ntfs and then formats the partition, then copies
the first set of files) but once it reboots - it still comes up with the
original message that the NTDLR: couldn't open...etc. I tried to do the copy
e:\i386\ntdetect.com & ntldr to c: It said it was successful but upon exit
it gave me the same message. Come on guys, someone has to have run into this
before. I'm out of ideas!
 
Put the XP CD in and boot from it. Do NOT go to the recovery console. Just
start the install process. You can delete the old partition and create new
ntfs. If you have the time do a full format but you would probably find
quick is ok. The full format checks for bad sectors. Also make sure your
bios is set to boot from the CD. Only change it back once the install is
complete but leave the XP cd in the drive until the install is finished.

Glen
 
Scorpiobuzz said:
I am fairly sure I erased the compaq partition that held the info needed for
the recovery cd to work. That's why that is shot. I have a generic XP PRO
OEM CD with the key sticker that I got off a friend. It loads the first part
fine (ie. the partition in ntfs and then formats the partition, then copies
the first set of files) but once it reboots - it still comes up with the
original message that the NTDLR: couldn't open...etc. I tried to do the copy
e:\i386\ntdetect.com & ntldr to c: It said it was successful but upon exit
it gave me the same message. Come on guys, someone has to have run into this
before. I'm out of ideas!

:
Click to expand...

And what happened when you tried my suggestions?

Alias
 
You say you have a generic OEM XP Pro CD. This is a proper version of XP Pro
not a recovery CD. If you mean you have a recovery cd please clarify. You
will get the right kind of help.

Glen
 
Scorpiobuzz said:
I am fairly sure I erased the compaq partition that held the info needed
for
the recovery cd to work. That's why that is shot. I have a generic XP
PRO
OEM CD with the key sticker that I got off a friend. It loads the first
part
fine (ie. the partition in ntfs and then formats the partition, then
copies
the first set of files) but once it reboots - it still comes up with the
original message that the NTDLR: couldn't open...etc. I tried to do the
copy
e:\i386\ntdetect.com & ntldr to c: It said it was successful but upon
exit
it gave me the same message. Come on guys, someone has to have run into
this
before. I'm out of ideas!
Click to expand...
Try reinstalling the Compaq setup utility. You will need to download the
files from
http://search.hp.com/query.html?lan...o.compaq.com/support/contact_compaq/index.asp
and copy to 3 floppies. Then try the restore disk
 
Scorpio, I think Glen is on the right track however can I add something.

When de-compaq-ing (is that a word) you need a proper Windows CD not a
recovery disk. If you have a proper CD then a retail key should be used not
anything on the computer... I doubt you would get the install to get as far
as it did if you were asked for a key already and it continued....

When the install CD shows the setup you have, you have the option to delete
partitions and create partitions. you MUST delete all partitions and then
create new ones - if less than 50Gb I suggest delete all and simply create 1
at this stage... do not format until you have deleted all partitions. That
way the drive referred to as 0,0,0 partition 1 is guaranteed to be the
correct one... You can create more than one but if you leave an original one
it is likely to be too small to be of any use and immovable later :)

The point is that Compaq don't want you to be able to do a clean install, by
trying to force you to use their recovery disk they are ensuring that you
will use the drivers they used, all the hardware relevant stuff they used
and put the machine back as it left the factory. They don't care about it
being wildly out of date, only that you don't bother tech support :) As long
as it works they figure the average user will be pacified... and too busy
reinstalling all the stuff they lost :)

Another peculiar thing with older compaqs was a CD drive that insisted it
had to be the master on bus 1. Never did figure that one out, but I doubt
that's the problem with a newer machine.

Charlie
 
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