nmr59

Several weeks ago, I bought/formatted a new HD w/Win98 while I was waiting for Compaq to ship the XP QuickRestore Cd set. I finally rec'd the CDs, backed up files to CDRW, and inserted QuickRestore Disk1. As it ran I saw it creating partitions and didnt pay much attention to it. I was prompted to insert a floppy to create a restore diskette. Did so, removed it when prompted to, pressed "any key to continue" and got a Compaq Error # BUT DIDNT RECORD THE ERROR# !! I "pressed any key to continue" and up came a screen with "WAITING..." at the top... this is where the screen hung for an hour.
Contr/Alt/Del wouldn't reboot the pc so I used the on/off to restart. From then on, all I can get the PC to do is go into BIOS and read the first string of commands from an .exe CD.
At boot, I see the Compaq logo. CD-rom spins, light's on for 20 or so seconds then lights out, as does floppy. Harddrive spins for 20 or so sec, light remains on, cursor flashes at upper left of screen.
Screen rez is probably less than 600x800 as the <F10> option reminder is nearly off the bottom right screen.

BIOS: IDE DPS tests ok.
IDE Primary 0; CD-rom IDE secondary; Diskette Legacy Diskette 0.
Storage Options are all enabled.
Boot order: CD, diskette, HD.
All other settings look familiarly ok as I went into BIOS after I formatted it & installed 98.
I insert QuickRestore CD1, CD-rom light flashes 5x but get no executable line of command or action. Just the flashing cursor at top left.
I insert the Seagate format/utility CD and see STARTING CALDERA DR-DOS... as the CD-rom spins. It stops after a few secs, hangs on that screen w/the HD light lit.
Insert XP PRO, get command PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD..., but no keys will boot it, screen hangs on BOOT msg.
Insert Win98, get commands to BOOT FROM CD or BOOT FROM HARDDISK. I hear CD-rom spin, not making a choice, screen disappears to flashing cursor. Choosing BOOT FROM CD goes to flashing cursor screen. HD spins for 20 or so secs.
I tried win98, ME and XP emerg diskettes but get non-system disk error msg for each. I just wanted to get drivers loaded...

I insert KILLDISK.EXE floppy I created from www.Lsoft.net. This disk prompts the most action! I was hoping to go in and wipe the drive so I could install XP PRO from the CD and NOT use Compaq QuickRestore. I see the active screen shows:
C: HD1, Pri [1]
CHS = 0 - 1 - 1
START = 0MB
SIZE = 28623MB
found more than 30 extended partitions - terminated.

I'm given 4 options and I select boot w/CD-rom support.
To run ACTIVE@ KILLDISK.EXE type it at A:, I do, floppy brings up ACTIVE@ KILLDISK v. 3.1. and (c) info then stops...

I emailed Lsoft with the message re: more than 30 partitions and I can't perform the diagnostics Lsoft wants me to do cos I dont understand the language. Can anyone tell me how to:

Hello,

Please, run the software with a parameter -debug and send us $dump$.log and
log.$$$ files it creates.

Can you please also use the link below to download test program, make test
file and send it to us:

http://www.killdisk.com/downloads/scsi/maketest.zip

Regards,
KillDisk Support

Now you have as much information I can give you. As I think about the "more than 30 partitions" I'm thinking the PC came with a 20G HD w/2 partitions. Could it be QuickRestore was partitioning the same size partitions and kept going cos there was so much more drive space???

I so appreciate anyone who tackles this. I'm at a dead end and dead tired.
Thanks in advance,
nancy

batty_professor

You need to remove those 30 partitions. You can do this with a 98 boot floppy. Get one from www.bootdisk.com if necessary. Boot from the floppy, and at the command prompt type fdisk . Then remove all partitions, one at a time if necessary, starting with any logical drives in extended partitions, then the extended partition, then any non-dos partitions. Restart, then use the display partitions option to make sure all are gone. You may then create a partition if desired, but I'd suggest rebooting with the desired installation CD, and allow it to partition as the system needs.

Ok, I re-read your post, I see the floppy gives the non-system disk error.If the F10 key gets you into the bios, set to boot from floppy first, then CD, then HDD. save and reboot from floppy. Also when all done, you will need to download a F10 fix floppy from Compaq so you can get into bios as needed.

nmr59

ggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I replaced my diskette choosing green title WIN98se (on the OEM line) from the site you gave me batty_professor. Specifically, which diskette should I be using.
thanks,
nancy

batty_professor

Looks like you have the right disk. Did you get the bios to set to boot from floppy first in the boot options? If the computer attempts to boot from the corrupted hard drive before it seeks the floppy, the system will get corrupted accordingly, and won't recognize the floppy as a correct format.

nmr59

Boot order is set correctly.
Man, I am trying...

I found the boot disk that came with my WIN98 CD, insert it, and get only a flashing cursor, even thought I hear it trying to read the floppy.
Went in BIOS and disabled HD and CD - still the same results!

I put the KILLDISK floppy in because it got me into DOS. KILLDISK says cd-rom is drive Z
at the A: prompt I type Z:
put Seagate Setup CD in
then at Z: I type run = bad command or filename
type setup = bad command..
type start = this program cannot be run in DOS mode

I put in WIN98 CD
type SETUP =
setup cannot find a high memory manager and cannot continue.
ERROR: Unable to control A20 line!
XMS Driver not installed.

This message was repeated until I took out the CD....

I have yahoo msngr on if anyone will PM me with advice. I'm on a 333MHz pc w/a 14K modem. Having replies sent to mail isnt prudent.

thanks,
nancy

crazijoe

Have you tried to use the Seagate disk wizard DOS version?

http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/...s/discwiz.html

nmr59

I downloaded the floppys - get the same hanging screen as inserting cd:
STARTING CALDERA DR-DOS

I have some news to report! I reinstalled the 120G as slave. It passed IDE DPS test. Re-started PC and got the same hanging screen: MS Windows XP Home having the small rectanglular box with green squares rotating left to right as windows loads. Thing is windows doesnt load. I turn off PC after a few minutes.

Today I decided to leave it on. After 18 minutes windows loaded!!
I saw a new disk icon in the sys tray. It disappeared but no 2nd disk shows up in my computer.
Any thought on what I do now?
Thanks,
nancy

crazijoe

Go into Disk Management.
Right click My Computer, Click Manage, Then click Disk Management.
You should be able to partition and format the drive there.

nmr59

In disk mngmt I see Disk 0 and CD-ROM 0. I imagine 0 = primary disk. BIOS shows the 20G as Disk 0 and 120G as Primary 1.

crazijoe

If the drive shows up in the BIOS but does not show up in Disk Management. I would have to question the integrity of the drive. I would download Seagate SeaTools and run a diagnostic against the drive.

nmr59

Last night I sent an email to a MS-MVP I found somewhere in the MS XP site. She wrote back saying I ought to uninstall SP2, try the seagates diagnostics again, format, etc, then re-install SP2. After 4 hours, I now have a formatted, recognized 120G disk! WOOHOOO!

Thank you all for your time and help. Its been a frustrating 2 weeks. I appreciate this forum.

regards,
nancy