[Robtrapp]

I have an old (duh) 800mhz Compaq with a 15GB hard drive and 512meg of ram.
The machine performs flawlessly.
So, since I can stand flawless performance I must tinkler.
I attemped to simply install a larger hard drive. The common thread is Seagate. Be they 20, 40, or 80gb; any attempt to install a new drive as a master (even removing the 15gb drive entirely, and using Seagate installation software) has been met with a poorly performing drive that will eventually fail to hold their partition or simply loose the OS. I've tried XP and Win98.
The drives work fine on other PCs but not the Compaq. Any ideas as to what would cause this.

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Hi,

Let's back up a bit. Here is the assumption that I have. You want to install either WinXP or Win98 on your computer, but can't get it to work with either. You have used the Seatools software, but still no joy. Is this correct? If that is correct, some quick questions:

> Whenyou tried Win98, did you use Fdisk to prepare the drive?

> What do you really want on that drive, win98 or WinXP?

> How is your boot order set up in the Bios Setup menu?

> Do you have both a valid XP and Win98 setup disk that is a retail version/or an OEM disk specifically for that computer?

Please answer these things and we will try to walk you through the process to make sure that everything is doing well.

Post back with questions/concerns.

 

[linderman]

it has been my experience that Compaq computers need a Compaq hard drive. Compaq computers are proprietary machines


you may have to look on ebay to get a compaq drive

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Hi,

As you peruse your project, you may want to read this about your Seagate drive in your compaq computer:

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/compaq_diag_partition.html

 

[Robtrapp]

Hi,

Let's back up a bit. Here is the assumption that I have. You want to install either WinXP or Win98 on your computer, but can't get it to work with either. You have used the Seatools software, but still no joy. Is this correct? If that is correct, some quick questions:

> Whenyou tried Win98, did you use Fdisk to prepare the drive?

> What do you really want on that drive, win98 or WinXP?

> How is your boot order set up in the Bios Setup menu?

> Do you have both a valid XP and Win98 setup disk that is a retail version/or an OEM disk specifically for that computer?

Please answer these things and we will try to walk you through the process to make sure that everything is doing well.

Post back with questions/concerns.

Whenyou tried Win98, did you use Fdisk to prepare the drive? - I used a WIN98 Boot disk and fdisk

> What do you really want on that drive, win98 or WinXP? - Initially XP - It installed and I tried to activated it and I was told by the software I'd need to call for new numbers - Nuts! - That would mean I'd have to talk to Apu again so I opted for Win98 - I just use the PC for Word, downloads, and surfing anyway.

> How is your boot order set up in the Bios Setup menu? When I removed the working 15GB drive (master) I set the new one the same.

> Do you have both a valid XP and Win98 setup disk that is a retail version/or an OEM disk specifically for that computer? Yes

 

[linderman]

Hello:


first off if the hard drive had sucessfully installed Win XP it would most likely be formatted as NTFS which then would mean Win 98 and Fdisk wont work when the hard drive has been formatted with NTFS


you would need to wipe / erase the drive with a program like boot n nuke (free in my signature links)

 

[Robtrapp]

I will attempt this. Thank you. XP never worked well - I zero filled the drive.
Win98 really was trashed after that.

 

[hwm54112]

If the computer can boot to the secondary ide controller, try using that with a new ide cable

 

[linderman]

just need to verify:

after zero filling (which is what is done to a new drive prior to opening the box) did you try to run fdisk on the zero filled drive ??????


did dban give any error messages ?????


try HWM's idea connect your hard drive to the secondary IDE connector on your mobo >>>> its the black connector


post back the results of these questions and tasks

 

[laboye]

First, I'll throw in my two cents:

Compaq's are not very proprietary machines; especially their towers. SFF Desktops are understandable, but they are certainly not proprietary in general. They use mostly industry standard parts and lack custom connectors and fittings (unlike Dell *cough cough*). It is true that the older machines but the more advanced version of CMOS setup (and diagnostics) on the hard drive, but to my knowledge it is unneeded to run the system. I used to help manage over 300 Compaq Deskpro 133s and I owned 3. Among them, I never encountered a single error installing windows on other hard drives. I even had one with XP (slow, of course). To my knowledge, an NTFS drive would show up in Fdisk as an unknown or "Other" FS> You should still be able to delete the partition and continue from there. It may be a problem with that particular machine.

Can you please supply the model of this Compaq computer?

When you say "lose the OS", what exactly happens?

-Eddie

 

[Robtrapp]

The boot n nuke solved all problems - The drives had been running at reduced speed - this program solved my troubles.
I used it - took about 90 minutes on a 20gb drive - then used Seagate's HD installation CD - XP then installed without a hitch.

 

[Robtrapp]

The PC is a 5000US - Loose the OS! Maybe too flip. Got a good format with 160gb - then after a day of use I found only 37gb was recoginzed. The two equal partitions fell apart then the "NT loader not found" came in the upper left at Boot up.