Hi all, here`s the problem, I was attempting to upgrade a PC from win 98 to win xp, decided a clean install was the best idea.Stupidly I just formatted the HD wiped it clean (yes I know) now the only thing working is the floppy drive I am unable to fdisk to create a partition,when I insert the win98 boot disk I am unable to change the A prompt to either C or D as the drives are not being seen. I am in over my head now so ANY help or suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks ================================================= 05-29-03, 02:00 PM Murray S. Howdy Redder:
ivnj's solution should work .. However, if it doesn't, go to www.bootdisk.com and download the set of startup floppies for XP. You will need 6 blank and formatted floppies.
Once done, use the floppies to boot the system and then follow the prompts.
Murray ================================================= 05-29-03, 05:47 PM redder Thank You both for your replies, ivnj(congrats on your GOLD!!)I changed the boot sequence to CD first and on the restart all I got was "no boot device available Strike F1 to reboot,F2 for Setup Utilities" wasn`t prompted for Enter and F8 so could not go any further. Murray,I downloaded the .exe to make the startup floppies had my 6 blanks ready, however when I clicked on the exe up came..."The System is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows Applications" (whatever thast means!!) with the option to Close or Ignore,clicking on Ignore gave the same result as clicking on Close Mad (Forgot to mention in my first post I am running win xp home)Still desperate so any further help or suggestions would be welcome as I fear for my sanity Eek, been at this for a week now!!!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:01 AM ================================================= 05-29-03, 06:49 PM Murray S. Redder:
Murray ================================================= 05-29-03, 07:15 PM redder Hi Murray, the very same, in fact I downloaded and ran it again from your link just to be sure, alas with the same result Frown ..."The System is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows Applications" Confused Confused
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:01 AM ================================================= 05-29-03, 09:52 PM Son of Dwight How did you format the drive?
Did you use the command:
format c:\ /s
This page may help. ================================================= 05-29-03, 10:06 PM Murray S. Redder:
Do you happen to have a Win98 startup floppy??
What happens when you boot using it? Does the fdisk command work? What about format?
Is your WinXP cd an upgrade or clean install cd??
Murray ================================================= 05-29-03, 10:31 PM ivnj But my XP-PRO is a Version-Upgrade ACAdemic and boots just fine. U just need a copy of 95 or something to verify U're able to upgrade.
ivnj ================================================= 05-29-03, 10:40 PM Murray S. Redder:
have to ask the obvious but, when you started your system with the cd-rom as the first boot device, did you have the XP cd in the drive??
Lastly, are you using a true XP cd or a copy??
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 06:35 AM redder Son of Dwight, format C:\ only I`m affraid! thanks for the link! wish I had it a week ago Smile. Murray, the only thing I seem to have done right in this whole sad episode was to make a win98 startup floppy before executing the above command. fdisk results in "No fixed disks present" format results in "Format not supported on Drive C: format terminated" I did have the CD in the drive, you`re not wrong to ask the obvious considering my performance on this upgrade Smile The XP CD is a true new CD (my daughter paid many coins of the realm for it!)and boy do I feel bad messing up her `puter.
I will be happy just to reinstall her original win 98 then do the upgrade to XP CORRECTLY. ivnj,I had thougt about win 95 as it installs from a series of floppies (and the only thing working right now is the floppy drive) then working up from there, but can`t find any. (there is a local Computer Fair this Sunday, I might find win 95 there) Here is some additional info:- Using the boot disc I made this message appears Windows 98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition and gives me 3 possible causes 1. create a partition by running fdisk fdisk results in "No fixed disks present" 2. a message about 3rd party dick partitioning software. never used any! 3. viruses causing drive C not to be recognised doubt if this is the cause as the drive has been wiped. device name "MSCD001" (CD-ROM drivers I assume) No drivers found,aborting installation. It seems I need to somehow create a partition then load the CD-ROM drivers, as I said the ONLY thing working right now is the floppy drive and getting into the BIOS and help files for the startup disk Frown Thank`s for all your help up to now,had a good night`s sleep and my desperation has faded a little, stress levels in orbit though Big Grin
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:02 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 07:31 AM redder Hi again all, I just tried this, on my XP computer I inserted an unformatted floppy and selected "make a MS-DOS startup disk" I then copied the CD-ROM drivers ( recently downloaded from the manufacturers site)onto the MS-DOS startup disk. Booted my daughters computer with this, at the A prompt typed A:\>install.exe the `puter emitted one single beep when I pressed Enter and the drivers started to load displaying an install progress bar,however on reaching 100% a warning box appeared "can`t open CONFIG.SYS. I okayed this and in the resulting A prompt entered A:\>D: "invalid drive specification" was the result Mad Obviously the install had failed and I am assuming this is tied in to the message "Windows 98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition " I have been getting. Just thought the more info. I can provide the better.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:02 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 07:34 AM Murray S. Redder:
DON'T get Win95.. You can't upgrade from Win95 to WinXP. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Next dumb question, but did you have the system apart at all?? Check the cables to the hdd and motherboard.
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 07:45 AM redder Hi Murray, OK to that! I have not as yet, but if it just a case of checking that the cables are not loose or slack, I shall do that now and get back to you. Thanks.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:03 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 07:54 AM redder Hi again Murray, I checked the cables (ribbon cable to MB and connection to power supply) and all are seated snugly.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:03 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 10:00 AM Murray S. Okay.. Let's start from the beginning..
You HAVE formatted the drive??
What was the previous operating system??
Were there any partitions on the drive??
When you try to fdisk, you get a "Drive not found" error??
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 10:03 AM Dwight Instead of "install.exe" I suggest you try "setup.exe" and see if that works.
Also, can you run the format command again, adding the /s switch as shown above:
format c: /s (Note the space between : and /)
By the way, did you note that the drive letter for your CD-ROM will be moved up one letter? For instance, if it is normally
D:\
drive, for this purpose it will be
E:\ So, from the A:\ prompt, type E:\setup.exe or simply (from the A:\ prompt) setup.exe
I hope something here will help! Dwight
[This message was edited by Dwight on 05-30-03 at 10:22 AM.] ================================================= 05-30-03, 11:44 AM redder Murray OK, formatted drive using C:\>format Win98 SE No partitions fdisk reports "no fixed disks present" Confused Hi Dwight, tried setup.exe "bad command or filename" although install.exe starts to install the CD-ROM drivers then "can`t open CONFIG,SYS" appears, and I am back to where I started,no CD-ROM drivers insalled E:\setup.exe "Invalid drive specification" format(space)c:\(space)/s "Format not supported on drive C:" This drive C is being really elusive and un- cooperative Mad
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:04 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 12:32 PM Murray S. Redder:
Let's try something from out in leftfield..
Go back to www.bootdisk.com and download the DOS 6.2 or 6.22 files and install them on floppies..
Now, change your first boot device back to floppy first.. Now, let's see if you can load DOS alone..
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 12:33 PM Murray S. Otherwise, I am almost of the opinion the controller on the hdd gave up the ghost and the rest is just circumstance as to when it happened.
Also, did you disable the on-board AV program in BIOS??
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 12:59 PM redder Hi Murray, sorry to be a pain but could you give me a link to the DOS 6.2 or 6.22 files? I can`t seem to locate them at bootdisk Confused Also where would I find the onboard AV prg. within BIOS? Here are the first entries in the BIOS diskett drive A: 3.5 inch 1.44mb diskette drive B: not installed Drives: Primary Type Cyls Hds Pre LZ Sec Size Drive 0: None Drive 1: None Reserved Memory: None Num Lock: ON ACPI: OFF DAC Snoop: ON there are two pages in the BIOS do you want me to post ALL info?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:00 AM ================================================= 05-30-03, 03:21 PM Murray S. Whoa.. before you go any further.. Change the drives from "none" to "auto".. If it doesn't take, then the controller board on the hdd itself has flew the coop.
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 04:02 PM Murray S. Forgot the link.. use THIS one or THIS one.
Murray ================================================= 05-30-03, 09:05 PM ivnj I don't know where U get your info but I used my 95 CD to verify I was able to upgrade my XP-PRO. It really worked.
ivnj ================================================= 05-30-03, 09:51 PM Dwight ivnj, I'm looking at the upgrade eligibility requirements printed on the Windows XP Home Edition Operating System box.
Quote:
"Attention: The enclosed program will search your hard drive and/or CD to confirm your eligibility for this upgrade. The software will install only if you are a licensed user of the following products:
Microsoft Windows 98
Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows Millennium Edition"
Dwight ================================================= 05-30-03, 10:28 PM ivnj All I know is it worked. And I'm talking PRO not HOME.
ivnj ================================================= 05-31-03, 04:43 AM redder yes!yes!yes! Murray you are a STAR! THANK YOU and a big THANKS to all the others who took the time to reply to DESPERATE! I now have the original Win 98SE up and running WooHoo!! "Whoa.. before you go any further.. Change the drives from "none" to "auto".." done the trick things started to happen after that,I was able to load the CD-ROM drivers no problem from then on all went smooth. I just have a couple of gliches left so if you don`t mind Smile on boot up when "press Ctrl+Alt+Enter for Sysyem Setup" is displayed it hangs for a min. or so then up pops Primary HD drive 1 not found Secondary HD drive 2 not found Strike F1 key to continue F2 to run Setup Utility I then have to hit F1 to continue to boot up any ideas? Also in Device manager under other Devices a yellow ? overlayed by a ! is showing before PCI COMMUNICATION DEVICE obviously drivers not loaded, is this the modem drivers? if so how could I locate them. Thanks again Big Grin
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-23-06 01:05 AM ================================================= 05-31-03, 08:24 AM Murray S. Redder:
Nice to see you up and running. It never even dawned on me (or the others I think) to have you check to make sure the hdd was being recognized in BIOS. The system was running, so I figured that was a given.
Okay, problem 1: Sounds like the CMOS battery may be dead or going dead (reason hdd was not recognized and why you are losing the settings now).. Change it.
Problem 2: It is the modem.
Murray ================================================= 05-31-03, 08:28 AM Murray S. Dang.. I should read all the question.. Is the modem integrated or an add-on card??
If integrated, the drivers should be on the systemboard drivers cd that should have come with the system. If it an add-on, then you should have a seperate floppy or cd with the drivers.
Murray ================================================= 05-31-03, 06:10 PM redder Hi Murray, I am DELIGHTED to report Winxp finally installed on my daughters `puter!! and running great, no ? or ! in device manager either Big Grin Thanks again for your time and patience Murray, there was a point when my avatar seemed most appropriate....like at the begining! what was I doing??
"The sky is no less blue because the blind man does not see it." - Proverb, Danish ================================================= 05-31-03, 06:26 PM Murray S. Redder:
You weren't doing anything.. It was strictly the fact that BIOS wasn't recognizing the hdd that was giving you all your problems.. Beit a low or dead CMOS battery or whatever.. Once you told BIOS how to find the hdd, then you were able to continue.
Murray
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
