Another reformatting question

Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 10:56 am Post subject:

Okay, here is the 98 boot disk:

Windows 98 Boot Disk (link removed, see below)

I tested this exact disk with my Windows XP machine running NTFS with a 60 GB drive and I was able to see and make changes to the partition table.

Make sure you have your Folder Options set to "Show hidden files and folders" and make sure both "Hide extensions for known file types" and "Hide protected system operating files" are unchecked BEFORE you try to unzip this to a BLANK FORMATTED floppy.

When you boot with this disk, you'll get a warning saying it is unable to read your hard disk for several reasons. This is OK, hit enter and let it continue. When it finishes, it may load it's setup tools to drive C: (the RAM drive, as it might not be able to read your NTFS partitions, and gives its RAM drive the next logical letter).

At the C:> prompt, type FDISK.

FDISK is going to ask you two times to enable large disk support. Once for FAT32, then again for NTFS. Say yes to both.

After that, you'll get the FDISK menu. Hit 4 to "Display partition information."

Verify that you have both partitions listed, then return to the main menu, and Delete them both.

When you exit FDISK, it will tell you you're going to have to reboot for the changes to take effect. REMOVE the boot disk and insert your Windows XP CD before you do this.

After your reboot, try running Windows XP setup and see what you get!

I'm curious to see if this works. Very Happy

-Shane
[Edit: leaving the post for archive/lookup purposes, but removing the link as I took down that file]

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

Okies. Trying it now. Cross everything! Laughing

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Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:22 am Post subject:

Well, I tried it but no go. When I try to boot up with the win98 disc, I get a "remove any discs and hit any key" message. And when I go and try to read my A drive from My Computer, it asks if I want to reformat it. I tried several floppy's and got the same message. Any idea why I can't read my A drive now? I could yesterday. /sigh.......

Thanks again Shiloch for your help....
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Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:26 am Post subject:

Are you not able to read ANY floppies? Or just the boot disk after you extracted to it?

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:

Any floppies. I sent some stuff off Neff's puter(I'm communicating here via her puter) to a floppy and tried it and it just asks if I want to reformat it. It does say the disc is full if I look at the properties, but won't open it. Any way I can boot from a thumb drive? I have a 128 meg one. OR maybe burn the win98 boot disc to a cd and try?
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Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:50 am Post subject:

Alright, I figured out the problem.

The Windows 98 Boot Disk won't work if you extract it from a zip file, so I had to find a disk image program.

I really hate to have to do this to you, but you'll have to install this program to create the disk.

Undisker - Disk Image Program - Install this, just tell it you want to use the trial.

Windows 98 Boot Disk Image

Download the disk image, then open Undisker.
Click File > Open
Open the 98bootdisk.img file (wherever you saved it)
Go to Image > Write to Floppy...
Insert a floppy disk and click Yes.

NOW try it.

Sorry about this, I didn't realize the ZIP file wouldn't work. Sad

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 11:55 am Post subject:

Thanks, will try this. And no need to be sorry. This is all trial and error and I REALLY appreciate the help more than I can say.
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Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject:

Well, I now get a black screen with a rapidly flashing cursor in the top left when I try to boot up with this disc. If I try to type anything, nothing shows up and the A drive lights up for about 20 seconds and goes off. If I remove the floppy, the puter contains booting into windows.
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Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:10 pm Post subject:

Wow, that's.... interesting. I wasn't able to duplicate that.

That's cool, let me see if I can do it with a Linux bootdisk.

I'll be right back with links if that will work. Very Happy

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:12 pm Post subject:

Linux? Okies.
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Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:31 pm Post subject:

One thing I noticed while sitting at Neff's puter, if I right click and go to manage on My Computer, the delete partition option is grayed out on her C drive as well. But she also a D drive labeled Recovery that is 5g in size. She is running XP Home. I also have a puter here running win98.
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Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:44 pm Post subject:

If you have a machine running Windows 98, trying making a bootdisk from there.

I'm pretty sure its in Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Startup Disk (tab).

I'm still working on the Linux thing.

I have a strong feeling your hard drive is bad somehow. Never in my natural life have I found it to be this hard to just delete a partition.

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:49 pm Post subject:

But why would my hard drive go bad just from trying to reformat? It was perfectly fine until I started this.
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Shiloch Veneficus · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 12:52 pm Post subject:

I really can't say without looking at it.

If the boot disk from your other Win98 computer doesn't work either, I think you're going to be left with taking the hard drive out and slaving it into Neff's computer to delete the partitions. It got messed up somehow and that's probably going to be the easiest thing.

Kanwer · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject:

Ok, I finally got into DOS. Here's what I see.

1. Delete Primary DOS Partition(None to delete)
2. Delete Extended DOS Partition(Cannot delete while Logical Partition exists)
3. Delete Logical DOS drives in the extended DOS Partition(None defined)
4. Delete Non-DOS PArtition( This is the entire drive it looks like. It's 57239meg)

Should I delete #4?
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