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Subject: OT: Computer-problem
Posted by: Samuli
- [55105128] Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 18:50
Ok I know this is not exactly a hardware-forum, but I've got some great help here before so...
My buddy bought a new computer today, as separate components, and I helped him to put everything together. The process itself was a great success. However, when we tried to format c: after we ran the fdisk to create drive c, the things went just wrong: The comp doesn't recognise command "format c:" at all, thus making it impossible to proceed with installing Windows & all that. Does this sound like a common problem, or have we run into some odd stuff here? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
| 1 | Memphis Fan
ID: 36851518
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 18:56
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This is the only drive? Or will he be running two? If so you could format from the other drive.
If not, your going to need to use a bootdisk. Move a copy of fdisk over.
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| 2 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:00
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Yes, this will be the only hard-drive.
If not, your going to need to use a bootdisk. Move a copy of fdisk over.
Could you please explain? The fdisk is on bootdisk already. Or? I also tried to do "format C:" while on drive a:, with a bootdisk in the floppy-drive. No success.
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| 3 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:03
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Most new versions of Windows are bootable off the CD - bung the CD in, power on the machine and tell BIOS to boot from CD. Formatting and partitioning the drive are part of the install process.
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| 4 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:06
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Ahh, but the only Windows we got our greasy little fingers on is the good old -98...
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| 5 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:10
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In that case what Memphis said. create a bootdisk and fdisk to create partition/s and then format to, um, format.
Something fishy going on if that doesn't work.
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| 6 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:16
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But we already booted the puter with a boot-disk and ran fdisk so that Drive C now exists. After that, restart. I can go to drive C by typing "c:", but can't enter any commands there; no "format c:", no nothing, it will end up with some error message and the infamous "abort, retry, fail?".
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| 7 | Ender
ID: 13443221
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:17
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Win98 CD is bootable. At least my copy is...
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| 8 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:20
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It is? We didn't even try that. It's an original copy & all, full version, so maybe it works.
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| 9 | xpdurmind
ID: 9922123
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:20
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Before you try anything, go into cmos and make sure your hard disk is being recognized(depending on your computer, boot info should show the make and model of your HD.
Not assuming you haven't, but also make sure you set your jumper correctly on the hard drive.
What operating system are u trying to install?
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| 10 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:23
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Ok, the cmos does indeed recognise the HD, model and all. The hard-drive is the only device on IDE1 and has been set as "master". WIN98, but can't get past formatting, so no installing has taken place yet.
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| 11 | xpdurmind
ID: 9922123
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:24
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My 98 SE is bootable from the cd, so is 2000 and xp.
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| 12 | xpdurmind
ID: 9922123
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:26
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Do what Ender and Blooody Geoff suggested.
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| 13 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:26
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you need to have format on the bootdisk - so when it comes up go A: and then format c: /s
Although if you can already go to c: then you can probably just run the installer off the CD (D:\setup.exe or whatever it is called)
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| 14 | xpdurmind
ID: 9922123
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:27
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You might have to change your boot sequence in cmos so it boots from cd before HD.
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| 15 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:27
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It's not SE... However, will definitely give that a try. We already called it a day and I came home, but tomorrow that is the first thing on the agenda.
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| 16 | KJHoops
ID: 2410411122
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:27
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Is the file format.com on the boot disk?
You need it to format c:
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| 17 | Memphis Fan
ID: 36851518
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:27
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Yeah, if it sees the CD drive use the bootdisk then run setup.exe.
If not, copy fdisk over to C: from the bootdisk and it should work.
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| 18 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:30
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you need to have format on the bootdisk - so when it comes up go A: and then format c: /s
So is that the command to put "format" on the bootdisk? I mean I could do it here at home and then bring the disk over. format c: /s, yea?
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| 19 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:31
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Don't know about the rest of you, but I HATE it when friends ask me to help set up their PCs! Always takes hours and ends in tears.
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| 20 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:33
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Luckily, my friends never ask me... ;) This time I voluntereed as I thought it'd be about time to try and learn something about these suckers.
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| 21 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:35
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format c: /s formats and sets up C as a bootable drive.
to put format on the boot disk you go :
copy format.com a:\
format.com is in C:\windows\command on an installed system so grab it from there if you can. Otherwise I think you can create a disk with it from WIN98 (cant remember exactly) or you can probably find it on the net somewhere.
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| 22 | Bloody Geoff
Donor
ID: 279423119
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:36
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We are beating the action thread 21 posts to 16 last I looked :-)
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| 23 | KJHoops
ID: 2410411122
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:41
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Win98 boot disk create process:
Start->Settings->Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs->Startup Disk Tab->Create Disk
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| 24 | Ender
ID: 13443221
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:47
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Yikes, I didn't even think to suggest making sure the format.com file was actually on the bootdisk! :)
You should be fine booting from the CD, but if not you need to get format.com copied to the boot disk.
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| 25 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 19:53
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Ok I just copied format.com on a boot-disk I have here at home.
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| 26 | KnicksFan
Donor
ID: 439341814
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 20:36
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Can someone tell me what the hell this is? It suddenly started popping up on my screen and I don't know how to make it stop.
Error message (48/254) from HOOPS routine 'Rename_Segment'
No segments named '?Current/handle' were found
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| 27 | KnicksFan
Donor
ID: 439341814
Sat, Nov 09, 2002, 20:37
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hmm I closed Microsoft Word and it stopped...
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| 28 | Memphis Fan
ID: 36851518
Sun, Nov 10, 2002, 05:51
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Microsoft is the root of all problems.
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| 29 | Mike D
Donor
ID: 1910076
Sun, Nov 10, 2002, 07:29
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Samuli, in order to have all necessary files on the boot disc, follow post 23 by KJHoops.
For more in depth info on boot discs, read this article.
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| 30 | Samuli
ID: 55105128
Sun, Nov 10, 2002, 07:36
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But creating a boot-disk that way doesn't put format.com on the disk...? The disk I have now was created like that, plus I added format.com afterwards. That should do the trick.
Oh, and for all the fathers on the forum, happy fathers' day, Finnish style! It's today, in some other euro-countries as well I think.
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