Copying a Linux system is no sweat, I’ve done it numerous times. I was just curious about this cloning software that apparently comes with the HD - that I’d never noticed.
Hey, guys. Remember me?
Okay, Number… I followed your advice. Windows98 still wouldn’t start up but I could see command.com in my C:\dir where I didn’t see it before. I tried to reinstall Windows98, and I was able to get to the first screen of the Windows 98 Wizard setup but it stalled out and I got the following message:
"SETUP DETECTION MESSAGE
Message SU0013
Setup cannot create files on your startup drive and cannot set up Windows 98.
If you have HPFS or NTFS, you must create an MS-DOS boot partition. If you have LANtastic server or Superstor compression, disable it before running setup. See setup.txt on Setup Dick 1 or the Windows 98 compact disk."
I have no idea what HPFS and NTFS are. I already HAVE a partition in place. I’m afraid if I make another one I’ll erase whatever data is on my C:\ drive. ANYBODY! HELP!!!
Last night I did another (YES, another) scandisk of drive C, this time from DOS. It still took a little over 10 hours and 96% of the scan was completed when, in the last 40 minutes, it stopped cold right on a bad sector --cluster 1,773, 844 of 1, 831, 212 to be exact – and would not proceed. The screen was frozen (I couldn’t EXIT or get MORE DATA). What the hey?
As a non-salaried schoolteacher (in the summer, anyway) I simply can’t afford to get another computer or harddrive until late September. Right now, I just want to get my computer up and running so I can surf the internet, check and send my e-mail, and do some word processing. So here are my questions.
-
Is there a way to run Windows 98 Setup Wizard WITHOUT erasing the data left on my C:\ drive?
-
Alternately, can I set up Windows in another drive?
-
I heard there was a way to COMPLETELY format your hard drive so that there was NOTHING left on it, including bad sectors. I have all the software and installation codes available on disk to reinstall everything I use, from Windows 98, McAfee, my modem software and my mouse drivers, etc. I am prepared to ERASE EVERYTHING and start over – I just need to make sure I won’t have anymore catastrophic data losses due to bad sectors until I’m ready to upgrade later this year.
It sounds like a portion of your hard drive is seriously damaged. I recommend running the manufacturer’s diagnostic. These can sometimes fix problems that scandisk can’t handle.
Find out what brand of drive you have and then check for downloads on the appropriate website (www.maxtor.com, www.westerndigital.com, www.seagate.com, etc.)
If you want to do number three, then use this command:
format /u /c c:
This will force DOS to check all bad sectors and to check all other sectors for defects. Any defects found will be added to the bad sector list on the drive so that they won’t be used.
That should keep you from encountering the same bad spots. It does NOT guarantee that other sectors won’t go bad and put you right back in the same jam you’re in now.
The problem is, you WILL lose all data on the drive. If you have any way to backup your files, you should do it before you format.
You almost certainly don’t have HPFS or NTFS on your Windows 98 PC. Take a look here for some tips on handling the error message you are getting:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;200119
I’d try the Windows setup as the Microsoft help describes before I tried to format the drive. That might be enough - if the newly installed Windows system doesn’t try to use the bad sectors. There is a good chance, however, that at some point those sectors may be used, and then Windows will barf again.
If you have another drive (I think you mean partition,) then by all means, back up your data to it and format C: as described above and reinstall all of your software. That would have the best chance of avoiding future problems.
Number, I honestly don’t remember anymore what manufacturer’s brand I bought. How can I find out? Take the casing off the tower and look? Hit F1 at start up?
Mord Furd– As it happens I did mean partition, but as it also happens I do own another hard drive I’m not using. As far as I can recall it had no bad sectors, either.
The original 20 Gig drive that came with my computer is still sitting in my tower, disconnected. It was once the master drive to my 55Gig but I had a friend disconnect it when we couldn’t figure out how to get back into it. (This is the drive with the password my Mom changed, and then forgot)
Now I’m thinking of reconnecting it, formatting THAT drive with the u/ c/ c: command (if not having the password won’t stop me from formatting it in DOS), installing Windows 98, and then copying the files I want to keep from my current C:\ drive to it, than reformatting the current C:\ drive with the u/ c/ c: command.
With any luck, I’ll have TWO drives, newly formatted, with most of my IMPORTANT data saved to the smaller drive. Two should get me through the rest of the summer, right?
But FIRST – I’ll try to do a manufacturer’s diagnostic, like Number suggested.
Sounds like a plan.
Good luck.
Installing Windows fresh on another drive is a good idea.
Depending on your BIOS it may display the HD brand at startup. If not you can remove the cover and read it off the drive’s label. You could also download several diagnostic programs and hope you get lucky. If you run the wrong one it will detect and display the drive’s model number. You can usually use this to figure out the correct manufacturer.
Here are some direct links:
Maxtor PowerMax (also works on Quantum drives)
Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools
Seagate SeaTools
Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool