1782- Disk Controller Failure

[Lil' Dave]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:5tvl1tF1f29fnU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in
> news:eSMfIm$SIHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:
>
>> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>> news:5tsurlF1f41njU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in
>>> news:uCmnu#2SIHA.4104@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:
>>>
>>>> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:5tq0ghF1ds7chU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>> "Brian A." <gonefish'n@afarawaylake> wrote in
>>>>> news:uLhtHFpSIHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:5to8pmF105qrvU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>> ms <ms@invalid.com> wrote in
>>>>>>> news:5to1chF1e9uauU1@mid.individual.net:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in
>>>>>>>> news:OYs73EjSIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:5tlqaaF1e3mk8U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>>>>>> I'm using a P166 that was in an earlier thread as a test
>>>>>>>>>> machine.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks for the detail, Dave.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If I picture the above, the jumper pins are:
>>>>>>>> 5 3 1
>>>>>>>> 6 4 2
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That's the proper way depending on how the drive is held while
>>>>>> you look at it, ICR
>>>>>> if they actually had a 7th pin back when.
>>>>>> There should be markings, S - M - CS, on the top or bottom side of
>>>>>> the drive where the pins are, which may require a magnifying glass
>>>>>> to see them well enough.
>>>>>>
>>>>> This one does not have those markings.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The existing jumper is between 5 and 6, not listed above.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Prolly a typo since L.D. typed 4-5 and we all know jumpers
>>>>>> aren't set on diagnals.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> If this is to be a single drive, from above, "no jumper pin"
>>>>>>>> looks like the thing to do.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If it's the WD drive, that's how it was done back when, no
>>>>>> jumper for a Single
>>>>>> drive. However, they did come with the jumper set on 2 odd or
>>>>>> even pins which was also considered Single.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> So my results are with no jumper. See below.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Comment?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Some test data.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On the subject drive, I removed the jumper, first step in testing
>>>>>>> a drive in this old Compaq P166 is boot with the Compaq setup
>>>>>>> disk. On bootup, got the error message "NTDLR is missing". Looked
>>>>>>> up in saved data, this file is part of NT type boot sequence. The
>>>>>>> computer had W95, IIRC, NT requires a lot more machine than this,
>>>>>>> doubt it ever had anything but W95. The hard drive is 1 GB, not
>>>>>>> sure it's history.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> NTLDR = NT Loader and is used for NT/2000/XP.
>>>>>> It doesn't matter what the PC originally had installed for an OS,
>>>>>> you're testing using a totally different drive than what was with
>>>>>> it and it may have had an NT flavor OS on it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Can't you boot with a 98 boot disk to check what, if anything,
>>>>>> may be on it.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Tried that, first get the usual Compaq "F1 to save defaults", then
>>>>> get "NTDLR is missing"
>>>>>
>>>>> I now have 3 unknown drives that might be OK if that message and
>>>>> jumpers are sorted out.
>>>>>
>>>>> Can I search for that file and put it on my W98 boot floppy to copy
>>>>> to C: Being DOS on the drive, no windows folder to put it in. Is
>>>>> that a possible way to solve this issue?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I tried 2 other drives, one unknown, one known good, both now
>>>>>>> give the same error message on bootup. The computer did not give
>>>>>>> this message before today, using other hard drives.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Again, could be a non-bootable disk, the drive isn't configured
>>>>>> and/or properly
>>>>>> detected by the BIOS, the boot sequence isn't set properly in the
>>>>>> BIOS ( you are swapping out disks and using a compuke boot disk ),
>>>>>> corrupt boot sector / MBR, faulty ribbon data cable, etc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Until I get past that message, BIOS can't look at the drives.
>>>>>
>>>>> Advice?
>>>>>
>>>>> ms
>>>>
>>>> Well, my assessment is you probably have a fair idea of it. And,
>>>> you are probably aware from input this thread that the message is
>>>> coming from a hard drive attempting to boot. Therefore, the hard
>>>> drive or hard drives have been assessed by the bios.
>>>>
>>>> Am not a real smart guy, but, I would remove all hard drives but the
>>>> AC31000. Then, go from there.
>>>> Dave
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I am using the AC31000 drive.
>>>
>>> I searched on my W2K machine, found an "image" sort of icon labeled
>>> "ntdlr", and ntdetect.com (this may cause error message, see below)
>>> Nothing else in W2K.
>>>
>>> My wife has a XP Pro machine, searched there, there are no files in
>>> i386 for ntdlr. Several search engines found nothing else. The OS
>>> behaves fine, so that's a puzzle.
>>>
>>> I put the 2 above files on a W98 boot disk, booted up, get message
>>> "W2000 can't start because *** is corupted or missing." Maybe caused
>>> by ntdetect.com. Of course, neither of these was ntdlr.exe.
>>>
>>> Searched Google, no luck for ntdlr.exe. Many posts about "missing"
>>> message, a few say search in i386 folder for ntdlr.exe, not in my
>>> machines.
>>>
>>> My intent is to wind up with FAT-32 formatted drives, when finished,
>>> not NT type drives.
>>>
>>> Advice?
>>>
>>> ms
>>
>> Then why all the skirt around, and skirt the issue stuff. Wipe the
>> AC31000 with the WD software writing zeroes to it. Be done with it.
>> Then, start from scratch.
>>
>> I know for a fact that you know how to get a known properly working
>> boot 98 startup diskette.
>>
>> Dave
>>
> #1- Downloaded from WD site the latest DOS boot disk. looked at it and
> one option is to wipe the hard drive.
>
> Booted the P166 with this WD boot disk, get the following message:
> Causeway error 09- unrecoverable internal exception error, program
> terminated.
>
> #2- copied a small utility wipeout to W98 boot disk, it would write
> zeros.
>
> Booted, get the NTLDR missing message, so can't get to A prompt to run
> the utility to wipe the drive.
>
> #3- copied NTLDR and NTdetect.com to W98 boot floppy.
>
> Booted, get message "can't start W2K .....", so again can't copy the 2 NT
> files to C, so I can get to A.
>
> I can connect another hard drive formatted with DOS 6.22, works OK with
> this computer, not clear how to use this to load files, then switch hard
> drives, then not see C, or A.
>
> Advice?
>
> ms
>
>
>
>

Am at a loss of how and why the things you do. See 1-2-3.
Dave

 

[ms]

"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in
news:eGqdINPTIHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>
>>>
>>> Then why all the skirt around, and skirt the issue stuff. Wipe the
>>> AC31000 with the WD software writing zeroes to it. Be done with it.
>>> Then, start from scratch.
>>>
>>> I know for a fact that you know how to get a known properly working
>>> boot 98 startup diskette.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>> #1- Downloaded from WD site the latest DOS boot disk. looked at it
>> and one option is to wipe the hard drive.
>>
>> Booted the P166 with this WD boot disk, get the following message:
>> Causeway error 09- unrecoverable internal exception error, program
>> terminated.
>>

I did what you suggested. With this particular hard drive, it gave an
error message.

>> #2- copied a small utility wipeout to W98 boot disk, it would write
>> zeros.
>>
>> Booted, get the NTLDR missing message, so can't get to A prompt to
>> run the utility to wipe the drive.
>>

Since I could not get the WD disk to wipe the drive, I tried another wipe
utility. Had the basic issue, can't see the W98 boot disk in A, so that
didn't work.

>> #3- copied NTLDR and NTdetect.com to W98 boot floppy.
>>
>> Booted, get message "can't start W2K .....", so again can't copy the
>> 2 NT files to C, so I can get to A.

> Am at a loss of how and why the things you do. See 1-2-3.
> Dave

#1 and #2 should be self-evident. #3 is the only one that may fit your
comment, I was trying another method that didn't help.

>>
>> I can connect another hard drive formatted with DOS 6.22, works OK
>> with this computer, not clear how to use this to load files, then
>> switch hard drives, then not see C, or A.
>>
>> Advice?
>>
>> ms
>>

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5tlqaaF1e3mk8U1@mid.individual.net...
> I'm using a P166 that was in an earlier thread as a test machine.
> I have connected a series of used small hard drives to check their
> status.
> When sucessful, first get Setup screen, auto detect the hard drive, then
> reboot with a W98 boot disk, fdisk, then format.
> Having success with 4 different drives, the motherboard, power cable,
> data cable all are OK.
> But 2 drives gave initially 1782 Disk Controller Failure.
> I searched, find that if above items are ok, maybe the master/slave
> setting may cause this error.
> One drive had a diagram, so it gave the error when set for Master.
> The other, Western Digital 31000, saved a data page but not sure of the
> diagram for the plug.
> Is it likely that both drives are defective from the above data?

Try the drives on a known good computer

If this is the Compaq 8702, the diagnostic utility may be helpful.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:OCRJoyWTIHA.4752@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5tlqaaF1e3mk8U1@mid.individual.net...
>> I'm using a P166 that was in an earlier thread as a test machine.
>> I have connected a series of used small hard drives to check their
>> status.
>> When sucessful, first get Setup screen, auto detect the hard drive,
> then
>> reboot with a W98 boot disk, fdisk, then format.
>> Having success with 4 different drives, the motherboard, power cable,
>> data cable all are OK.
>> But 2 drives gave initially 1782 Disk Controller Failure.
>> I searched, find that if above items are ok, maybe the master/slave
>> setting may cause this error.
>> One drive had a diagram, so it gave the error when set for Master.
>> The other, Western Digital 31000, saved a data page but not sure of
> the
>> diagram for the plug.
>> Is it likely that both drives are defective from the above data?
>
> Try the drives on a known good computer
>
> If this is the Compaq 8702, the diagnostic utility may be helpful.
>
> ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe
>
> Ben
>

Thanks, Ben,

That Compaq utility is the one you recommended before, when I see the A
drive, it does allow configuring the BIOS for the drive, I used it on
several drives that were FAT-32 in this machine.

But it seems the 3 problem drives can only be tried on a NT type machine,
I have one but it's not handy for this, and my intent is for these drives
to be used in a W98 machine. So if they check out as NT drives, it does
not get me FAT-32.

When these drives hook to either a DOS or W98 machine, I can't see the A
drive due to the NTLDR error message.

IMO, I just need to see the A drive so I can wipe the drives, then
proceed.

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

> > "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> > news:5tlqaaF1e3mk8U1@mid.individual.net...
> >> I'm using a P166 that was in an earlier thread as a test machine.
> >> I have connected a series of used small hard drives to check their
> >> status.
> >> When sucessful, first get Setup screen, auto detect the hard drive,
> > then
> >> reboot with a W98 boot disk, fdisk, then format.
> >> Having success with 4 different drives, the motherboard, power cable,
> >> data cable all are OK.
> >> But 2 drives gave initially 1782 Disk Controller Failure.
> >> I searched, find that if above items are ok, maybe the master/slave
> >> setting may cause this error.
> >> One drive had a diagram, so it gave the error when set for Master.
> >> The other, Western Digital 31000, saved a data page but not sure of
> > the
> >> diagram for the plug.
> >> Is it likely that both drives are defective from the above data?
> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
> > Try the drives on a known good computer
> > If this is the Compaq 8702, the diagnostic utility may be helpful.
> > ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe

> Thanks, Ben,
> That Compaq utility is the one you recommended before, when I see the A
> drive, it does allow configuring the BIOS for the drive, I used it on
> several drives that were FAT-32 in this machine.
> But it seems the 3 problem drives can only be tried on a NT type machine,

NTFS, FAT32 and FAT are file systems, not computer types.
The "NTDLR is missing" message you are receiving is being generated by
a NT style boot loader on the disks themselves.

> I have one but it's not handy for this, and my intent is for these drives
> to be used in a W98 machine. So if they check out as NT drives, it does
> not get me FAT-32.

The "NTDLR is missing" message does not necessarily mean there are NTFS
partitions on the drive. Use the Windows 98 version of fdisk to examine them.

> When these drives hook to either a DOS or W98 machine, I can't see the A
> drive due to the NTLDR error message.

Try creating a fresh Windows 98 boot floppy and make sure the boot sequence
is correct. Don't forget to save any changes to the BIOS setup.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

> IMO, I just need to see the A drive so I can wipe the drives, then
> proceed.

If there are NTFS partitions and the Windows 98 version of fdisk won't delete
them, see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/103049

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:#mtrKChTIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

>> > "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
>> > news:5tlqaaF1e3mk8U1@mid.individual.net...
>> >> I'm using a P166 that was in an earlier thread as a test machine.
>> >> I have connected a series of used small hard drives to check their
>> >> status.
>> >> When sucessful, first get Setup screen, auto detect the hard
>> >> drive,
>
>> > then
>> >> reboot with a W98 boot disk, fdisk, then format.
>> >> Having success with 4 different drives, the motherboard, power
> cable,
>> >> data cable all are OK.
>> >> But 2 drives gave initially 1782 Disk Controller Failure.
>> >> I searched, find that if above items are ok, maybe the
>> >> master/slave
>
>> >> setting may cause this error.
>> >> One drive had a diagram, so it gave the error when set for Master.
>> >> The other, Western Digital 31000, saved a data page but not sure
>> >> of
>
>> > the
>> >> diagram for the plug.
>> >> Is it likely that both drives are defective from the above data?
>> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
>> > Try the drives on a known good computer
>> > If this is the Compaq 8702, the diagnostic utility may be helpful.
>> > ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe
>
>> Thanks, Ben,
>> That Compaq utility is the one you recommended before, when I see the
> A
>> drive, it does allow configuring the BIOS for the drive, I used it on
>> several drives that were FAT-32 in this machine.
>> But it seems the 3 problem drives can only be tried on a NT type
> machine,
>
> NTFS, FAT32 and FAT are file systems, not computer types.
> The "NTDLR is missing" message you are receiving is being generated by
> a NT style boot loader on the disks themselves.
>
>> I have one but it's not handy for this, and my intent is for these
> drives
>> to be used in a W98 machine. So if they check out as NT drives, it
> does
>> not get me FAT-32.
>
> The "NTDLR is missing" message does not necessarily mean there are
> NTFS partitions on the drive. Use the Windows 98 version of fdisk to
> examine them.
>
>> When these drives hook to either a DOS or W98 machine, I can't see
>> the
> A
>> drive due to the NTLDR error message.
>
> Try creating a fresh Windows 98 boot floppy and make sure the boot
> sequence is correct. Don't forget to save any changes to the BIOS
> setup.
>
> http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
>
>> IMO, I just need to see the A drive so I can wipe the drives, then
>> proceed.
>
> If there are NTFS partitions and the Windows 98 version of fdisk won't
> delete them, see
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/103049
>
> Ben
>
Thanks, Ben. Will post back.

ms

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:#mtrKChTIHA.3400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

>> > then
>> >> reboot with a W98 boot disk, fdisk, then format.
>> >> Having success with 4 different drives, the motherboard, power
> cable,
>> >> data cable all are OK.
>> >> But 2 drives gave initially 1782 Disk Controller Failure.
>> >> I searched, find that if above items are ok, maybe the
>> >> master/slave
>
>> >> setting may cause this error.
>> >> One drive had a diagram, so it gave the error when set for Master.
>> >> The other, Western Digital 31000, saved a data page but not sure
>> >> of
>
>> > the
>> >> diagram for the plug.
>> >> Is it likely that both drives are defective from the above data?
>> "Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
>> > Try the drives on a known good computer
>> > If this is the Compaq 8702, the diagnostic utility may be helpful.
>> > ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe
>
>> Thanks, Ben,
>> That Compaq utility is the one you recommended before, when I see the
> A
>> drive, it does allow configuring the BIOS for the drive, I used it on
>> several drives that were FAT-32 in this machine.
>> But it seems the 3 problem drives can only be tried on a NT type
> machine,
>
> NTFS, FAT32 and FAT are file systems, not computer types.
> The "NTDLR is missing" message you are receiving is being generated by
> a NT style boot loader on the disks themselves.
>
>> I have one but it's not handy for this, and my intent is for these
> drives
>> to be used in a W98 machine. So if they check out as NT drives, it
> does
>> not get me FAT-32.
>
> The "NTDLR is missing" message does not necessarily mean there are
> NTFS partitions on the drive. Use the Windows 98 version of fdisk to
> examine them.
>
>> When these drives hook to either a DOS or W98 machine, I can't see
>> the
> A
>> drive due to the NTLDR error message.
>
> Try creating a fresh Windows 98 boot floppy and make sure the boot
> sequence is correct. Don't forget to save any changes to the BIOS
> setup.
>
> http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
>
>> IMO, I just need to see the A drive so I can wipe the drives, then
>> proceed.
>
> If there are NTFS partitions and the Windows 98 version of fdisk won't
> delete them, see
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/103049
>
> Ben

Earlier in thread, I used a W98 boot disk from IIRC, your earlier advice.

I got another W98SE w/o ram drive boot disk again, this time much better
results. A puzzle there, they should have been the same boot disk.

2 of the 3 problem drives showed A, I was able to fisk and format, one
will replace a smaller hard drive for use with a old DOS game.

The third drive was 15 GB, would be useful, but this one shows:
1790- Disk 0 error. Believe that is a bad drive. Is there anything I can
do to check that drive out? Would have to get past that screen.

Thanks for the help, salvaged 2 small drives.

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5u500hF1fesm0U1@mid.individual.net...
> Earlier in thread, I used a W98 boot disk from IIRC, your earlier advice.
> I got another W98SE w/o ram drive boot disk again, this time much better
> results. A puzzle there, they should have been the same boot disk.

Sounds like the boot sector was overwritten. Try a virus scan on it.

> 2 of the 3 problem drives showed A, I was able to fisk and format, one
> will replace a smaller hard drive for use with a old DOS game.
> The third drive was 15 GB, would be useful, but this one shows:
> 1790- Disk 0 error. Believe that is a bad drive. Is there anything I can
> do to check that drive out? Would have to get past that screen.

The 8702 originally shipped with a 2.5 gigabyte drive, so its BIOS may
not be able to handle a 15 gigabyte. The support site doesn't show a
BIOS update to help with this, so the only way to use the drive at its
full capacity in this computer would probably be a drive overlay program
from the drive's manufacturer. Also, try hitting F1 to get past the error
message.

Maxtor and Seagate http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/
Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlg11_dos.exe

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:uUNwVrrTIHA.4196@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5u500hF1fesm0U1@mid.individual.net...
>> Earlier in thread, I used a W98 boot disk from IIRC, your earlier
> advice.
>> I got another W98SE w/o ram drive boot disk again, this time much
> better
>> results. A puzzle there, they should have been the same boot disk.
>
> Sounds like the boot sector was overwritten. Try a virus scan on it.
>
>> 2 of the 3 problem drives showed A, I was able to fisk and format,
>> one
>
>> will replace a smaller hard drive for use with a old DOS game.
>> The third drive was 15 GB, would be useful, but this one shows:
>> 1790- Disk 0 error. Believe that is a bad drive. Is there anything I
> can
>> do to check that drive out? Would have to get past that screen.
>
> The 8702 originally shipped with a 2.5 gigabyte drive, so its BIOS may
> not be able to handle a 15 gigabyte. The support site doesn't show a
> BIOS update to help with this, so the only way to use the drive at its
> full capacity in this computer would probably be a drive overlay
> program from the drive's manufacturer. Also, try hitting F1 to get
> past the error message.
>
> Maxtor and Seagate http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/
> Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlg11_dos.exe
>
> Ben

This drive would be for another computer, just want to test it in the
P166, but your comment applies.

Your link to a WD boot disk led to a different boot disk than before,
this one is ver. 11.0, and repeating F1 got it past the error screen.

The message: starting Caldera DR-DOS, then just a blinking cursor. The
floppy drive continues to read, but nothing beyond that.

Comment?

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5u77lgF1gjvmvU1@mid.individual.net...
> This drive would be for another computer, just want to test it in the
> P166, but your comment applies.
> Your link to a WD boot disk led to a different boot disk than before,
> this one is ver. 11.0, and repeating F1 got it past the error screen.
> The message: starting Caldera DR-DOS, then just a blinking cursor. The
> floppy drive continues to read, but nothing beyond that.

Try running the program again using a different floppy. If this doesn't help, try
downloading the file again.

http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlg11_dos.exe

Also, please note that you will probably have to repeat this procedure with the
other computer when you transfer the drive.

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:e3F1DyvTIHA.4768@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5u77lgF1gjvmvU1@mid.individual.net...
>> This drive would be for another computer, just want to test it in the
>> P166, but your comment applies.
>> Your link to a WD boot disk led to a different boot disk than before,
>> this one is ver. 11.0, and repeating F1 got it past the error screen.
>> The message: starting Caldera DR-DOS, then just a blinking cursor.
>> The
>
>> floppy drive continues to read, but nothing beyond that.
>
> Try running the program again using a different floppy. If this
> doesn't help, try downloading the file again.
>
> http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlg11_dos.exe
>
> Also, please note that you will probably have to repeat this procedure
> with the other computer when you transfer the drive.
>
> Ben

A new download and rewriting a new floppy, result is the same.

I then tried the Compaq diagnostic boot disk, with repeated F1, I get
past the 1790 message. but then just a blinking cursor and a F1- boot
screen (normal for the Compaq disk), and the floppy drive continues to
read.

I then put in a W98 boot disk, hit F1, it rebooted, F1 again to get past
the error message, get the "NTLDR is missing" message, F1, just a
blinking cursor and floppy drive reads.

The different floppy disks read normally in another computer.

I have not yet with this drive been able to read the Compaq disk and
detect this drive (or attempt to) in the BIOS, as I did with the others.

The hard drive is still the 15 GB one you suggested the BIOS may not
handle. As discussed earlier, the "NTLDR is missing" suggests it is
starting to read the hard drive?

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5u7qhcF1gkhphU1@mid.individual.net...
> A new download and rewriting a new floppy, result is the same.
> I then tried the Compaq diagnostic boot disk, with repeated F1, I get
> past the 1790 message. but then just a blinking cursor and a F1- boot
> screen (normal for the Compaq disk), and the floppy drive continues to
> read.
> I then put in a W98 boot disk, hit F1, it rebooted, F1 again to get past
> the error message, get the "NTLDR is missing" message, F1, just a
> blinking cursor and floppy drive reads.
> The different floppy disks read normally in another computer.
> I have not yet with this drive been able to read the Compaq disk and
> detect this drive (or attempt to) in the BIOS, as I did with the others.
> The hard drive is still the 15 GB one you suggested the BIOS may not
> handle. As discussed earlier, the "NTLDR is missing" suggests it is
> starting to read the hard drive?

You might consider installing the drive in the other computer, since it
might work just fine. If you want to keep going with this one, check
the drive or its documentation to see if there is some way to use the
disk at a reduced capacity, such as 8 gigabytes. You also might try
disconnecting the drive, then going into the BIOS setup and setting
the drive parameters manually. If the BIOS won't accept the drive's
parameters, try using the largest parameters allowable. Then
reconnect the drive. Please note that even if you get the drive working,
you may have to go through all of this again on the other computer.
Also, the "NTLDR is missing" message is probably coming from a
floppy disk with a corrupt boot sector.

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:em1jhu3TIHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5u7qhcF1gkhphU1@mid.individual.net...
>> A new download and rewriting a new floppy, result is the same.
>> I then tried the Compaq diagnostic boot disk, with repeated F1, I get
>> past the 1790 message. but then just a blinking cursor and a F1- boot
>> screen (normal for the Compaq disk), and the floppy drive continues
>> to
>
>> read.
>> I then put in a W98 boot disk, hit F1, it rebooted, F1 again to get
> past
>> the error message, get the "NTLDR is missing" message, F1, just a
>> blinking cursor and floppy drive reads.
>> The different floppy disks read normally in another computer.
>> I have not yet with this drive been able to read the Compaq disk and
>> detect this drive (or attempt to) in the BIOS, as I did with the
> others.
>> The hard drive is still the 15 GB one you suggested the BIOS may not
>> handle. As discussed earlier, the "NTLDR is missing" suggests it is
>> starting to read the hard drive?
>
> You might consider installing the drive in the other computer, since
> it might work just fine. If you want to keep going with this one,
> check the drive or its documentation to see if there is some way to
> use the disk at a reduced capacity, such as 8 gigabytes. You also
> might try disconnecting the drive, then going into the BIOS setup and
> setting the drive parameters manually. If the BIOS won't accept the
> drive's parameters, try using the largest parameters allowable. Then
> reconnect the drive. Please note that even if you get the drive
> working, you may have to go through all of this again on the other
> computer. Also, the "NTLDR is missing" message is probably coming from
> a floppy disk with a corrupt boot sector.
>
> Ben

I used the floppy to boot up a W98 computer, it worked fine, suggest the
boot sector is OK.

I will try as you suggest above, if success, will post back, if not, will
close this long thread, and later try the drive in another machine.

Thanks very much for the help.

ms

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:em1jhu3TIHA.4880@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5u7qhcF1gkhphU1@mid.individual.net...
>> A new download and rewriting a new floppy, result is the same.
>> I then tried the Compaq diagnostic boot disk, with repeated F1, I get
>> past the 1790 message. but then just a blinking cursor and a F1- boot
>> screen (normal for the Compaq disk), and the floppy drive continues
>> to
>
>> read.
>> I then put in a W98 boot disk, hit F1, it rebooted, F1 again to get
> past
>> the error message, get the "NTLDR is missing" message, F1, just a
>> blinking cursor and floppy drive reads.
>> The different floppy disks read normally in another computer.
>> I have not yet with this drive been able to read the Compaq disk and
>> detect this drive (or attempt to) in the BIOS, as I did with the
> others.
>> The hard drive is still the 15 GB one you suggested the BIOS may not
>> handle. As discussed earlier, the "NTLDR is missing" suggests it is
>> starting to read the hard drive?
>
> You might consider installing the drive in the other computer, since
> it might work just fine. If you want to keep going with this one,
> check the drive or its documentation to see if there is some way to
> use the disk at a reduced capacity, such as 8 gigabytes. You also
> might try disconnecting the drive, then going into the BIOS setup and
> setting the drive parameters manually. If the BIOS won't accept the
> drive's parameters, try using the largest parameters allowable. Then
> reconnect the drive. Please note that even if you get the drive
> working, you may have to go through all of this again on the other
> computer. Also, the "NTLDR is missing" message is probably coming from
> a floppy disk with a corrupt boot sector.
>
> Ben

Ben

Just a followup. I disconnected the hard drive, booted with the Compaq
diag disk. First a F1 screen, save settings, I said yes, it rebooted, I
get "NTLDR is missing" message.

The floppy does not give this message in another computer, I had created
it in a NT type computer. The P166 had W95 when I got it used, the Compaq
site says it had that, so where is that messge being generated in the
machine, with no hard drive, and IMO not from a bad floppy?

Comment?

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5ufkqlF1hb8stU1@mid.individual.net...
> Just a followup. I disconnected the hard drive, booted with the Compaq
> diag disk. First a F1 screen, save settings, I said yes, it rebooted, I
> get "NTLDR is missing" message.
> The floppy does not give this message in another computer, I had created
> it in a NT type computer. The P166 had W95 when I got it used, the Compaq
> site says it had that, so where is that messge being generated in the
> machine, with no hard drive, and IMO not from a bad floppy?

If you still have the unmodified floppy, try it on another computer now.
Note that simply reading the floppy's files and folders is not the same
as booting from the floppy. If you get something other than "NTLDR
is missing" when booting from the floppy, please repost with the details.
Also, as I'm sure you already know, the downloads at the Compaq
support site are programs that you download and run on a working
computer and will not work is you simply copy them to a floppy.

Ben

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:ud$ShYgUIHA.4092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5ufkqlF1hb8stU1@mid.individual.net...
>> Just a followup. I disconnected the hard drive, booted with the
>> Compaq
>
>> diag disk. First a F1 screen, save settings, I said yes, it rebooted,
> I
>> get "NTLDR is missing" message.
>> The floppy does not give this message in another computer, I had
> created
>> it in a NT type computer. The P166 had W95 when I got it used, the
> Compaq
>> site says it had that, so where is that messge being generated in the
>> machine, with no hard drive, and IMO not from a bad floppy?
>
> If you still have the unmodified floppy, try it on another computer
> now. Note that simply reading the floppy's files and folders is not
> the same as booting from the floppy. If you get something other than
> "NTLDR is missing" when booting from the floppy, please repost with
> the details.

On bootup in a W98 computer, it has enough normal boot files that I get a
normal screen, the W98 Startup Menu that I had set up in that machine.

Also, as I'm sure you already know, the downloads at the
> Compaq support site are programs that you download and run on a
> working computer and will not work is you simply copy them to a
> floppy.
>
Right. I run the boot disk setup file, write to a disk formatted as FAT-
32 in a W2K computer. I have used boot disks created in this manner in
W98 and DOS computers with no NTLDR messages. It appears the initial disk
format by a NT type OS does not cause problems.

So the resultant Compaq boot disk seems OK, only produces the "NTLDR is
missing" when booting this P166 with no hard drive. That was the only
hard drive in that machine. I will later put a more compatible hard drive
on this machine.

I don't understand the results.

Comment?

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5uhl0dF1h77o4U1@mid.individual.net...
> On bootup in a W98 computer, it has enough normal boot files that I get a
> normal screen, the W98 Startup Menu that I had set up in that machine.

You might be booting from the hard drive. Go into the BIOS setup of this
machine and make sure that the boot sequence is set to "A:, C". Be sure
to save any changes.

> Also, as I'm sure you already know, the downloads at the
> > Compaq support site are programs that you download and run on a
> > working computer and will not work is you simply copy them to a
> > floppy.
> >
> Right. I run the boot disk setup file, write to a disk formatted as FAT-
> 32 in a W2K computer. I have used boot disks created in this manner in
> W98 and DOS computers with no NTLDR messages. It appears the initial disk
> format by a NT type OS does not cause problems.

If this is the Compaq sp2141.exe utility, it is my understanding that it rewrites
the entire floppy, including the boot sector.

> So the resultant Compaq boot disk seems OK, only produces the "NTLDR is
> missing" when booting this P166 with no hard drive. That was the only
> hard drive in that machine. I will later put a more compatible hard drive
> on this machine.

I don't think you can consider the resultant floppy OK unless it boots a
computer into the Compaq diagnostic screen. The following steps are
apparently necessary for the sp2141.exe:

Run the file.
Press Page Down.
Type "AGREE".
Type "a".
Insert the floppy.
Press "Enter".
Confirm in "Status" that all 80 cylinders are written.

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe

Ben

 

[dadiOH]

ms wrote:

> On bootup in a W98 computer, it has enough normal boot files that I
> get a normal screen, the W98 Startup Menu that I had set up in that
> machine.

In that case, the floppy isn't being read because that menu is a
function of - ready? - *WINDOWS*. The final result from a boot floppy
is the A: prompt.

Either the floppy disc and/or drive and/or cable is/are bad.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[ms]

"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in
news:uqgdqThUIHA.4696@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

> "ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message
> news:5uhl0dF1h77o4U1@mid.individual.net...
>> On bootup in a W98 computer, it has enough normal boot files that I
> get a
>> normal screen, the W98 Startup Menu that I had set up in that
>> machine.
>
> You might be booting from the hard drive. Go into the BIOS setup of
> this machine and make sure that the boot sequence is set to "A:, C".
> Be sure to save any changes.
>
>> Also, as I'm sure you already know, the downloads at the
>> > Compaq support site are programs that you download and run on a
>> > working computer and will not work is you simply copy them to a
>> > floppy.
>> >
>> Right. I run the boot disk setup file, write to a disk formatted as
> FAT-
>> 32 in a W2K computer. I have used boot disks created in this manner
>> in
>
>> W98 and DOS computers with no NTLDR messages. It appears the initial
> disk
>> format by a NT type OS does not cause problems.
>
> If this is the Compaq sp2141.exe utility, it is my understanding that
> it rewrites the entire floppy, including the boot sector.
>
>> So the resultant Compaq boot disk seems OK, only produces the "NTLDR
> is
>> missing" when booting this P166 with no hard drive. That was the only
>> hard drive in that machine. I will later put a more compatible hard
> drive
>> on this machine.
>
> I don't think you can consider the resultant floppy OK unless it boots
> a computer into the Compaq diagnostic screen. The following steps are
> apparently necessary for the sp2141.exe:
>
> Run the file.
> Press Page Down.
> Type "AGREE".
> Type "a".
> Insert the floppy.
> Press "Enter".
> Confirm in "Status" that all 80 cylinders are written.
>
> ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp02001-02500/sp2141.exe
>
> Ben

I created a new boot disk. It works, I swapped with a known small hard
drive, got the Compaq setup screen, it had autodetected the smaller hard
drive.

I then used a W98SE boot disk, did fdisk/status.
It showed 853 MB, DOS, FAT 16. I deleted, recreated a new logical
partition as FAT-32. I then formatted it.

I then ran fdisk/status again, the resulting display is not what I
expected.

Disk Drive MB Free Usage %
1 812 100
C 812

41 MB less?

Is this a normal display for a 100% usage/one partition in FAT-32?

I considered starting fdisk over, in the first screen see it is now
FAT-32, active, so left it.

A new question if I may, your opinion on W98SE installed on only 812 MB,
with no Outlook Express, etc, minimal installation?

Thanks

ms

 

[Ben Myers]

"ms" <ms@invalid.com> wrote in message news:5ul6ohF1ichjlU1@mid.individual.net...
> I created a new boot disk. It works, I swapped with a known small hard
> drive, got the Compaq setup screen, it had autodetected the smaller hard
> drive.
> I then used a W98SE boot disk, did fdisk/status.
> It showed 853 MB, DOS, FAT 16. I deleted, recreated a new logical
> partition as FAT-32. I then formatted it.

Hopefully, fdisk shows this as "PRI DOS". Logical drives are
typically found in an extended partition.

> I then ran fdisk/status again, the resulting display is not what I
> expected.
> Disk Drive MB Free Usage %
> 1 812 100
> C 812
> 41 MB less?
> Is this a normal display for a 100% usage/one partition in FAT-32?

The only way to analyze the difference in disk space is to compare the
details of the two partitions, which can't be done since the original one
has been deleted. FAT32 partitions have a larger boot sector and
a much larger file allocation table, but there may be something else
involved here.

> I considered starting fdisk over, in the first screen see it is now
> FAT-32, active, so left it.
> A new question if I may, your opinion on W98SE installed on only 812 MB,
> with no Outlook Express, etc, minimal installation?

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/182751

Ben