can't install OS on HD correctly

[tigerJk]

I bought a new Maxtor HD and when it boots, right before the splash screen appears, it's supposed to say "starting windows 98...", but after installing the HD, this line wouldn't appear and would be replaced by;

"EZ-BIOS: initializing..."
"EZ-BIOS: hold control to enter option screen for a: or c: bootup"
"EZ-BIOS: continuing Startup.."

at first, it didn't bother me, but I realized that my PC couldn't run at optimum performance. When I went to my system properties and to the performance tab, it said that the C drive was using MS-DOS compatibility mode or something like that and all this other junk. And so I tried disabling the EZ-BIOS program, but a warning then appeared saying that my CMOS BIOS settings were incorrect with my HD settings and disabling the EZ-BIOS program would be a bad idea. Any explanations or solutions will aid me.

[JimG]

I think EZ-BIOS is something that is used when the computer's BIOS cannot recognize the size of the HD (i.e., older mobos had an 8.4 Gig limit to HD size; running EZ-BIOS would allow you to use a larger HD, like 15 or 20 Gigs). It appears that your mobo cannot recognize your HD properly on its own and EZ-BIOS lets it see beyond whatever limitation it has. I'm not sure what settings EZ-BIOS has, I've never set it up. But I'm pretty sure if you disable the program, you might not be able to access your HD again.

[Richard_Cranium72]

I have NEVER used the EZ Bios,

Both of my Maxtors are the 7200rpm models and I just used the boot disc like always.

Forget the ez, just reformat and see if it don't run without it..

UNLESS,,,, you have a older mobo that don't see any hd's over 8 gb..

Better yet , visit maxtors site and research. I'd do it for ya but am very busy right now with daid machines myself...

DrVette

[oksenior]

tigerjk

the bad news- if your mobo's bios can't autoconfigure the cylinders,etc, you will have to and it would be unlikely in this event that your bios would see the entire drive. LBA mode must be enabled if your bios is similar to mine. all this comes down to a lot of grunt trial and error work. when you get into the EZ bios configuration to delete and thus lose your hd overlay (formatting scheme) read everything carefully and follow to the letter.

I've been where you are and it was no fun. It was a nighmare that I woke up from, i.e. I would format /s my C drive but it was actually the D drive partition of the EZ bios overlay. I would load the OS and boot to a non-system disc error. This flipped me to the point I purchased another HD thinking I had fried the the darn thing not realizing that booting from the a drive and its dos executable is not the same as booting to C drive although I could go to my pseudo C drive and do DIR /w and edit ,..

Not to discourage you but have a guru close or at a least a DOS 6.2 manual.

good luck
OKsr

[This message has been edited by oksenior (edited 01-07-2001).]