Partition Magic/software installation removes drives.

[spatz]

I recently bought an MP3 player for my daughter. When installing the software, after re-start we again get the message saying the PC need to be rebooted to reflect hardware changes. We are stuck in this loop. If you choose not to re-start we find that all the drives, (DVD/CD/ and spare hard drive) have been dynamically removed, and we only have access to the C: drive. Inside system devices the drives are marked with a red cross and there are exclamation marks on the primary and secondary IDE controllers. They want a restart code 14.

My config is Windows 98, partition magic pro6 divided into 5 partitions. (4 PC's, one for each familly member and a generic partition). A 1200Mhz athalon proc with 256 MB of RAM.

Has anyone any ideas how to get round this. Has anyone seen this before.

Thanks for readin,

Spatz:confused:

[BipolarBill]

Has anyone seen this before. How about all the time?

Welcome to SySopt!

I assume that you have a VIA chipset. Download and install the VIA 4in1 drivers and USB Filter patch:

http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=2

[spatz]

Thanks BB, I had tried the 4in1 drivers but not the USB patch.. will try that soonest

thanks,

spatz

[spatz]

Hi BB,
tried what you suggested but partition still in the re-start loop. Would you expect this. My next plan of action is to wipe the partition and try again with a clean set-up.ie new set-up, install 4-in1 drivers and USB patch then install MP3 software and see how I get on.

One question... I was only able to find the one USB patch for the 266 chip set.. I assume this was the one u meant??

Thanks again,

Spatz :confused:

[BipolarBill]

Hmm...I'm wondering if the minimum requirements for the MP3 player are more than you have (i.e. Win98SE). It seems a lot of trouble for an MP3 player with obviously bad drivers. Perhaps a replacement is due?

[spatz]

I wondered about that but the spec incorporates Win98SE in fact Win 98. I have also had success installing the software on a PC with Win98 but with no partition Magic. Another problem is that my Girl loves her new small MP3 player and is very reluctant to change it... Women???

[BipolarBill]

Try downloading and installing the appropriate chipset drivers in Safe Mode.

[AllGamer]

last time i checked, Win98 will not let you install hardware / drives in Safe Mode, only in Normal Mode

:t

[BipolarBill]

I don't think you checked at all. Chipset drivers can be installed in Safe Mode. It's just INF and SYS files until the user reboots and the hardware is detected.

[spatz]

Thanks guys.. I will try all options... I just need to make sure I find the right drivers.. thanks.. Les

[AllGamer]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
I don't think you checked at all. Chipset drivers can be installed in Safe Mode. It's just INF and SYS files until the user reboots and the hardware is detected.

?!?!:confused:

doesn't chipset drives use .inf and .sys?

i think you are refering to the .exe installs

if that's the case, yes those works

is just that not all chipset drives always comes with the installshield sort of of install

VIA didn't start doing it until recently

intel used to be only .zip with no installation files.

sis is another one that do come with installshield installer

no idea about the AMD chipset drives

and hmm... well that's about the most popular ones that are current

there are of course aladdin and all sort of others, but those are ancient stuff :p

[BipolarBill]

All of them use Installshield these days. :) It's always an option anyway.

[Picard]

What would be the point of safe mode if drivers could not be installed. There isn't anything restricting driver installs in safe mode to .exe's. .inf installs work just as well.

Wherever the idea came from the one cannot install drivers in safe mode... that is just silly. OF COURSE DRIVERS CAN BE INSTALLED IN SAFE MODE. They just won't load in safe mode, if they did, it would not be safe mode. But they will install in safe made, and load in normal mode.

I fail to see why partition magic was brought into this at all. It can't do anything to atapi drives, and only does to partitions what the users tells it to do, but the users says nothing about doing anyting with PQMAgic, he merely says it is installed.
PQMagic is NOT a driver, I repeat, is NOT A DRIVER. It is a partitioning utility and does not remain resident for anything once any partitioning action undertaken by the user have been carried out. PArtiton info is stored on the hard drive itself, no emulation whatsoever.

yet the user does say the problem occurred after installing some MP3 software, probably something downloaded from online - a trusted source?. Not sure why the user says it prompted to reboot again after the install, did it do that before the install?


Can anybody say chipset drivers?
Oh, yeah, somebody did. Try agin, mayber uninstalling the existing drivers first. AND RUN AN A VIRUS SCAN!

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by Picard
...AND RUN AN A VIRUS SCAN! Aye Capt'n! :t

[spatz]

Hi guys... if you se this I thought I'd let you know that I have tried all suggestions and no Cigar. The problem seems to be linked to the fact that the MP3 player software tys to install a "removable" disk..ie another hard drive. I think Partition magic takes exception to this cos it is suddenly presented with a new drive it knows nuthin about. I don't yet know how I am gonna resolve this but I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and suggestions... obviously if anyone has any other suggestions I am all ears... thanks again,

Les

[yoojie]

maybe the software is drive dependant. Like it has to be set to the e: drive or something.

Try to use partition magic and change drive letters. Make all extra drives Z: and below. For example:

C: Primary -stays the same
D: Becomes CD-ROM

Take any extra drives and make them Z: and below

Z: extra CD or CDR Drive
Y: Secondary HDD or Extra partition

I think you said something about have multi drives setup. Maybe that is what is causing the error.

:r

[Cluedo]

Do you have a link to a site about this MP3 player that would explain it's install procedures? I wasn't aware, once PM got done partitioning/merging/whatever, that it cared didley-squat about what was happening.

[yoojie]

True, PM just does the partitioning. You can even remove it after completion.

My thought was the MP3 play software. Maybe it was drive dependant. Yes the mfg website would be a good place to start.

[spatz]

Hi Guys...thanks fer your continued interest.. Kiiro are the manufacturers and the model is a Muse. I have been in touch with their technical support team who were extremely helpful ??? They advised me to get a PC engineer in, failing that I could have a refiund... good support eh.

Your thoughts on Drive dependency I feel are on the right lines but there are probs with this. I can't get past the install phase to reassign drive letters etc. As soon as the software installs all the drives except C ie DVD/CD Rom and extra HD are dynamically removed and the Primary/secondary IDE controllers are crippled. The install is never completed so the "changes" never get a chance to take effect. One suggestion which sounds plausable is to Re-format, install Windows, instal the MP3 player, then install PM. Hopefullt then PM will treat the MP3 player "removable disk" as a resident Drive and therfor accept it... Thought Guys ???

Thanks again...Les

[Cluedo]

One suggestion which sounds plausable is to Re-format, install Windows, instal the MP3 player, then install PM. If you want to give it a whirl that would be a way to test if your system will support it. (She must be quite a special daughter.) Don't believe it's PM related...more llike VIA USB....Or your MP3 Player folks never considered multi-partitioned installs. Best bet (easiest?) might be to install a PCI USB card.


A few links to check out:


VIA Arena USB Forum (http://forums.viaarena.com/categories.cfm?catid=16) (Make sure you post the requested specs to get a reply.)

USBMAN...info, forums.... (http://www.usbman.com/)

USB Devices May Not Work in Windows 98 Second Edition (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q240075)

How to Enable Universal Serial Bus Support (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q258773)

Deviant PC review of your player (http://www.deviantpc.com/reviews/muze/index.shtml)

Firebox Review and info (http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=362)

Firebox updated software for Muse (http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=features&action=muzehelp)

General USB Troubleshooting in Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Me (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q263218)

[spatz]

Cluedo, many thanks fer the help..u have given me plenty to get on with.. I suspected PM because the software installs ok on other machines with Win98Se... never though it might be a problem peculiar to my setup ie
SYMPTOMS
Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices that are connected to a Windows 98 Second Edition-based computer may not work if the following hardware components are installed on the computer:
An AMD processor (running at 350 MHz or faster)
A VIA Technologies USB controller.

I will investigate this and see how things go,

Thanks again
Les