Set up & partition HD

[bbwgtr]

First I want to tell you all that thanks to ya'll my previous problem has been resolved, Ya!!!!!!!

New Problem-I have physically installed Maxtor 20 HD, however when I try to use MaxBlast software to setup HD, it tells me that the 'language file' not found, then shortly after hangs up.

So my question is, do I have to use this software? Isn't there away to setup HD & partition HD w/o it?

If so can someone tell me how? In detail please, I really don't want to mess up!

Thanks, Gayle

[Pantion]

Well is quite easy:

1) Make a boot disk. Either by formating a disk and making a system disk or Win9x Start-up disk utility localted on Add/Remove Programs. You formated a disk you need to copy FDISK, FORMAT and SYS on it (all are on \windows\command)

2) Start you computer with the disk.

3) Run FDISK. First go to 4. Display partitons (to check any partions already made on the HD).

4) Delete them and create any number of partitons you want. (Or if you have Partiton Magic you can create a boot disk and run the DOS version of Partion Magic from it and save a little work.)

5) Reboot and run format to format the HD and run format again for every partiton you made.

6) Run SYS to make the HD bootable.

Thats it... if you plan to run Win9x use the Start-up disk created on Windows so you can have CD-ROM support or if its a bootable CD only tell the comp. on your BIOS to boot from the CD. Otherwise you'll need to use MS-DOS real mode CD-ROM drivers.

If I missed anything well anybody is welcome to fix it /forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Pantion (edited 11-13-1999).]

[bbwgtr]

Hi Pantion
Thanks for responding so quickly, really appreciate it.

I have a few questions to ask, I need some clarification. It's only because, I am dence, but learning!

1. In my machine, the new HD is by itself & empty. Right now I am using my grandsons machine. Will a bootable disk created with his machine work on my machine?

2. When running fdisk, will it give me a clue as to what to do next?

3. If the drive already has partitions on it, how do I delete them?

4. I want to create a partition for Win 98 by itself, a partition for applications, a partition for CAD by itself, & one for misc., etc.
What would you suggest considering my above requests?

5. I don't understand 'run SYS to make the HD bootable'.

6. In the instructions that came with the Maxtor HD, it says 'Drives larger than 8.4 GB: Installing as boot drive (primary master, which I am) requires full installation set of Windows 98 - not an update from DOS or Windows 3.x'. I think I know what their saying, but since Win 3.1 all I have are updates, last update is Win 98.

7. Just one thing more, in my machine I have a CDR & a CD ROM, with the CD ROM being the secondary master & the CDR being the secondary slave. The HD is on a cable all by itself. I thought that this was the best config. when I entered CMOS, I 'auto detect' everthing but it won't detect the CD ROM. what could this be.

I really want to thank you in advance, I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks Gayle

[bbwgtr]

Still hoping that you can help me!
Gayle
ps, how do you get the smiley faces etc.?

[scotter]

#1 yes you can use a boot disk off the othere machine

#2 some bios will not see CD rom drives some do

#3 you can do a clean install of windows 98 from the upgrade disk put in your CD go to the drive and type setup.exe it will start the install at a sertin point it will ask for a older version of windows you can use any older copy win95 or win3.1 cd or floppy's it dont matter just pop it in and tell the install where to look /forum/smile.gif

as for the sys thing I never use it if your doing a clean install of a os you dont need it

just run fdisk off the boot disk then run format C: off the boot disk it's is easy to use just follow the promts /forum/smile.gif

if you realy want to do it easy E-mail me and I will send you a boot disk of partition magic makes setting up your drives very easy supports all formats and as many partitions as you want /forum/smile.gif

[Dave_H]

Get smiley faces

HERE (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/faq.html#HTML)
/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Dave_H (edited 11-14-1999).]

[ktwebb]

Here is another little quick hint to speed up your install. After you fdisk and format make a directory on C called cabs or whatever you want to. Then go to the win98 folder on the cd. You can copy *.* to the cabs directory you made on C: which will copy everything including setup to that folder. Now run setup from your hard disk instead of the CDROM. Just speeds things up and you wont have to have the CD everytime windows asks for the CD when you load new hardware. When it does just point it to the Cabs directory. BTW fdisk is fairly intuitive. Just remember, since you dont have anything on the HDD you cant screw it up too bad.

[Pantion]

Well... seems like most of your questions are already answered /forum/smile.gif Since today is sunday morning and I don't really feel like going out 'till afternoon I'll answere them anyway.

1. The answer is yes. Just be carefull on what version of Win95 it has. If its Win98 no problem.

2. FDisk is power, but at the same time a little to agressive on menus. But just read the menus and it shouldn't be a problem. Anyway here are some guide lines:

A) Delete all partitions (Shouldn't be a problem)
B) Create a primary partition and tell its size (this is were Win98 will be) and then create the rest partitions as logical drives.
*Note The Drive letter will begin from C and go 'till the last partition and then give the CD-ROM/RW/R/DVD, etc. the next letter.

3. There is a menu options that say "Delete partitions" /forum/smile.gif

4. It is a good idea to have all in its own place.

5. Well run the following command after doing all of the above. From the A:> use
"sys a: c:" Many will say "why make HD bootable? It will have the OS installation do it anyway." Well I do this to boot from the HD and check it and see everything is on its place... sometimes running scandisk to clean any trash or fixing anything around.

6. No problem just run the setup.exe from the CD... There isn't any trouble with that.

7. On this one I think of two ways...
a) the cmos won't detect it on the BIOS option of HD autodetec?
b) or it doesn't detect it at boot time? You know when it check your memory, hd, etc.

If its a) then don't worry the BIOS will detect it at boot time. If its b) check that the cables are correctly connected (pin 1 with pin1) and also the power connectors. Also check for the CD and R jumpers... one or both could be on the master or slave position... fightng for who gets controll of the salve as it is for master.

Just as a reminder... if you are going to install from the CD remeber to load the CD drivers or use Win98 boot disk and select use CD-ROM support. Also as ktwebb said you can really speed-up things by copyng all you CD to one of the partitions you made. Then you can delete the files, since you already have the CD... this was only for install.

Well if I missed anything (except for grammar /forum/smile.gif Hey! I'm mexican, but that doesn't mean I'm a lame english speaker/reader/writter /forum/smile.gif ) well you know check it and put a reply about it so bbwgtr doesn't f***-** his comp. /forum/smile.gif

[bbwgtr]

Hey there,
Just wanted to let you all know that I think your all terrific. Thanks again, I'll be back to let you know what happens. Here I go.
gayle

[bbwgtr]

I just wanted to correct myself & say:
to all you guys & 'gals', thanks.