Western Digital harddrive playing tricks on me--

[hellrulez]

Well, this is the situation.

I bought a 13.6 Western Digital Harddrive and it comes with Data Lifeguard Floppy to format your harddrive, and after it formats it, it automatically puts the windows startup files on the harddrive. What i want to do is install Linux and Windows NT. I dont want to install win95 or 98. I also used the partation magic, the one that runs on dos to create a particular partetion, but it wouldn't recognzie my harddrive. I also did the format c: then boot up and try to run pqmagic, but still it wouldn't recognize my harddrive. Only way i can format is through the Life Data disk that came with western digital.

so what am i doing wrong?

[grunt]

Using the Data Lifeguard Tools disk. Unless your machine is really old you do not need to run it. Did it install drive overlay (EzBios?) If so rerun the software and disable/uninstall it, then try to see the drive with a normal 95/98 boot disk and fdisk. Let me know...

[Fingers]

Here are the proper steps for installing a new WD HDD with Data Lifeguard

(1) Connect the HDD and set the jumpers on ALL devices that share a cable with the new HDD
(2) You must configure the BIOS to detect the new HDD.
(3) Use Data Lifeguard EZ-Install software to install EZ-BIOS if your system doesn't support the full capacity of the new drive.
(4) Use Data Lifeguard to partition and format the new drive.
(5) (optional) use Data Lifeguard to copy system files only or copy an entire drive onto your new HDD.

*Note: If you've already used Data Lifeguard Tools and selected "Copy System Files", then you've already got Win98 system files on the HDD. (unless you inserted a DOS or NT system disk when prompted)

This may not be relevant, but here's a quote from the Install Guide for my WD 13.6gb hard drive.

"You cannot use Data Lifeguard EZ-Install software with these operating systems:
- Macintosh
- Novell NetWare
- Unix (including Linux)"

I use Data Lifeguard Tools when I want to replace a drive without having to re-install the OS. If your going to do a "clean" install of the OS on the new drive, then follow the instructions found here: http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/clean1.html

[OuTpaTienT]

I got that same HD, a Wester Digital 13.6/2mb buffer/DMA-66. But I never even touched that Lifeguard floppy they included. In fact I'm sure it's still in the box.

Here's some other threads on this exact topic. You might want to go over them:
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/003866.html
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/006941.html

[hellrulez]

it worked guys, i can't thank you enough. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif