New format stays at 0%!!

[Suthern]

First off, I'm not new to this, I've done it before. or at least I thought I knew how...

I need to install 98 on a computer that had a corrupt copy of 2000 on it. First I a 98 startup disk, restarted, booted up to dos and fdisked the drive so there was 1 primary DOS partition that was 100% of the drive. I then restarted like it told me to, and booted up in DOS again. I then typed "FORMAT C: /s" to format my C drive and copy system files. It says the regular thing "Are you sure? This will erase all your files ya know..." well, close to that.

I pushed Y, and the formatting begun at 0% and always stays there.


I also have tried making a small primary dOS partation, and making an extended partition that takes up the rest of the drive. The only problem with this is that when I go to format it, I only formats the small part that is the primary DOS partition. It formatted it though! (it was only 16 mb, not really usefull)

ANy help?

-SUthern

 

[ramani]

HI
1. I doubt .. you have a problem with the boot disk.
2. Also, you havent mentioned the HD size. Make sure that your partitions are not more than 8 GB per patrition. Try and see if this helps. If yes, your BIOS is not supporting more than 8 GB and so you need a EZ or DM utility to have more than 8 GB partition sizes. But I suggest you can live with the max. of 8 Gb limit and have more of partitions.

Hope this helps
ramani :-9
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[Suthern]

No more then 8 gig per partition? thats strange, becouse it worked before... Now it is at 4 %, a mere 4 hours later...

what kind of partitions? Primary? I have a 20 gig HD. I didn't know it would allow more then 1 primary...

-Suthern

 

[gbiello]

You said you had a corrupted copy of 2K on there, now you're having problems formatting the drive. Perhaps the hard drive is toast?
-gbiello

 

[xscape]

gbiello may have a good point there I'm afraid! Have a close listen to the drive when you're formatting it to see if it's making any unusual sounds. You could also give it a firmish (but not too firm!!!!!) tap on the side to see if it loosens the read/write head. This sometimes works (mainly on IBM's). But that also suggests the drive is on it's way out.

That could be how Win2k became corrupt in the first place. If it's still under warranty then you're best to try an get a replacement.

Sorry!

 

[Jakespeare]

To test the drive,go to the manufacturers website, and
download their HD diagnosis tool.
Each HD maker has their own tool(s) for testing and verifying the integrity of the hard drive.

> This serves 2 purposes:
1) You find out if your HD is good, or bad;
2) You get an ERROR CODE, which you can use for RMA purposes.

> Also: If it's bad, you may have to email the HD maker, through the website RMA process,,,,,,, give them all the info they need, including an error number, etc.

> Let the Diagnosis tool totally ZERO out that HD if it is good, and start over.

> You should be using a Win98 (SE preferably) startup / boot disk for your FDISK'ing.

> I do NOT suggest using the "/s" command. Just use..........
>FORMAT C: /u ..........

Why would you even need the "system" files on the HD anyway ?


Hope this helps.