Trouble formatting a hard disk.

[Mel66]

Our friends computer is running Win ME and had been giving trouble recently on boot-up. Apparently it started displaying spurious messages saying it coudn't find various files. she ignored these, pressed 'OK' and the boot-up was successful. This got worse until the computer would only run in Safe Mode. Eventually the computer only displayed the BIOS screen and would go no further.
I have run the ME recovery CD, but this failed to recover the files that appear to have been lost.
I have now formatted the disk. The Hard Disk was partitioned, 23Gb and 7Gb, and I removed the partition, having first tried with the partition in place. The format was successful and I reinstalled ME. This was then booted-up and went straight into Safe Mode. Whatever I did, including reformatting, produced no improvement. I then installed Win98, after a further formatting, and this was partially successful, in that I had sound, but it was still in Safe Mode.
Further attempts have failed and whether it's ME or Win98 installed I can only get Safe Mode up.
She assures me that she didn't change any of the BIOS settings, and just to be sure I have reinstalled the default settings. I also did an fdisk to make sure the partition had gone. It has. This hasn't made any difference.
Can anyone help please? Thanks

 

[smah]

Are you sure your in safe mode? - you get the message about being in safe mode.

Or does the display just look like safe mode? This could be because the correct video driver needs to be installed.

 

[Mel66]

Thanks Smah, I didn't think of that. Will give it a whirl and let you know

 

[exodus300]

My brother just sent his computer in for service with a problem which sounds very similar to yours (although he is running Windows 98).

Every time he started the computer, messages came up telling that it couldn't find programs. The filenames were just scrambled characters. Then EVERYTHING he did resulted in a BSOD, even in safe mode. Then when he turned the computer on nothing happened. No text, no beeps, nothing.

So he sent it in. They said he had a virus, and there was something wrong with the motherboard, some things wrong in the BIOS... they are completely wiping it and fixing this stuff for him.

It sounds like you may have a similar problem. I think you should send it in! [Thanks in advance|Hope I helped you]
Exodus300

 

[zay]

you might want to double check the bios start up settings when you boot, even though she "says" she hasn't changed anything, whatever you uninstalled or installed might have automatically changed it.. if possible post the settings then it can be determined

 

[Mel66]

Hi guys. Well we've cracked it!!! "Smah" was right.I just reinstalled the video card drivers and that did it. Everything is up and running again now. Hope I haven't spoken too soon?!?.Thanks for all your help. Good luck to your brother "exodus 300", I was beginning to wonder if I had come across a virus.
Thanks also to Tek-Tips for providing this service, it's GREAT!!!! This is the second time I've used it both were of great use. There are some great guys and gals out there. Long live Bill Gates!!!
Mel Gordon (UK)