format problem.....please help

[minus1972]

this has been a problem for a while and I haven't had the time to try to fix it untill now, and it's starting to piss me off. I formatted my computer and re-set the CMOS. Wanted a clean start. Took the whole machine apart to clean the components, put it back together and now it won't boot. It posts like normal, goes (slowly) through the first screen where it finds the IDE drives and such, and then it comes up saying "I/O error, replace disk and press any key". This is with a boot disk in which I've tested and I know works. So I try another boot disk, same thing. Turn it off, change around the cable, now the light comes on and stays on when I boot. I try another floppy drive, same thing. What the hell am I doing wrong? Any help would be appreciated here, thanks.

 

[khtm]

The only thing I can suggest is to try another floppy cable. You tried reversing it and even tried another floppy drive, so this might be the next logical step...

good luck!

-khtm-

 

[jcmkk]

Do you have the boot order setup right? floppy first? Don't use the floppy and just boot from the windows disk. You can partiton later with partition magic or something.