HDD Failure or actually missing OS?

[HCFarmer]

OK, I get home from work, and try to boot my computer. It POSTs normally, detects hardware, Verifies DMI Pool. At this point it should go into AVG Boot scanner, but instead shows a black screen with a prompt to INSERT SYSTEM DISK. Its never done this before, so I just hit ENTER, and it responds NO OS. After several more attempts, and checking BIOS, I put the WIN 98SE Disk in the CDROM and try to re install 98SE (Yeah I know, its archaic, but the family is used to 98). This time it boots to the menu for selecting the OS I want to use, as its a Dual Boot system with Mandrake 10.1 on the second HDD. So I select Windows, and it responds NO OS again. I then try another boot, and select Mandrake, and it boots up fine in Linux. So I shut down and try another boot to 98, which fails again. I then Boot into Linux and use it to look at the HDDs and CDROMs. I notice that the folder for Windows on my C drive is missing. All the other folders are there, and the files also seem to be intact. I then try again without success to reinstall 98 from the CDROM, but no luck. I have changed the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, and even went so far as to unplug the HDDs from the MOBO in an attempt to get 98 installation started, but no luck.

I talked to a friend, and he thinks that the FAT is corrupt, and the C Drive is failing. I'm hesitant to believe this, as all my folders and files can be seen by Linux, and only the Windows Folder is missing from the C Drive. I wonder if one of the kids that come over might have un installed 98. Also, LILO still works so the MBR should be intact, but I might be wrong on this issue. Also, its strange that I can't get to my boot menu unless the 98 CD is in the drive.

Abit BD 7 II Mobo
2.4 Ghx (100 Mhz FSB) Pentium
1 Gig Ram
LG CD Burner/ROM (Primary)
Creative 54X CDROM (Slave)
WD 80 Gig Caviar 7200 RPM (Primary FAT32)
WD 60 Gig Caviar 7200 RPM (Secondary 30 gig FAT32, 30 gig Linux)
Abit Siluro AGP
Windows 98SE
Linux Mandrake 10.1

 

[TheKub]

Get the WD diagnostic tools and run them on the drive, this will rule out a failing drive (which I don't believe is happening).

Put the windows CD in the drive and boot to Linux to make sure your CD and\or Drive is working correctly.

If all of that goes fine I would copy any important files from the windows install to the Linux drive then wipe and reinstall.

When you say that the install fails what exactly happens?

 

[HCFarmer]

Its been a long while since I've done an install, and I probably need to make a bootable DOS CD before I can get the 98 CD to start an install.

I've been able to see the 98 CD from Linux, so I'm pretty sure its good. I tried a couple of other CDs, and Linux can see them, so the drive works.

When I have tried to re install 98, the computer goes to my boot menu instead of starting the 98 install after POST and DMI Pool verification. The funny thing is that without the 98 CD in the drive, it won't go to the boot menu, instead it stops after DMI Pool verification and asks for a System Disk. Also, I noticed that it doesn't run AVG Boot scanner like it used to.

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: HCFarmer
Its been a long while since I've done an install, and I probably need to make a bootable DOS CD before I can get the 98 CD to start an install.

I've been able to see the 98 CD from Linux, so I'm pretty sure its good. I tried a couple of other CDs, and Linux can see them, so the drive works.

When I have tried to re install 98, the computer goes to my boot menu instead of starting the 98 install after POST and DMI Pool verification. The funny thing is that without the 98 CD in the drive, it won't go to the boot menu, instead it stops after DMI Pool verification and asks for a System Disk. Also, I noticed that it doesn't run AVG Boot scanner like it used to.

Im assuming that if the machine has 98 its fairly old. Alot of older systems don't support booting from CD, is this the case? You may need a boot floppy.

 

[HCFarmer]

I made a boot CD, and will try it tonight. Should have thought about that before, but its been a long while ago since I did the original install. I also remembered I did an Image of the C drive, which I stored on my D drive, about 6 months ago. If I have to, I can try to use it to get back the OS, if its really gone, and all the other files.