HELLLLLLLP!!!! I can't install the OS!!

[FOH]

Here is the update -- I wanted to start from nothing and try again, so I downloaded a drive test from westerndigital.com and performed the quick hard drive test, no errors. Then I ran the complete test, no errors. Then I run the low level format and wrote all 0's to the drive, no problems. Then scanned it again, no errors. Now I have a "clean drive".

So I restart the computer with my fdisk floppy and start to partition. I start with the primary partition and the first thing it says is that I have 4025 MB of free space. It is a 8G drive!! So I restart and go into BIOS and look under drives and it shows a WD hard drive with 8455 MB space. This is a new one on me. What is going on?????? Help PLEASE!!!!!

 

[BlitzRommel]

That has to do with the drive setup in BIOS -- make sure you have the right amt. of cylinders/heads on it being used (Check on the HDD itself for a description)

 

[Abzstrak]

the bios is old, either flash it to a new one or use some translation software.... Or use an OS that doesn't care (win95/98/Me all do)

 

[FOH]

Thanks for the reply. I looked in the BIOS again and could not find any way of changing the hard drive information. But it does say already that the hard drive is 8455 MB. So wouldn't that mean that it is "seeing" the whole drive???? If it does need changed, do you know how to change it in "IBM SurePath" BIOS????????? Thanks

 

[Abzstrak]

is it in chs mode? or lba? or large? should be in lba

 

[FOH]

<< is it in chs mode? or lba? or large? should be in lba >>

I'm not sure what you mean, please explain.

 

[FOH]

Here is the latest update: I did get it to work -- sort of -- I installed the hard drive back in the IBM, formatted as one partition, C, (it only recognized 4g of a 8g drive). After the format I sys'ed the boot disk to the C: drive. Then ran "setup" on the CD-ROM. It loaded normally!!!!

Now the questions: As far as I know, the only thing I did differently than the last 1000 times I tried it, was I only made one partition. That shouldn't make a difference should it?????

Also the question of why it only "see's" 4 of the 8 Gigs?? I looked in the BIOS and it is listed as a 8g drive. I also looked at the revision date and tried finding a newer version at IBM.com to flash the BIOS (does IBM make this info hard to find on purpose??? :disgust: ). Anyway I didn't have any luck finding anything newer than what is on it now. The BIOS version is BG2USOM and the date is 12/16/98. That should be new enough I would think.

It had Win95 on it before and it was using all 8g. SO there must be a way to get this to work!!!!!!!!! Any more ideas???

 

[skimo]

I just loaded an Aptiva and had to update BIOS to load win98. Go to ibm.com and in the search window type: aptiva bios, or aptiva {model number} bios. It will take you to a link. after update you should be able to define a large partition hard drive and load ok.

 

[FOH]

I have looked on IBM.com I can't find any updates for the BIOS. I typed in Aptiva 2144-A12 BIOS and found O documents. So I typed in Apiva 2144-A12 and got 1 match. It was just a list of features for that computer. So then I tried Aptiva 2144 BIOS and got 32,195 matches. I looked through as many as I could stand to, but none of the BIOS updates were for the 2144-A12 -- lots of updates for 2144's but not the A12. Anyone know how I can find the information and BIOS update for a 2144-A12?? Would the updates for the other 2144's work or does it need to be for the A12???

 

[earthman]

 

[earthman]

Strange, blank post.
Anyway, what I was going to say, was that to run DOS commands like xcopy, they have to exist in your current working directory or path...or you need to specify it in the command line...such as "c:\windows\command\xcopy r:\*.* c:\*.*" or something like that. Alot of people forget that.
I think you definitely want to flash up your BIOS to the newest version you can get to avoid problems with hard drive geometry, etc...its always a good idea.
I think the reason it was telling you that it had an invalid system disk was because you didn't have a bootable hard drive and and you ejected the floppy before you rebooted...therefore, since c: wasn't bootable and there was no floppy, you got that message. Some BIOS's would say something like "missing operating system" as well, even if you sys c:.

 

[FOH]

earthman

Thanks for the reply. I'm also thinking the BIOS needs flashed, but I havn't had any luck finding a update for it (see my last 2 posts above). Any suggestions???

 

[mastertech01]

What model Aptiva is it? Here is a start.. APTIVA BIOS FLASH

 

[FOH]

mastertech01
Thanks for the reply. I had found the page you had the link to, but it does not have my model listed. Mine is a A-12 (2144-A12) The BIOS version is BG2USOM and the date is 12/16/98. (See my last 3 posts above). When I enter the A-12 model, I can get to a page that lists the spec's for that computer (so I know they made it!!!! ) but that is all the info I have found on it. Thanks

 

[mastertech01]

After reading the specs I think it may not have a flashable bios... too old. But I did find this utility that may fix your problem on thier site.

If that doesnt do it you may have to go back to Win95

Recovery Disk For Over 2.5GB Hard Disk

 

[FOH]

Thanks again for the help. I may have tried that already I can't remember, I've tried so many things!!!!!! I am at work now, but when I get home I will try again.

If the BIOS is not updateable, then the BIOS date of 12/16/98 would be the manufacture date wouldn't it?? Looks like that would be new enough, but maybe not?? If the computer is older, and that is not the manufacture date, then someone at sometime has updated it, so it can be flashed-- am I thinking right?????

 

[mastertech01]

TRY THIS ONE

Looks like a newer one with support for your model.. level I

 

[FOH]

YOUR A GENIUS!!!!!!! I have looked for hours on IBM.com and couldn't find any BIOS flash for this computer not to mention a newer one!!! THANK YOU!!! It is only a month newer than what it is using now, but worth a try. I will do it when I get home tonight and let you know how it comes out.

THANKS AGAIN !!!

 

[FOH]

If it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any!!! I downloaded the file, no problem and started to run it to a floppy, but I couldn't get it to run!!!! :| When I click on it or try to open it from "run", the MS-DOS box flashes on the screen for a split second, then nothing.

Just out of curiosity, for a test, I downloaded the Aptiva - Windows 95 CD-ROM patch and it opened and ran fine, but I downloaded two other BIOS updates (not for this computer) and I couldn't get them to run either. Am I doing something wrong or is this an IBM.com problem??? Any one have a "miracle" to make it work??? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[mastertech01]

Maybe try opening command prompt first, and from command prompt run it. I may have to be run from true dos environment.

 

[FOH]

Thanks for the reply. I know just enough about MS-DOS to be dangerous, so I probably am doing something wrong. I have the file saved on the computer and I can open the command prompt (I am running Win2K), but I don't know what to type to run the program and save it to floppy. Could someone please explain, in detail, what to type to open and run this?

Here is the instructions from IBM.com:

EXTRACTING THE UPDATE
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

1) Format a high density 3.5" diskette.
2) Download the file ODYFLASH.EXE to your hard drive.
3) Run ODYFLASH.EXE to create the diskette.

ODYFLASH.EXE creates a bootable diskette which updates the BIOS on the
system.



Personal note to mastertech01:
I just read your link about Michelle, I am very sorry for your loss. I too have had a close family member missing and know the pain it can cause. We could only put our faith in God, and praise God, our situation turned out good and they were found O.K. I can not imagine what you must feel. In reading your page, your faith and attitude come through as an inspiration to all. We will keep you in our prayers.

 

[Panther505]

You will need to use a 9X machine to create the BIOS. Older IBM BIOS used to use an OS2 image file maker/zip and if you run that utility under W2K without the OS2 path set correctly you will not be able to extract it. Run it from a command prompt in 98 or Me and you will be fine.

 

[manly]

It appears that most of the model 2144 Aptivas support only CHS addressing up to 4.2 GB.

If this is the case, the only way to access the full 8 GB capacity with W 9x is by using some software translation utility.

 

[FOH]

Panther505
Thanks for the advice, You were right, I ran the program on a 98 machine and it worked fine. BUT after all that, I flashed the BIOS and even though the date on the program was newer than the date on the BIOS, when I ran it, it said it was the same version. I flashed it anyway just to make sure, but nothing changed. It still only recognizes 4g of the 8g.

manly
You said:



<< If this is the case, the only way to access the full 8 GB capacity with W 9x is by using some software translation utility. >>



Any advice on where to find that, or what would be a good one to use? Thanks