HeLp WitH FDiSk!!!!!!!!!

iamtrout

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2001
3,001
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How do I run fdisk/mbr? I want to clear the mbr on an old HDD.

Here's my situation on the old computer:
The floppy does not work. (no boot-up disks)
The CD-ROM does not work. (no re-installing windows)
It locks up after post. (no getting into windows)

I have winXP on another computer which doesn't have DOS.

Can I clear the mbr of the old HDD using my new computer and as that drive as the slave?
If so, how????? Something with the command prompt?
I can't afford to totally format this drive.
 

Woody419

Senior member
Sep 22, 2001
770
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You should be able to get what you need here. If the floppy does not work, get a new one, they are only $9.
 

iamtrout

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2001
3,001
1
0
Oops.
I meant that the CD and floppy drives work, but they don't work when the old HDD is
connected to the computer.

They work when any other hard drive is connected though.
Sorry for not being clear.
So what should I do?
 

ST4RCUTTER

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2001
2,841
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Can I clear the mbr of the old HDD using my new computer and as that drive as the slave?
If so, how????? Something with the command prompt?
I can't afford to totally format this drive.


You can. Since your other computer has no peripherals to work with (floppy/CDROM etc.) your best bet is to install it into your working computer as a slave drive. Do you have a bootdisk with fdisk? You should be able to format the drive from within Windows on the working computer.

Here's what I would do if you have an fdisk capable floppy and you want to do it the hard way :p :

When your working computer boots up, hit DEL and verify in the BIOS that the slave drive is detected properly. Then exit out of the BIOS and restart. Hit F8 and choose command prompt. The drive with the OS will be the default drive in DOS [usually C:]. Type D: This will put you on the next logical drive which should be the slaved HDD. Type dir /w. This will pull a directory listing of the slaved drives contents. If it looks like the right drive insert your floppy and type A: at the promt. This will take you to the a drive with the fdisk command. Then type format D: /s. This will format the drive and transfer the DOS system files to it. Using the /u switch will make this an unconditional format that will destroy any data on the disk.

The easy way:

Is to open My computer in WinXP. Double click on the new drive to make sure it's the one you want. Back out of the slaved drive by clicking the little folder with the arrow pointing up. Right click over the slaved drive and choose format... from the list of options. And away you go...
 

ST4RCUTTER

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2001
2,841
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Oh sure...now you've changed everything on me...;)

Is this a new computer build with the malfunctioning hard drive? Have you tried the second IDE controller? That's odd that the HDD would affect the floppy drive. They're on different controllers/buses entirely.
 

iamtrout

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2001
3,001
1
0
sorry. :)
It is not a physically defective drive. Ok, here's the story.

The drive is my friend's from an old 1992 sony Vaio desktop with win95. He recently got a new computer,
and connected his old drive as the slave under the new computer, which has winXP, to transfer
his old files onto the new system.

When he was done and connected it back into the old computer, remembering to put the jumpers
back to master, the computer would get stuck after post, and nothing would respond, only the keyboard.
No floppy, no CD.

My theory is that winXP corrupted the win95 mbr, and i need to find a way to clear it.
I cannot format the drive!! He has his livelihood on it. Taxes, documents, financial data, all that good stuff.

Please help ST4RCUTTER, you're my only hope... I think that's kinda how the star wars thing goes...
 

ST4RCUTTER

Platinum Member
Feb 13, 2001
2,841
0
0
If you activate your PM I'll correspond w/you so that we don't leave a trail of posts.

Let's do the least amount of work first then move the drive to the new computer if needed. First, double check the IDE connections to the motherboard and HDD as well as the jumper settings. Start the computer, does it boot? If it still won't boot, clear the CMOS. There should be a jumper on the motherboard for this. Reboot. Did it get through the RAM count? If so, hit DEL to go into the BIOS. Check to see if it was detected properly. If so, exit and complete a full reboot and see if the OS will load. We'll go from there.