Problems with OS Installation

[beado]

I am having problems with my Compaq 5360. It started locking up while running applications. I installed more RAM to overcome this problem, but it didn't work. It came to the point where I couldn't even boot the machine. I decided to run the Compaq QuickRestore to get the machine back to its original state. I was able to totally wipe out everything on my machine, but I haven't been able to finish the install so I have no OS.

I then tried to install Windows 2000 Professional on the machine. It keeps failing.

I run a diagnostic test on my machine:

Hard Drive is fine
motherboard, when running test on non-volatile CMOS RAM, comes back FAILED (the Alarm is failing) Does this mean anything?
processor is fine
memory is fine

Also when running the test on the motherboard, it sometimes locks up with the error Please change the STACKS in your CONFIG.SYS and then try again. Does this mean anything?

I just want to have a usable computer again.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks😕

 

[SwampsterFL]

This computer may be a little weak for Win2K, but that's not your problem.

If you can find a full version of your previous OS that you can borrow from a friend, then you might try:

1. Wipe drive with a reformat.
2. Create folder for OS install files.
3. For this example, I am asuming Win98. Copy the files from the Win98 folder on your friend's CD to the newly created Win98 folder on your clean HDD.
4. Go to the newly created and populated Win98 folder on your HDD and run SETUP.EXE and follow the prompts.

Many times, there can be a problem with the CD and it can't transfer and expand files fast enough to suit the install process, and this gets around this malfunction.

 

[beado]

I appreciate your help Swamp.

I know that I am an extreme novice when it comes to hardware issues. Please be patient with me.

I can't seem to be able to do an FDISK on my drive. I boot the machine using a Windows Startup Diskette. At the A:\ prompt I type in c: <ENTER>. At the C:\ prompt, No matter what I type I get the message "Invalid media type reading drive C Abort, Retry, Fail?". What's the easiest/best way to reformat my drive at this point?

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: beado
I appreciate your help Swamp.

I know that I am an extreme novice when it comes to hardware issues. Please be patient with me.

I can't seem to be able to do an FDISK on my drive. I boot the machine using a Windows Startup Diskette. At the A:\ prompt I type in c: <ENTER>. At the C:\ prompt, No matter what I type I get the message "Invalid media type reading drive C Abort, Retry, Fail?". What's the easiest/best way to reformat my drive at this point?

Instead of trying to switch from A:\ to C:\, have you tried in "A:\> fdisk " w/o quotes of course.
It just looks like to me you booted to A:\ w/ the startup disk and then went to C:\ to do the fdisk.
You can also do a format from A:\ with this linek "A:\>format c: /s"

 

[beado]

Thanks for the help. I will try again to format my drive.

Once I do this, It was suggested by SwampsterFL that I create a folder on my new/clean HDD and copy files from my OS CD into the new folder. Again, being a complete novice, how do I go about creating this folder and copying the files into it.

Can someone please give me the commands to make this work?

Thanks

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: beado
Thanks for the help. I will try again to format my drive.

Once I do this, It was suggested by SwampsterFL that I create a folder on my new/clean HDD and copy files from my OS CD into the new folder. Again, being a complete novice, how do I go about creating this folder and copying the files into it.

Can someone please give me the commands to make this work?

Thanks

Once you are on the HDD, c:\> type "makdir xxxxx" where xxxxx is the folder name. So it would look like:
c:\>makdir oscd
it might also be:
c:\>MD oscd

To copy, I think it is:
c:\> copy D:\win98\*.* c:\oscd
where D is your CD-ROM

Edit: List of DOS commands for fun 🙂
and typos and fixes.

 

[VicodiN]

What OS did you start with?

 

[beado]

I started with Windows 98.

I also tried to create a directory and copy files onto my HD. What do I need to do to allow me to be able to do this?
I keep getting a message that says something like "Invalid media type reading drive C".

Thanks

 

[prosaic]

If you followed motoamd's advice about issuing the fdisk and format commands after booting from a bootable diskette with those executables (A Win98 startup diskette should include them.) on it and you are still getting an invalid media error, then the HD would seem to be bad. Did you follow the instructions carefully?

- prosaic

 

[beado]

Here's what I did.

I was able to boot using the Windows 98 startup diskette. I then ran the fdisk on the drive. It seemed to work.
I then tried to set up a directory on the C Drive. c:\ >md oscd and received the error. I was able to use the same command to create the directory on the A Drive. I then tried to copy files onto the C Drive c:\> copy D:\win98\*.* c:\oscd but it didn't work, still error. Then I tried a:\> copy D:\win98\*.* c:\oscd but still didn't work.

I have run multiple diagnostic tests on the HD but everything is coming back OK.

What now?

Thanks

 

[prosaic]

You don't say just what you did with fdisk. But assuming that you deleted the partition, then created a new one -- well, you'd still have to format the partition, and you didn't mention that at all. Look carefully at motoamd's instructions. After you create a new partition it is essential that you format it before you try to use it (create directories, copy files to it, etc.). Is this where the problem lies? The partition must be formatted.

If you can fdisk and format successfully but still get the invalid media error, then we're talking about either a hardware failure or (possibly, I'm not sure) a failure of the BIOS to properly recognize the drive. But I wouldn't think the system would let you fdisk and format the drive if the BIOS wasn't seeing it properly.

- prosaic

 

[SwampsterFL]

OK, back again. Sorry for being out of the loop for a while. It sounds like we have a lack of complete instructions. So . . . .

From the A:> prompt, type FDISK and hit Enter.

Select item 4-- Display Partition Information. Write down what this says and hit ESC to go back to the first menu.

You need this information so you know what you are deleting. For our example, we will say you have the entire drive as a Primary DOS partition and this is what you want to recreate.

Select item 3 -- Delete Partition or Logical Drive and follow the prompts on the next window.

This will leave you with nothing on the hard drive and you will be back at the first menu.

Select item 1 -- Create DOS Partition or Logical Drive. On the window that opens, it will look at your drive and tell you what size it is and ask if you want to make the whole thing one big partition. Tell it YES and it will do its thing.

After this is completed, you will need to reboot.

Having rebooted and returned to the A:> prompt, type FORMAT C: and hit Enter and it will do its thing.

Once it is formatted (a reboot will not be necessary), you can type C: and hit Enter and this will put you at the C:> prompt. Type "md c:\win98" (without the qutoes) and hit Enter. If you have done this correctly, it will return you to the C:> prompt without an error message.

Go to your CD (I am assuming that you booted WITH CD SUPPORT the last time you rebooted), and type "cd \win98" (without quotes) and hit Enter.

This will put you at the D:\win98> prompt and you can now type "copy *.* c:\win98" and hit Enter. Note that is without quotes AND also note there is a space between the second * and the c.\

You will then be able to put the CD away and type C: and hit Enter. This will put you at the C:> prompt and you will type cd \win98 and hit Enter. This will put you at the C:\win98> prompt. Type "setup" (without quotes) and hit Enter.

Follow the onscreen prompts to install the operating system. If in doubt at a given window, select the default answer. This should get you back into a working operating system and all you will need to do is make sure it has recognized all your internal hardware correctly.

Once you are happy with this, you are then ready to start installing your programs.

Good Luck!