Help! I have (had) a virtually empty bootable 8 GB hard drive (labelled C:, of course), formatted with a Windows 98 boot disk. Due to problems with the CD ROM and a virus message, I decided to FDISK it from a Windows 95 boot disk (virus possibly from Windows 98 boot disk). The FDISK /STATUS command hangs after identifying HD #1 and "Press <esc> to quit" at the bottom of the screen.
Foolishly I tried "FDISK." Still hung. The BIOS can still autodetect the hard drive, but now I get the message "No operating system." I could really use some good advice as to what to try next.

Type FDISK /? to get the command line options for FDISK. I dimly recall there being a command line option that might apply. Sorry I can't check as I'm on NT right now and it's different.

Alternatively, with a Win98 boot diskette containing FDISK, try FDISK /MBR to rewrite the master boot record of the hard drive. Then SYS C: to rewrite system boot files on the hard drive.

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sleddog (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)
Pulling for a SmartLabrador (http://www.labradorit.nf.ca/smartlabrador/)

Sorry, double post.

The postings.cgi script of this webboard is producing occasional server errors -- anyone else see this?

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[This message has been edited by sleddog (edited 01-05-2001).]

Reid: See your post in How Do I concerning my CD copying question. Also, if you get the Internal Server Error when you click the Reply button, use the Refresh button and it should work the second try.

khensonm: maybe Hard Disk Partitioning and Formatting Procedure (http://www.pcguide.com/proc/setup/hdd-c.html) or How to fdisk a Hard Drive (http://www.sybercom.net/jtmurphy/page11.htm) will help.

General DOS info: MS DOS Help and Commands (http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm)
DOS 7 Commands (http://www3.sympatico.ca/rhwatson/dos7/) That's the DOS installed with win95/98.
Learning MS DOS Basics A Tutorial (http://www.tnd.com/camosun/elex130/dostutor1.html)

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My hairdresser charges me a finder's fee!!

Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

Hmmm... it seems to be trickier than it first appeared...

Thank you both for the advice. Actually, I was reading the "How to
partition your hard drive" documention that Paleo Pete suggested when I successfully formatted my hard drive the first time. The only options for FDISK on both my Win95 and Win 98 boot disks are FDISK /STATUS (which hangs after showing "Checking Fixed Disk Status" -- I let the thing run for 30 mins), FDISK /X, and, or course, FDISK /?. I tried the "FDISK /MBR" suggestion, and the DOS prompt came back without an error. However, FDISK with any of the afore-mentioned options still hangs.

Perhaps I should add that "FDISK" hangs after I enter "Create DOS Partition" and "Create Primary DOS Partition." It brings up the next screen ("Creating Primary DOS Partition" -- Current fixed disk:1 -- Press <ESC> to return to FDISK Options"). I also tried with and without the expanded (large disk support) option. I hope its not a bad hard drive...

I would appreciate any more suggestions. Thanks!

-- Katie

With a virus message showing up somewhere along the line I thin you might need to try and boot to a McAffee or Norton emergency Rescue floppy and see if it comes up with anything. This might be related to a virus that wipes out the master boot record and partition table...

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My hairdresser charges me a finder's fee!!

Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)