I've recently attempted to install a new hard drive. I got it to boot up once to get a prompt at which time I went to fdisk to set up active partition. After which I exited fdisk to reboot then intended to format the new hd. After rebooting and the memory test it would begin to search for the operating system - first on floppy (not found) and then the hd (also not found). A message appears "missing operating system" then the computer locks up. I can't determine what to do to get the A: prompt back so that I may format the hd. Please offer your advice, thank you.

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Tim Keck
tdkstoy@home.com

Did you leave the boot disk in the floppy drive when you re-booted? I'm assuming that you originally used a boot disk to get to the A:\ prompt. If so, you need to leave that disk in the drive when you re-boot.

If this is not the case, then it sounds like it could be a bios issue. I wouldn't be able to help you with that.

Could it be that you left the boot disk in the floppy drive and it wasn't write protected? It doesn't happen often, but occasionally the machine can write "heiroglyphics" all over the boot disk when it is shut down, if the disk is not write protected.

First thing I would do is try another boot disk. Make sure it's write protected, and put it in the floppy drive before turning the machine on. If it's a good disk, it should boot to the A: drive. If not, go into the BIOS and set the boot sequence to A;C, save and reboot, try again. The boot sequence setting is in Advanced CMOS Options, I think.

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If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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

I appreciate your reply. I did have the boot disk in the floppy and the sequence is set to A,C in bios. I've tried several boot disks though still can not get a prompt for any drive. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif


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Tim Keck
tdkstoy@home.com

Might need some system info.

Unplug the hard drive's ribbon cable from the motherboard and try to boot to the floppy. If you get a prompt then, plug the drive in again and try it. If you get no prompt, you might have a larger drive than the motherboard and controller know how to deal with. If you get no prompt without the hard drive plugged in it's a BIOS issue.

Need some system specs at this point to have a better idea what to do. I'm wondering if this is related to something like the BIOS information Compaq's store on the hard drive...



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If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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