Cannot boot up Computer

[mussels]

HI,
I have this Packard Bell P-60 That has the hard drive all wiped clean and I want to reinstall Windows. But now, I cannot boot up as an error" Floppy disk controller error" keeps coming up. The only thing I can do is enter CMOS. Also in the CMOS, the hard drive shows as "NOT INSTALLED". There has been no upgrades or changes to the hard ware been done. Please help.
Thanks.

[This message has been edited by mussels (edited 02-23-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

My guess is that your bios settings need redoing. On the older systems you have to put the drive parameters into bios manually & in some cases you have to manually tell the bios what type of floppy it is. If that isnt the case, then you might have a failed motherboard....after all, it is over 8 yrs old at the least.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[Paleo Pete]

Try another ribbon cable, then another floppy drive, see if it works, and make sure it's set to the correct type in CMOS. I have the same basic machine, Packard Bell Legend100CD P-60, so I might be able to help with it. I also have all the original documentation, software, etc. Can't help with software, but I do have the manual and can look up most info you might need, if it's the same machine.

Just turned it on and checked, and it has AMI BIOS, which I knew, but since my hard drives are already set up I can't find if it autodetects or not, it has no options, just lists the drive and says some of the settings are on auto, so maybe...It's been a year since I installed everything and I can't remember if it autodetected or not.

If neither cable or different floppy drive works, the controller might be bad. I'm not sure if you can disable it, but if you can you might be able to add on a floppy controller card. Let's hope it's the cable or the drive...

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[mussels]

Thanks Randy and Paleo Pete for replying. I tried everything and it still does not work. I wanted to reset the CMOS by removing the battery, but it does not have a battery . It has a Dallas chip. How do you reset one of these? Could it be a possibility that the board or chip is toast?
Thanks.

[Paleo Pete]

Removing the Dallas chip for about 30 seconds and replacing it will reset CMOS, but it's always better to locate a "Clear CMOS" jumper if possible. If that's the same as my motherboard mine is jumper J19, which is last in a group on the left side of the board looking from the front. Pins 2 & 3 is normal setting, pins 1 & 2 to clear CMOS. My manual doesn't say if it needs to be left in the clear position for a certain time, jsut has the positions. You might also need to replace the Dallas chip, it could be going bad. Write down the numbers on it and check with local computer shops.

You can try looking on the board for every 3 pin jumper on it, change each and replace it to its original position. I do not highly recommend this, but it might work, sooner or later you'll hit the CMOS clear jumper. Just be absolutely sure you replace every one back to its original position, including the clear CMOS jumper, if you find it. According to my board layout it only has 2 triple pin jumpers, J19 & J20. Both are CMOS related.

Knowing if this is the same computer would really help, if it is it should have the same board, and I have the manual for it. That would mean I could tell you exactly what you need to know. It's a Legend 100CD.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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