Problems after reparititioning and formatting drive

[mspt47]

I've been having some trouble with my Compaq Presario 1244 laptop, and since Compaq support is essentially useless, I was hoping someone here would know what I can do.

After the computer was infected by a virus, I was forced to repartition and format the hard drive, but since the Windows 98 CD that came with my computer was only an upgrade and not a full install, I had to use a Windows 95 install CD from my older computer. Windows 95 installed fine, but then it could not detect the CD-ROM drive (no icon in Explorer).

I tried to reboot then, and it paused for a very long time at the startup
COMPAQ screen before proceeding. Still had the same problem of no CD-ROM
detected in Windows 95.

Then I tried to reboot using the Windows 95 boot disk created during setup,
but it could not load any CD-ROM drivers. I also noticed that the CD-ROM did not spin when the computer was turned on.

I tried rebooting numerous times, sometimes with the floppy boot disk, other times without. Sometimes when I booted without, Windows 95 failed to start up and I got the error message: "While initializing I Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer."

After one failed boot attempt, I got an error message saying that the Save to Disk function was not present and to reinstall that using PHDISK.

Now Windows 95 seems to boot almost all the time, but there is still no
CD-ROM detected nor is it making any sounds. I could not even eject the
CD-ROM with the push button on the sliding tray -- I had to use the emergency eject function by putting a paper clip in the little hole. I looked at the mechanism and saw thaat there was a yellow light flashing, so at least there is power.

One more thing -- a couple times when CD-ROM drivers were actually able to be loaded during a floppy boot start up, I could access the drive but couldd not read anything on it, even though there was a CD in the drive. I got the error message
"CDR101 - Not Ready Reading Drive E
Abort, Retry, Fail?"

This seems like a very complex problem and I would appreciate any help!

mspt47
mspt47@aol.com

[ErnieK]

Hi there MS

First: you can use the Win98 Boot disk to start comp when Win 95 is installed (this has CD drivers on it)

Second: Do you have a spare CD drive? if so install that and see if that works. I have just spent a day on a friends computer tryinf to do something for him. I ended up with the same problem as you. After about 4-5 hours trying to figur it out I had a brain wave. I phoned him to ask if he had been having probs with his CD Drive. He told me that it had stopped working 2 weeks ago. Took out one from my own comp and everything was OK.

Third: (Please guys correct me if I am wrong) You can do a full installation from your Win98 upgrade disk providing you have your original 95 disk. Just after starting the installation you will be asked for the 95 disk, after it is checked you the re-insert the 98 disk and away you go - a full 98 install.

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Ernie

[mspt47]

Well, the main problem is the CD drive is not accessible either through Windows 95 or DOS, and I've tried booting the computer with a bunch of different boot disks (they all have good CD-ROM DOS drivers, which I tested on my other computer). I always end up with the same problem -- no access to CD drive. Otherwise, yeah, it'd be easy to reinstall Windows from there.

As for your second suggestion, I don't think I can take out the CD-ROM drive, as it is integrated into the laptop. And I don't have a spare to try.

This is just so frustrating. Should I try reformatting the drive again, even though it would be risking not getting ANY OS installed if there is a hardware problem and not just software?

mspt47

Originally posted by ErnieK:
Hi there MS

First: you can use the Win98 Boot disk to start comp when Win 95 is installed (this has CD drivers on it)

Second: Do you have a spare CD drive? if so install that and see if that works. I have just spent a day on a friends computer tryinf to do something for him. I ended up with the same problem as you. After about 4-5 hours trying to figur it out I had a brain wave. I phoned him to ask if he had been having probs with his CD Drive. He told me that it had stopped working 2 weeks ago. Took out one from my own comp and everything was OK.

Third: (Please guys correct me if I am wrong) You can do a full installation from your Win98 upgrade disk providing you have your original 95 disk. Just after starting the installation you will be asked for the 95 disk, after it is checked you the re-insert the 98 disk and away you go - a full 98 install.

[mussels]

Go into the properties of "My Computer" and select the performance tab. In there if you see that the system is running in Compatibility mode, the I suggest that you still have the Virus. This virus will be in the Master boot record. The boot disk that you created when loading windows95 will prbably be infected too. You will have to boot from a clean disk.
i have a fantastic boot disk that i could email you if so desired. Just email me or post back your email address. I had the same problem and I found it frustrating till I realized that i kept booting with an infected boot disk.

[mjc]

Certain Compaq computers need to be restored with the system disk that came with it...they need the "system partition" that this disk will install.

Try using the system disk to do a recovery...not quite sure what your options are you may be able to download the "Rompaqs" need to make the system partition...that would mean digging through Compaq's site.

Also what are your BIOS options for your drives...you should probably set them to autodetect.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.