New HD and Boot errors

[deltabwa]

I Bought a new HD (Seagate 400MB) to replae a 40g I had and was going to make the new Seagate the Master Drive and the 160g (old master drive) the slave. I partitioned it to have 6 drive. 1 drive was a FAT32 drive and the others are in the 70-80 range. Nothing over 100. When I installed I also copied all the files from the original Master drive to the Seagate drive.

Everything worked great, for 1 day. One the 2nd day I went to shut it down and instead of shutting down it rebooted and gave me a message of NTOSKRNL.EXE was missing or corrupt. I wasn't sure what happened and it was late so I thought I would fix it in the morning. I hit enter and it rebooted again, this time telling me the PCI.SYS file was corrupt or missing to run the recover cd. Again, I was a bit baffled but then manually forced it to shut down.

The next morning, (yesterday) I turned it on and got the same error messages and then got a 3rd message (I couldn't read the 1st letter it was off the screen) _ad needed DLLs for Kernel. SO I put the recovery cd in and instead of giving me the option to recover, it automatically installed Windows. I thought it would write over it so wasn't worried but in the end, it actually installed it over top of the original Windows folder on the slave drive. (My old master drive and my backup in case something happened).

After freaking out, I didn't want that drive as the main so I unplugged it and tried the repair again. It did the same thing. Only this time it reinstalled it onto a different partition on the Seagate drive. Again, I didn't want it on there so I installed the old MD as Master and deleted the files and refomatted the "D" drive on the seagate so windows would repair the "C" drive. That worked except again, it never gave me a recover option, it just reinstalled automatically.

After the reinstall I started to install my programs, one at a time, and everytime I rebooted, it would give me the same errors. After 8 hrs of working on this I decided fine whatever and was FINALLY able to get the "last known configuration" option to work, which it would never do before, then it would reboot and I could install something else.

This morning I tried to start Media Player and it gave me errors about DLL's, but instead of giving me readable DLL names it gave me a bunch of characters and crashed the system. When I tried to reboot again, I again, got the same 2 error messages (NTOSKRNL and PCI) and when I hit "reboot to last good config" to starts to and then reboots itself. And finally, I tried the recovery disk again and again, it never gave me the option to repair. I have never gotten that option at all when I've used it in the last 3 days, it just trys to reinstall. Once tho I just kept hitting "R" and it worked and rebooted and was good again but every time I did that after that, it doesn't work and tells me it wants to reinstall over or cancel.

I will also say that I did Replace/extract both of those files from the recovery cd (using the old MD to do so) and it worked great, once. Then it was back to the same.

And finally I had previously ran MEMTEST and found 1 stick of ram was bad so I removed that midway thru this whole nightmare.

Any thoughts?

Jetway PM800BMS, Intel 4 540 3.2G, 500 ddr-400 ram, Sony 16X DVD-R/+RW DVD Burner Drive, WD Caviar 160 g HD, Integrate S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro, CMedia CMI9739A 6 Channel, AC97 audio codec, VIA VT6103L 10/100 Fast Ethernet controller (disabled), 56k pci rockwell modem (disabled), Linksys Wireless G USB adapter, Seagate 400 GB Internal Ultra-ATA Hard Drive ( ST3400632A-RK )

[Rick]

I would start by shutting everything down,
Then unplug the system.
Open the case and check every connection.
Then check them all again.
Reseat all your cards.

Look very close at your data cables for the drives.
all the pins in place and the end are tight in the sockets and seated completely

[deltabwa]

I have hooked up those cables a hundred different times. But actaully I did all that this morning after it shut down and wouldn't reboot.

[deltabwa]

Oh, and I have XP Home SP2

[Paul Komski]

It is possible that with the repartitioning and so forth you have changed the partition enumeration. Suggest you attempt to correct the NTOSKRNL problem by booting to the XP CD's recovery console and run bootcfg /rebuild.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980/

[deltabwa]

I've tried to run that bootcfg and it tells me no such file or some of the like.... I even tried running it under the old HD with no avail.

This is all done on a brand new HD so there was no repartitioning, just original partitioning.

Also, I don't get the option to "recover" it just either starts installing somewhere else (usually a D drive) or it tells me there is already a Windows folder and do I want to overwrite it.

[Paul Komski]

SO I put the recovery cd in and instead of giving me the option to recover, it automatically installed Windows.Is this a recovery CD or a WinXP installation CD?

How were you running the bootcfg utility because this should be done from the recovery console and yet it appears when you insert your CD that windows is installed automatically, which would leave no option for pressing R to get to and log on to the recovery console.

If you don't have a proper installation CD you can try creating a bootable Recovery Console CD from a download iso I have only just posted about at http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=49552

If the old drive is still functional then I would consider cloning it to the new drive by using the Seagate utilities available on their website and then swap the master and slave. You can repartition and non-destructively resize partitions afterwards with BiNG or Partition Magic.

[mjc]

I'd also give the Seagate diagnostics a spin...just because it is new doesn't mean it can't be bad.

[deltabwa]

Thank you, I created the cd. I want to say it is a Install CD and I guess my error was in remembering the win98 install cd's also gave the option to repair and thought XP did as well. I guess that's why I wasn't able to access the bootcfg command.

Now after my last post I was so frustrated that I just decided to let it start over. So I used the Seagate Disc utility cd and repartitioned the drive and then rebooted to the XP install cd and let it go from there. It copied all the files, never went to the "install portion" and then rebooted. I had walked away thinking it would take awhile. When it rebooted it did the same thing over again. Copied files but never installed. I got back to it at that point and saw it a blck screen and not doing anything. I rebooted and didn't let it go to the cd, was gonna let it bootup and I got a blue screen error. 0X0A. I rebooted again and then decided to let the cd boot again and it copied all the files a 3rd time. Then when it rebooted (without installing) it gave me another blue screen. This time I rebooted and it went to the screen where I was supposed to pick a OP to start from but instead of giving me the countdown the timer was at 0 and I couldn;t scroll up or down it was froze. Yet another reboot did the same thing.

SO... I flipped drives around, the old Master is a clean install from what it did yesterday so none of my drivers or anything is installed. It loads fine but still looks very funny. I tried to click the option to "show hidden files" and it applied it but it never took affect and it is back to "do not show" I rebooted and tried again and the same thing happened.

So I left it alone and am using the Seagate Utility disk again to reformat and copy the original master. It is almost finished with that now.

Also on this computer I made the recovry cd, thank you.

What I don't understand is why it is installing to drive "L" instead of "C" when "C" is the Seagate drive. The windows drive from the original master has been chnaged to "D".

The Seagate Diagnostics failed all the new partitions.

[deltabwa]

Update: It finished copying, I switched around so the Seagate was Master and as it was loading, it restarted. Then it came up to say "previous attempt was interupted...." and I chose Safe Mode and it froze at the System32\config\system file

I am now going to use the recovery cd I just made and see what that does. If it doesn't do anything than I will go back to the original being the master and let this be the slave. However, that seems like it's giving me a problem too once it's loaded.

[mjc]

Did you run the Seagate diagnostics on the new drive?

And if you are messing around with a recovery CD...are you installing it to the machine it originally came on (only difference being the new drive)?

[deltabwa]

Did you run the Seagate diagnostics on the new drive?

And if you are messing around with a recovery CD...are you installing it to the machine it originally came on (only difference being the new drive)?

Yes after I reformatted and it passed.

Also I didn't have the recorvery cd, it's the original instrall cd but I was getting this message (which I've gotten again after I thought I had fixed it, I installed USB drivers and it froze then gave me this error)

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\system32\config\system

You can attemp to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CDROM. Select "R" at the first screen to start repair.

That's what I was doing when I was pushing "r" and calling it the recovery. But I never get the option and that is where it just reinstalls again

[Paul Komski]

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\system32\config\system This message is due to a corrupt registry and it is sometimes possible to use the recovery console to uses XP's system restore if there is a valid restore point to go back to. If not then a complete repair installation should work OK. That at least is the case when you are only dealing with one HDD.

I think that part of your problems are arising because the old and the new installation get to see each other prematurely. WinXP recognises and remembers each partition and will try to reassign the original drive letters to the old hard drive if it is attached and visible to the new drive AT THE VERY FIRST BOOT UP. So the "trick" after cloning one drive to another one is to remove the old drive completely while the new drive boots up. This re-fixes the registry and sets up the new drive with new hardware (so to speak). Once the "new hardware" has been setup you should be prompted to reboot and should do so still with only the new drive attached. If there is then a successful boot up you can thereafter attach the old drive and it will be reinitialised.

It is another reason for cloning rather than copying files across and most HDD utilities from the makers of the drives will either want to hide the new or the old drive after the cloning has completed. Hidden partitions don't get assigned drive letters so this another method of hiding the two clones from one another for the critical first boot up of the transferred system.

Put simply and if you have a functioning system on one single HDD.
a) clone the old to the new
b) remove the old (or hide everything effectively) prior to booting the new for the first time
c) when the new has completed reinitalising itself you can add back the old drive as slave.

[deltabwa]

Well, nothing is working. Not the new drive or the old now. I have used seagate disk and reformatted the new drive, disconnected the old drive all together and repartitioned the new with only a C drive. And I used the "recommended" partitioning from the disk. I have done this 3 times now.

It won't install. It will go as far as copying the files then I get error after error after error. Sometimes I try to fix the individual errors, and then I get a new error. Sometimes I just try to reinstall XP again and I am getting nothing to work. The most common error I get is the NTOSKRNL.exe. I have tried to expand from both the recovery cd and the install cd by using the following command: "expand ntkrnlmp.ex_C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe" and I am now getting this error after that Unable to creat file ntkrnlmp.exe. Nothing is working. I've also gotten the error acpi.sys, a couple of 0x07, several ntfs.sys errors, the hal.dll error, config\system, config\software, the list goes on. Let's add a new one.. mdmke.inf

I have rerun the utility after formatting and it says the drive is fine.

If there is no solution, which I am thinking now there isn't, is it a hardware issue? When I first started I was able to at least get into XP before the crashes occureed, now all I can do is get to the reboot after "copying files".

Also, I want to point out that I am not copying files using the Seagate disk. I have just used that disk to format and then use the XP disk and install from that. I have also used the XP disk to reformat and partition the drive (only 40g.) as well and that isn't working.

[Paul Komski]

You could try installing from the Hard Drive as per http://www.iol.ie/~krakowangus/winnt.htm but I'm running out of ideas (software-wise) though I do wonder if your installation CDROM is OK.

[deltabwa]

Well, as far as the install cd goes, I've used 3 different ones. I have the original, then I have a streamlined one, and I have a copy of my sister-in-laws that I used previously as a tester to see if I really wanted to switch. SO I've used all 3 and noone worked.

That's why I'm wondering if it is a hardware issue.... I posted a thread under Buying and Upgrading advice... but no response.

I ran Memtest and had 1 bad stick. Then I took the good stick and swapped seats and it showed it was bad. I put it back to the good seat and it was good again. So apparently the bad stick was in a bad slot. I then did the same with the bad just to confirm it was bad and it was. So that makes me lean even more towards a bad MB.

I am tired of messing with it today but tomorrow I will try to install from the HD, then I am trying to convince myself to take this new HD and slave it on the other (this) computer and make sure it is a good HD, but I'm afraid to do that if it is bad from all the trouble I've had on the other computer. I'm sure that's a stupid thing but I don't want to take chances.

The seagate disk says it's good when it's blank, but errors when XP is installed. But I think that's because the install is bad.... ????????

[mjc]

What is the exact error the Seagate utility gives?

There should be an error code with it...

[deltabwa]

I'll have to redo it again because I don't know and I completely wiped it after the last attempt to reinstall failed.

[deltabwa]

Ok, here are the results. I ran a Quick Test and it passed. The File Structure is the one that failed. I only have 42g formated and partitioned. Here is the error:

File Structure Test Result:

Partition 1 (NTFS (41.9 GB) ) Result: Failed with critical Errors

The following errors were found while scanning the volume:
- One or more errors were found in the index
- One or more errors were found in metadata file records
- Other errors were found

EDIT:I ran a System Memory test on the Serial ATA Controller and in the top left hand corner it gave me this error messge:

Floating Point Error: Domain
Abnormal Program Termination

So I tried it again testing "My Computer" and it went to 99% and then gave me this error under that last one, and froze on the testing screen at 99%

Abnormal Program Termination: Illegal Instruction
CS:EIP = 361Eh:00006675h

At the reboot, I had to do because of the freeze, it freezes at the "Detecting IDE drives". I shut it completely down and had to wait several minutes, tried it again and it booted up again.

I will wipe it again and rerun it to make sure it still passes.

[deltabwa]

I wiped it using Seagates Format, and id the automatic so they would partition it, and it made it 137g. I didn't zero the drive tho, and I reran it and It gave me a error.

File Structure Test Result:

Partition 1 (NTFS (137.3 GB) DSK1_VOL1 ) Result: Failed with critical Errors

The following errors were found while scanning the volume:
- One or more errors were found in metadata file records

[mjc]

OK...the errors are NOT drive errors, but rather file system errors.

I think you may be on to something with the motherboard problem.

Some of the errors act/look like memory errors and you have determined that you have a flaky RAM slot.

I would swap out the CMOS battery, first...it doesn't seem very likely, but I've seen many a strange thing with corrupted CMOS data. Although, the slot problem seems to me to bigger than just a battery gone dead.

[Sylvander]

"I Bought a new HD (Seagate 400MB)"
48-bit LBA BIOS and OS needed to see [and use] all of that capacity.

"was going to make the new Seagate the Master Drive and the 160g (old master drive) the slave"
Shouldn't you have cloned the old master to the new slave, then switched master/slave jumpers, then non-destructively adjusted partition arrangements?

"I partitioned it to have 6 drive"
Only 4 Primary partitions supported; you didn't exceed this I hope.

"Nothing over 100"
What's the max partition size XP can support?

"When I installed I also copied all the files from the original Master drive to the Seagate drive."
Do you mean data files only were copied over; no cloning? I'm wondering what the details were; the devil is in the detail.

"NTOSKRNL.EXE was missing or corrupt"
I can't remember whether you write a generic MBR or use an NT/2000/XP boot disk to get into Windows when this happens.
The "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD] can do both of these and more [browse the contents of your drives partitions, and manipulate files, but can't write to NTFS partitions].

"it never gave me the option to repair"
XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option. (http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897)

[deltabwa]

"48-bit LBA BIOS and OS needed to see [and use] all of that capacity."
All that is greek to me but I followed the directions it gave to do that and I was running SP2 which it says supports it....

"Shouldn't you have cloned the old master to the new slave, then switched master/slave jumpers, then non-destructively adjusted partition arrangements?"
I did that originally and it was giving me errors whenever I added software or hardware and rebooted. Well, I should say I THINK I did that, I used the Utility Disk and clicked the option to boot from new drive keeping old drive and then it copied everything and booted fine the first time. I thought that was cloning...

"Only 4 Primary partitions supported; you didn't exceed this I hope."
Well, I didn't know that and yes I did, I don't understand the whole primary/extended thing.

"What's the max partition size XP can support?"
I don't know but I didn't think I was exceeding it in anyway.

"Do you mean data files only were copied over; no cloning? I'm wondering what the details were; the devil is in the detail."
Again, The disk utility did it on the boot drive

"I can't remember whether you write a generic MBR or use an NT/2000/XP boot disk to get into Windows when this happens.
The "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD] can do both of these and more [browse the contents of your drives partitions, and manipulate files, but can't write to NTFS partitions]."
I was able to fix this problem the first couple of times it happened but doing what I mentioned above,, but it quit working for me.

"XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option. (http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897)"
Thank You.

Isn't all of that mute tho after it was repartioned multiple times and the last 10 times or so were attempted with 1 partition at 137g. (the old max size)? As far as the copying over goes, I pulled that HD out early yesterday morning and attempted an install from CD only.


I would swap out the CMOS battery, first...it doesn't seem very likely, but I've seen many a strange thing with corrupted CMOS data. Although, the slot problem seems to me to bigger than just a battery gone dead.
Ohhhhh I'm gonna sound REALLY stupid here.... where is that battery? I guess I should look on the diagram online and find it? And what do I swap it with?

Any suggestions on a MB? I also have a Viewsonic VA912b Monitor. Would love to be able to use the digital.

[mjc]

New battery. It is a coin sized, shiny, silver object somewhere on the board...

[deltabwa]

Ok, I took it out, now do I leave it out and try or does it have to be in? If in, I don't have anything to swap it with and my closest store that would is an hour away, and not something I'm gonna do for a battery. So is leaving it out for a few minutes ok? (lol Can I feel anymore stupid? lol)

[mjc]

Take it with to some place that sells watch/camera batteries and find a replacement. The are fairly cheap and available almost everywhere.

The battery is what keeps the BIOS settings in a special memory (CMOS). A low or dead battery can cause a corruption of those settings and flakey behavior. Pulling the battery also sets the BIOS back to default settings.

Also, while you are out, grab a can of compressed air. The bad RAM slot could just be 'dirty'...using compressed air to clean out the slot could fix that problem.

Both of these steps are cheap...and under $10, battery should be $2-3, compressed air, $4 or so.

[deltabwa]

I've got the air and I've done it. It usually fails at test #5 but it didn't this time. Should I try to reinstall again? Or could there be other issues?

When I plugged it back in, (I had to use the old battery) It wouldn't turn on. I unplugged from the Surge protector and tried it again and still wouldn't turn on. I flipped the switch in the back thinking maybe I hit that somehow, and It flashed on for a hair of a second. I flipped the switch again and it finally came on. Is that coincidence? Also, it came up CMOS Checksum error then did the whole hit F1 or Del thing. I hit F1 knowing the floppy was about to take over. I hope that was right and I didn't screw something up.

[mjc]

Ok...if the RAM slot is testing good now, then it was dirty.

Also, go into the BIOS save and exit...that would be hitting DEL.

F1 is fine, but I'm not sure that actually saves the settings, I think it just bypasses things for that boot. If it did save, then you should probably hit DEL on the next boot, go into the BIOS and load the defaults. Afterwards, if it works we can look into 'tweaking' the settings a bit.

[deltabwa]

ok, I'm ready to throw this thing away. I ran 3 passes with the good stick in the bad slot and it gave 0 errors. SO I thought I would wipe the bad stick down and try it in the good slot. When I shut down and ried to turn it back on again, it wouldn't do anything. I tried about 6 times before it kicked on for a milisecond then off again. it did that 3 times before it kicked on for good. I got the CMOS error again so this time I hit del and loaded optimized defaults. It rebooted, got the the "memory testing" and froze then shut down automatically (which it had never done before. It has done that previously but would stay up). Then I pushed the power again and lit up, then before it went into the BIOS portion it shut down again. It did that for 3 times and I quit.

Did I put the battery back in wrong or something?

Ok, after writing this post, I tried it another 2 times and shut down almost immediately, then on the 3rd try it started up again and I did not get the CMOS error this time. I'm testing that bad stick again just to be sure

[deltabwa]

I don't know what is going on. The bad stick is bad, the good is good in the bad slot. And it rebooted fine and I was able to start it up again fine. I don't know what happened but am really getting anxious about this thing. I went into BIOS and loaded the Standard Defaults.

I went back and repartitioned using Seagate and "easy Installation Which makes 1 partition, 137g. I am now going to try to reinstall and will let you know what happens.

Thanks for your help so far :-)

[deltabwa]

Ok, didn't work. I used the streamlined cd and got the config\system error again. So I stuck in another copy I had and reformatted using it and then I got this error: This is one I also got twice yesterday as well

Stop: c000021a {fatal system error}
The Session manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc000026c (0x00000000 0x00000000).
The system has been shut down.

[mjc]

OK...one more thing.

Is the new drive a SATA drive?

After a quick search, there seems to be several different, but similar motherboards have this problem when mixing SATA and IDE drives. Some seem to solve the problem by messing with the boot order or the SATA options in the BIOS. Others seem to solve it with a BIOS update. And others solved it by installing the OS to an IDE drive and then using XP to setup the SATA drive...then clone the OS over to the SATA drive and remove the IDE hard drive, leaving only Optical drives on the IDE channel.

Also, make sure that no SATA RAID options are enabled in the BIOS.

Oh, and I hope you aren't trying this with the 'bad' stick of RAM installed...

[jlreich]

EDIT - Oh I am sorry about my post. I somehow taken to the last post on the first page of the thread and didn't realize there were other replies. :o

[mjc]

It also seems that the VIA VT8237 SATA controller has some problems with second gen SATA drives...if your new drive is a SATA drive, is it a second gen (SATA 3.0)?

Post full specs on the new drive...

[deltabwa]

Ok, no, it is an "Ultra ATA/100" drive, Barracuda. SEAGATE 400GB PATA ST3400632A-RK.

The bad ram is uninstalled and I had left the good stick in the "dirty" slot. but let me tell ya what just happened. I broke for lunch lol and Came back and reboot after that last error message.

I then got another error message and after looking that up, shows its a ram slot.. so I am back to thinking it's a MB issue.

Stop 0x074 Bad_system_config_info I reseated the ram and all was going well.. until 30 seconds ago.. It actually started to install, there is 23 minutes left and It comes up with a copy error. It can't find the file "licwmi.dl_". I browse, see the file and click retry and it won't work. It continues to tell me it can't copy. I skipped that file and it came up with another file and then it finally went thru with the other file then came to the end and gave me a system error that said the Data was invalid. I hit ok, it gave me that message again, then rebooted and now I've got the Stop: C000021a Fatal Error Message again.

I am using the XP SP1 disk that I got from my SIL. It probably won't work with my code but at this point I just want to see if something installs.

So now Im not sure what to do about that file.

[mjc]

Ok, if the new drive is an IDE drive and you are not using any SATA drives, then go into the BIOS and disable/turn off all SATA functions.

Next, look at cleaning the optical drive. It may be having read problems...misining install files during install are one sign of read problems.

Could be disk problems...dirty/scratched, but since you've tried three different disks over the past few days, I'd say it is more likely the drive than the disks.

[deltabwa]

I edited the last post.... I'll just retype it here....

<I skipped that file and it came up with another file and then it finally went thru with the other file then came to the end and gave me a system error that said the Data was invalid. I hit ok, it gave me that message again, then rebooted and now I've got the Stop: C000021a Fatal Error Message again.>

Ok, did that, and switched DVD drives, am trying that now.

[deltabwa]

Ok, multiple errors, using different disks... The had 0xD1, this current one is 0x07B. They come up after the WINDOWS XP logo comes up. The bar that runs across gets to the end and then I get these errors. And at the reboot is says is missing the NTFS file.

I am now going to try the 3rd (slipstreamed)

I also want to mention that I uninstalled my Firewire card but left the modem.

This streamlined cd is stalling at "installing network" has been at 31 minutes for 6 minutes now.

I rebooted that and tried again told me C drive was corrupt. Used Seagate disk and reformated and tried again, then started XP again and it gave me the Stop 0x074 Bad_system_config_info error again.

There comes a time you have to give up, I think maybe that time has come for me but I don't know what to do from here. Im not going to buy a new one all together this is only a year old. Will a new MB fix all this?

[Sylvander]

STOP 0x00000074 BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326679/en-us)

CAUSE
This issue may occur if one or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed in your computer is damaged or if the RAM configuration is incompatible.

[Paul Komski]

Whether due to bad RAM, or a bad HDD, or a bad CDROM-Drive the end result is either corrupt metadata or a corrupt file system or a corrupt registry.

The easiest way I know of to take the CDROM out of the mix is to try, as previously mentioned, a hard drive installation. If the i386 folder can only be copied across from the CDROM with errors then that should point to a problem with the CDROM drive. If the folder can then be copied across whilst slaved to another PC without errors this should confirm the CDROM drive as being the culprit.

Once a complete i386 folder is sitting on a FAT partition and winnt used to install the OS then if these errors recur during setup bad RAM or a faulty mobo would seem to be high on the cards. The reason for a HDD install is twofold; to get a functional install or simply as a means of helping to identify what the culprit is.

Since the original 160gig drive gave no problems then 48bit LBA shouldn't be part of the problem but there is nothing to lose from installing into say a 10gig partition for the time being.

[deltabwa]

I couldn't get to a C: prompt to copy it over unless I went thru the Recovery portion and then it wouldn't copy it gave me this error: copy does not support wildcards or directory copies

Also, since I have attempted to install using both DVD drives, wouldn't that lean towards it being something else since I still can't install? What is the possibility that both DVD's are bad?

Where do I install the 10g? I would love to try from HD but as I said, I couldn't copy anything over.

Also as far as this

<STOP 0x00000074 BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO

CAUSE
This issue may occur if one or more of the random access memory (RAM) modules that are installed in your computer is damaged or if the RAM configuration is incompatible.>

That is why I am wondering if it is the MB. I got that error for a 3rd time. I have also tried to reinstall using the XPSP1 cd and when it was almost finished installing everything it rebooted and I am now looking at this error:

The following file is missing or corrupt System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys

I know everyone is tired of this as well as I am, I jsut don't know where to go from here.

[deltabwa]

Ok, it's just occured to me that I have a BartPE disk. I copied the files over and followed the instructions for install but all I get is a flashing curser under the command: C:\i386\winnt /s:C:\i386 I don't know if that's cuz I'm still under the Bart or not. But that is the only way I can get to the cursor unless someone can give me another way.

It doesn't mention anytihing about flashing cursors, it just says follow the instructions.

[deltabwa]

OK, have attempted to install thru the HD. I got this message Setup did not detect Smartdrive on your computer. SmartDrive will greatly improve the performance of this phase of Windows Setup.
You should exit now, start Smartdrive, and then restart Setup.
Press F3 to exit Setup.
Press ENTER to continue without SmartDrive. I pressed enter cuz I couldn't find it. Then it was copying and I get the following errors:

The copy made by Setup of the file listed below is no Identical to the original. This may be the result of network errors, floppy disk problems or other hardware related trouble.

(file name)

Press enter to retry the copy operation. Press esc to ignoer the error and continue setup. Press F3 to exit setup.

Here are the files with errors:

ntdll.dll - (hit enter and worked)
aic78xx>sys - (hit enter and doesn't work, so I hit esc jsut to see what would happen)
perc2.sys - (enter and worked)
biosinfo.i~f - (enter did not work, hit esc and moved on)
ntldr - (after 4th attempt at enter it finally went thru)
31x5us04.tll - (enter didn't work, hit esc)
31x5us04.tll - (had to hit esc again and it won't continue after that. Esc jsut brings it back up again.

Also, This is the 2nd time I attemped. The first time gave me 4 different file names before I stopped and started again so that I could write down the errors. The one I did get that was the sme tho, was the NTLDR file.

[Paul Komski]

So, as suspected really, there is an intrinsic problem in getting good copies of the files from the CD and onto the HDD.

In my own experience this has usually been due to a bad CD or failing CD drive and what I would do in that situation is to slave the HDD to another PC, create a FAT partition on it and then copy the i386 folder across. Then return the drive to the problem PC and run i386\winnt from a DOS boot floppy.

The Win98 SE OEM bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm has smartdrv on it.

[deltabwa]

Um... maybe I didn't make it clear when I said I attempted to install thru the harddrive..... I was able to copy the files from the cd onto the harddrive. I then tried installing from the HD using the code C:\i386\winnt /s:C:\i386 and that's when I got all those errors. Or I'm not understanding what you are saying now. I followed the instructions from this site http://www.iol.ie/~krakowangus/winnt.htm

[Paul Komski]

Sorry - I obviously took you up wrong. The comment made "I pressed enter cuz I couldn't find it. Then it was copying and I get the following errors:" ... made me think it was the original file copy (but avoiding smartdrv) itself that was problematic and not the secondary file copy that goes on during the intitial part of the text-based part of the installation.

If the file copy of the i386 folder had errors (which is how I had interpreted your comment that immediately followed pressing ENTER to continue without smartdrv) then one could not have expected the install to proceed normally. I should probably have realised that the messages related to the winnt setup running and it confirms there is something very dodgy going on with your hardware but that the CD and CD drive can be almost certainly be eliminated as causes of your woes.

When all testing of hardware has not resolved a problem then just about the only other way to go about things is to keep the hardware to a minimum and swap out/in the individual components (including the mobo) until the problem is truly and reproducibly pin-pointed.

[mjc]

I'd still try copying the needed files over to the drive on a different machine. If for no other reason, to see how the drive behaves in the other machine.

[Sylvander]

Is your C: partition FAT32?
You need to run Winnt.exe from a FAT[32] partition, though it can then copy the Windows files to an NTFS partition..

1. I usually copy installation file sets [Windows included] to a [FAT32] partition other than C: [G: in my case] and leave them there permanently, so that when in the future Windows needs a file it fetches it from there in an instant without asking for the CD to be supplied in a drive with the same letter as when 1st installed.
Keeping the installation file set off C: helps keep C: small.
I usually use the "File Manager" on the "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD] to do that because it can also browse the contents of partitions very easily, so it's easy to see which files are where. It's pretty easy to use it to copy files from one "drive" to another. It has two panes, left and right, so you can see the contents of both the "drives" you're copying from and to.

2. To run SmartDrive I used "File Manager" to navigate to a copy of it on a floppy and double-clicked on it with the mouse cursor [you OK loading the mouse driver as "File Manager" is loading].
Then I typed the location of Winnt.exe [g:\win2000pro\winnt.exe in my case] in the DOS address at the bottom of the window and hit "Enter".

Alternatively:
Bob Cerelli's Win98SE Startup Floppy (http://www.onecomputerguy.com/install/floppies.htm#boot_floppy) is better than the ordinary Microsoft Startup floppy.
SmartDrive loads automatically with this floppy and the CD-drive[s] are always given letters beginning with X: [X: Y: Z:].

[deltabwa]

Ok, yes, it is a FAT32 drive. After I got all those errors I reformatted again, formatting it FAT32. I am able to use the Seagate disk to get into DOS, tho it'd sn off DOS I think but it works... I then copied the files from the cd to the HD again. This time it gave me an error copying the files at the file "generic.co_" so I had to quit that, it wouldn't ignore the file it would only Fail. I put another cd in. erased all the data in that dir and tried again. Same thing, same file. I tried with the 3rd CD, again, same file same problem. SO.. I switched dvd drives. All 3 cd's again on the same exact file. So... I took the BartPE cd and loaded it and used it to copy the files over to the HD and it worked perfectly. Once all the files were loaded I went into DOS and tried to install again and I got the following error repeatedly.

Line 528 of the Inf FIle \txtsetup.sif in invalid. I restarted and it came back Line 901. It was a vicious circle. I then followed this article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314088 and changed the value to 1 and I got a different line error. So that didn't work. Then it told me it was corrupt so I had to go into BartPE again after reformating (and zeroing out 9% of the HD using the Seagate disk) and copied all the files over again.

So that is where I stand now. I have the files on the HD again, I was unable to delete the original I386 folder and files tho, so I had to rename it "oldi386" and copied the files into newly created i386 folder.

I also copied "smartdrv" rom this computer running 98. Im not sur what it's supposed to do.. It's on a floppy and I enter smartdrv and the floppy makes noise as tho it's being read, and the prompt comes back so I don't know if that's right or not. but I never got the chance to use it again.

I do want to try that drive in this computer but aagin, would like to be reasonably certain it won't screw this computer up. Can I install XP onto that drive and not touch this 98 drive? Or do I need to make the new drive master and disconnect the good drive all together....

[deltabwa]

Ok, This won't work. This computer only has 256 ram and tho the cd works fine normally. I made this drive the only drive and whenever I put any of these install cd's, it spins super super fast, the light flashes at warp speed and the cursor just flashes on screen. When I put the Seagate cd in, it works fine and I can get to the utility disk. I checked it again for errors and it gave me the same errors again:

File Structure Test Result:

Partition 1 (NTFS (20 GB) ) Result: Failed with critical Errors

The following errors were found while scanning the volume:
- One or more errors were found in the index
- One or more errors were found in metadata file records

And that was with a newly formatted partition.

When I put it in as a slave drive, Windows won't recognize it but I am now thinking that is because in order to attempt to install it, I had to reformat it back to NTFS and 98 won't recognize that will it... It shows up in the BIOS but Im thinking between the size of the drive and the NTFS partition, that's why I can't see it.

When I tried to install XP with the FAT32 drive, it kept saying, setup has performed maintenance on your HD. You must restart. When I restart it goes to "Checking Drive C:" and then gives me that same error. It's a circle. So I told it to partition as NTFS and it started to then gave me that super fast speed reading and quit on me. So I rebooted and then from then on out I got the blinking cursor.

I guess I'll try to reformat in FAT32 then see if I can copy the files and then install from DOS. I don't know tho because of the RAM.

I think I'll wait for some direction instead. I'm gonna try and hook the Old HD back up in the XP computer and see if I can repair that install and see what happens. I'm just so afraid of loosing every danged thing on it. XP isn't working right on it but all my documents and files are .....

[mjc]

Or do I need to make the new drive master and disconnect the good drive all together....

That is what I would do...no chance of messing with it if it isn't even connected.

[mjc]

That is what I would do...no chance of messing with it if it isn't even connected.

If you can get it to fully install, you may be able to do a "repair" install after moving the new drive back over.

[deltabwa]

Ok, I just don't know what to do. I tried again. I used the Seagate disk and formatted it again to FAT32. I stuck in another disk and 1 out of the 3 worked. he other 2 would spin fast, then slow down real far then spin fast and slow back down, so I don't know what the problem is with them but The one that works is one that originally gave me install issues that's why I made the slipstreamed cd. But I jsut get the funny spin then shut down and when it doesn't shut down, the cursor blinks on a blank screen.

The original cd worked and wanted to format to NTFS. Of course it's the only way it would work again so I let it. Then it started copying files and gave me this error again "0x074 Bad_Sys_config_info."

I can't even get to DOS on this new computer and see both the HD and CD. I can see one or the other not both. SO I can't copy to HD from cd.

I quit. I don't know what to do I don't know where the problem is and I am very close to sending the computer and new HD only, to a repair shop. But I don't know what they are gonna do either and I hate hate hate to do that. But I just don't know what else.

You guys have been so great and tried to help so much but I get the impression you all are stumped too.

If it was just a bad HD, then it wouldn't have screwed up the old HD on an install would it? But now that one is screwed too. It has a XP background but a 98 Taskbar and I can't change it. I also can't adjust any settings, the Help doesn't work, the Repair under XP reboots and gives nothing but errors. But if it was a MB problem then the HD would have worked in the other computer right... I just don't know.

[mjc]

You know what...at this point I think you are facing multiple problems that are ganging up on you.

1. I don't think ANY of the install disks are 'good'.

2. There may be a RAM problem on the original machine...that could very well screw up an install.

3. Possible bad burner...which would explain bad copies. But a bad slipstream could also be the result of a defective original disk.

4. Something with the drive. On the known working machine, use the Seagate diagnostics on the drive...the long test. Do this before and after running the utility to zero out the drive. If it is only filesystem errors then something like a bad cable may the culprit.

Finally...use another OS. I'd suggest getting one of the Linux Live CDs that will allow a hard drive install. Make the disk on a known working machine, then set the CD on the 'bad' machine to boot first and boot to the Linux. If it works with just the CD, then put the new drive in(only the new drive) and see if it will allow an install to complete. If the install completes, then reboot..to the hard drive and see if it loads without errors.

[deltabwa]

Ok, I tried to get back to the XP computer and the lights come on but no one is home. It won't load. At first I turned it on and I couldn't get BartPE to load, it would shut down and restart before it finished loading. Then I shut it down and restarted it again and it just got to the first line of the BIOS, before it recognises the HD's and it froze there. Then I tried to reboot and it froze right after the HD acknowledge. I rebooted a 3rd time and the lights are on, both orange and green, but the monitor light is orange (stating the computer is off) and the fan is running but nothing else is happening. The reset button doesn't work and the 4 sec hold shutoff just restarts it when I let go. I've been trying to shut it off or reboot it for a couple of minutes and it won't shut down.

It finally shut down and rebooted and is trying to work. Tells me to install the repair disk. I threw it in there for the heck of it While I type this up.

That is MB problems isn't it.. Either way I have to get a MB...

As far as the disks go. The "original" gave me probs originally so I took the copy of my SIL's and slipstreamed it with the SP2 last year. I've used it since then twice with no trouble. But I suppose it could be bad still.

I know it's a huge Download but is there someplace I can download a new one even SP1 since I have the SP2 disk. And try that?

The computer just crashed and will not reboot but all the lights are on as tho it's working. My monitor says "no signal".

UPDATE: 3 more attempts to reboots and the fans and lights are on but nothing is working.

[deltabwa]

Is that a bad MB? I still haven't been able to get it to boot correctly again.

[mjc]

Could be...could be.

I think you are probably right in throwing in the towel on this beast and grabbing a new board. If anything, it has just proven itself to be not quite stable.

Although, I would like to see what happens with a Linux CD...for something like this, I'd probably go with http://www.puppylinux.org/

[deltabwa]

Any thoughts on a MB?

[mjc]

Saph's suggestions in your other thread...

[deltabwa]

OK, great. I was leaning towards that but was hoping for a dvi.

[mjc]

It would be better to get a separate vid card with a DVI out...

[deltabwa]

Although, I would like to see what happens with a Linux CD...for something like this, I'd probably go with http://www.puppylinux.org/

Last night for the heck of it I tried to boot it up. It actaully booted. I couldn't see the 1st BIOS screen, just the screen asking to boot from cd, but I decide to give it a shot and see what it does with the install cd's again. The 1st attempt it froze while copying a file, the 2nd attempt copied all the files then when rebooted, it rebooted to a black screen so I rebooted that and it came up with the error "Load needed DLL for kernel". So I tried it from scratch again , the 3rd attempt copied all the files and I actually saw the XP logo screen for about 2 seconds and it blue screen with the "Stop: C000021a" error then reboot gave me the NTFS.sys file error. So I tried one last time (I was bored or something) and after reformatting again and copying the files, at reboot it gave me that NTFS.sys file error again.

So, this morning I decided since it was at least running I would give your Linux CD a shot. I put it in and went thru all the steps, got the Linux Puppy screen and I walked away for about 5 minutes and came back and it was rebooting. So I let it go thru it all again and it got the the puppy screen and within 1 minute it shut down. Not reboot but actually shut down.

So.. New thoughts? Same problem? New problem?

[Sylvander]

"New thoughts?"
A hardware problem [with HDD not included in the hardware set].
Work with a minimum of necessary hardware connected.

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
At http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669/en-us

[deltabwa]

"New thoughts?"
A hardware problem [with HDD not included in the hardware set].
Work with a minimum of necessary hardware connected.

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
At http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669/en-us

Ok, I just did that. Only thing plugged in is the dvd drive and 1 stick of RAM. No HD, nothing.

Loaded me up to the point it says something about Welcome to Puppy, or something like that, it shut down to fast for me to read it. So, that doesn't work either.

More thoughts?

[mjc]

Ok...so it isn't just OS related.

And it doesn't seem to be related to the hard drive...either. Because ti is acting up, without the drive connected.

Puppy is fairly easy to load and not too hard on a machine, so it should have come up.

I'm pretty sure that we have eliminated most common problems and it is probably a very good idea to go ahead and put this motherboard out to pasture...if not out of misery (at least yours...a 12 ga solution seems rather satisfying right about now).

[Sylvander]

Have the few remaining items of hardware tested by a shop.

[deltabwa]

ok. The MB and vid card has been ordered. Should be here Thursday. Because I am running a bit slow today... besides the processor, PSU, dvd drives and Ram.. what other hardware needs to be tested? Or is that what you are referring to?

Do you think the PSU needs to be tested? It comes up....

How do you test the cpu?

And yes, a 12ga sounds a bit like heaven right about now.

[Sylvander]

"the processor, PSU, dvd drives and Ram"
Those are the items needing tested to confirm they are fully functional.

"Do you think the PSU needs to be tested?"
Yes, see below.

"How do you test the cpu?"
Fit it to a known good, compatible mobo and run a diagnostic program to test its various capabilities.

TESTING ATX POWER VOLTAGES

See this http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt2.html

Black = ground
Red = +5 volts
White = -5 volts
Yellow = +12 volts
Blue = -12 volts
Orange = +3.3 volts (?)
Green = power on

Turn the power on. The fans should at least come on so that you know you have power.

Turn on the voltmeter and set it to measure DC voltage. Start with an IDE power connector that is not used. Place the black lead of the voltmeter in the hole of the connector that has a black wire (ground). Connect the red lead of the voltmeter first to the yellow hole and then to the red hole. The voltmeter should read +12v and +5v respectively.

The other voltages may usually be measured at the motherboard power connector by simply sliding the red multimeter test probe down the hole where each colour wire goes (with the black probe connected to any black wire as before). Really you only need to check the orange wire for 3.3 volts at this connector. If +12, +5, and +3.3 volts are all ok, then your power supply is probably fine.

Unfortunately, a low voltage measured in this way may mean a bad PSU or that some other component (motherboard, etc.) has a short and is pulling the voltage down. Therefore, the main value of measuring voltages is to eliminate the PSU as a source of the problem (if it has normal voltages).

[deltabwa]

Hi again, Well, I guess I didn't read the specs well enough for the MB because I just got my stuff and this MB only has 1 IDE slot. I don't have any SATA drives, they are all IDE. Do you have to recommend that I can use with my current ADA HDD's??

My husbands PSU went up so I am on a library computer (only today) so I really don't have internet access anymore.

I contemplated using this board and to get started using 1 HD and the DVD on the same cable but I really don't want to get all new HDD"s. Plus I don't know if you can do that anyway.

I guess there is another option but is it any good? A IDE to SATA converter cable? SO that I could still use my IDE drives.. I see them when I search but are they any good or do they work?

[jlreich]

An adapter will work just fine. I haven't found an adapter that will let you use an ATA/IDE drive with an SATA port though. Plenty of the other way around. So if you find one post a link for future reference please.

Or you could use a PCI controller card that will give you more ATA/IDE ports.

Do note that all new HDD's should be SATA from now on, unless you are buying for an older machine that doesn't have SATA support.

Another option is to pick up one new SATA HDD to install windows on, then put your ATA drives in USB enclosures for data storage. That may not be a viable option depending on your needs, but just a thought.

[deltabwa]

Can I in the meantime tho, install this MB, put 1 HD and 1 DVD on the same IDE cable and get me thru so I can get this computer functioning and then get a pci card and put everything on their own? And if so, Is it better to put the DVD's (I have 2) on the slot on the board or to put on the pci card?

I understand with SATA.. from now on.. definitely....

[deltabwa]

Here is a link to a converter, not cable, I don't know if it works tho..

http://www.computervideogear.com/sata/serial-ata-ide-converter.htm

[jlreich]

Cool, that adapter looks like it would work. I knew they are out there I just didn't have any luck finding them. :rolleyes: Good to know for others in the same situation. We are going to have more of this problem since mobo manufacturers are dropping the second ATA channel. A period of transitioning from ATA to SATA.

Make sure you have room in your case for the adapter sticking out of your HDD though. ;) Don't want it jamming into a video card or anything.

Yes you can install one HDD and one DVD drive. I would set the HDD as master.

Depending on how many ATA HDD's you have, that adapter may be all you need. If you have several you may want to go ahead and get a controller card. Probably cheaper than getting an adapter for each HDD.

[Sylvander]

A controller card is a good [and inexpensive] option because then you might be able to have each drive have its own dedicated controller.
That means that all drives would be able to run concurrently [not having to wait for their turn on the controller].

[deltabwa]

But a card wouldn't slow it down too much? It for my hardrives, or again, do I put the opticals on the card and HD on the board?

[Sylvander]

"a card wouldn't slow it down too much?"
In my case the card speeded up my system, bacause my mobo couldn't run at the speed of my new HDD, but the controller card gave me the FULL SPEED RATING of the new HDD.

"do I put the opticals on the card and HD on the board?"
I put the new [fast] HDD on the new [fast] controller card and the slower optical drives on the slower internal IDE controllers.
I ended up with 4 separate controllers; 2 on the card & 2 internally.
So each drive had its own dedicated controller [no sharing], and the fast HDD had a fast controller. :)

[deltabwa]

What about this?

And can I burn up the MB if the power connectors are on wrong? The manual says ground wires but I only have white wires, which is fine, I understand white can also be ground, but some of them don't call for a ground, yet all of them ahve a white wire connected... I.E. HDD LED has a green and white wire, yet the manual says just a pos & neg. Then the reset button says Ground and reset control and it is white and another color. So is white the neg and the neg?

[mjc]

In the case of that motherboard, I don't think it would really matter wehre you put the drives...there isn't all that much of a difference between ATA 100/133 since most drives don't hit much beyond 66.

If you do the add in IDE card, you'll have three channels. I'd put the main OS drive on the onboard controller, the DVD on channel 1 of the card and any other drives (up to 2) on channel 2 of the card. Then the first drive I'd replace would be the OS/main drive (get a SATA drive to replace it with...) and then move the 'old' OS drive to an external enclosure...

[deltabwa]

Oops I forgot to put the link

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812206002

How about the wires from the front of the case?

[Sylvander]

"there isn't all that much of a difference between ATA 100/133 since most drives don't hit much beyond 66"
I'm no expert on such things, but I did see when using the new arrangement for the 1st time that things were loading from the HDD noticeably faster. :)
I think the old board was ATA 66 and the newest HDD and card ATA 133.

I also noticed another improvement when I fitted an even newer HDD with an even faster spindle ratational speed [7,200 RPM]. and a bigger buffer [8 MB]

[mjc]

Most of the improvement would have been from going from 66 to 100. In fact most 133 capable drives are set, by default, to 100, and need to be reset. (This was found out trying to use a 133 capable drive in Linux and not being able to enable it, because it the drive had been set to 100). Used the manufacturer's utilities to reset the drive.

I don't have the timing tests saved any more, from that setup, but it was a small improvement going from 100 to 133. Going from 66 to 100 was a huge improvement. Something like fractions of a second as opposed to over a couple of seconds and from a few kb/sec to a few MB/sec...

Also most sound 'dampening' schemes have a performance hit. Most modern drives are fairly quiet, anyway, and more so when dropped into an enclosure, so use the manufacturer's utility to disable that 'feature' unless it is critical to keep enabled. (I find most drives quieter than fans and most fans are fairly quiet, these days.)
I also noticed another improvement when I fitted an even newer HDD with an even faster spindle ratational speed [7,200 RPM]. and a bigger buffer [8 MB]

Of course, compared to a 5400 1 or 2MB cache drive it would seem to fly...

[deltabwa]

Ok, well, I am up and running. I guess I've got my wires right, tho I haven't hooked up the USB wires yet, those are individual and very scarey lol

BUT... <sigh> I'm really getting sick of this... I still can't load XP. I am getting those stupid errors still. I tried 3 times and the twice I got the NTOSKRNL error.

I am however, Using that Puppy Linux. So at least something works. I am getting my sister in law's copy of XPSP1 tomorrow or Sunday and I will try to load that and see if it is the cd's. If not, I don't know, I guess my only other thing is that the HD is bad.

My current hookup is the new HDD and 1 DVD is on the same IDE cable. and 1 stick of RAM. I ahve returned the other and am waiting for the replacement.

Do you think I need to test this other stick again????

[deltabwa]

Ok, tested this other stick of RAM and it tested fine. I am still running this Linux Puppy and waiting for another XP cd. I tried to install again and after it copied files and went to reboot I got the error "Disk Read Error" So I'm thinking It's gonna be the new HDD as well as that MB.

[deltabwa]

I'm BAAAACK lol

Not good news

OK, I got the new disk, The HD was formated as FAT32... When I put in the cd it reformated, checked, copied, initialized, reboot then gave me an error:

Error in the software DLL's for HAL (pretty common error I know)

I tried a 2nd time, deleted old partition, created a new one of 40g, copied, initialized, reboot, got the XP screen for a flash then error:

Stop: C0000221 {Bad image checksum} Image kernel32.dll is possibly corrupt. Header checksum does not match the computed checksum

I reboot, got XP for about 5 seconds then this error:

Stop: 0000221 unknown harderror
\systemroot\system32\ntdl.dll

At which point.. here I am.

[Sylvander]

STOP: 0xc0000221. Bad image check sum, the image user32.dll is possibly corrupt. The header check sum does not match the computed check sum. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315241/en-us)

[mjc]

You know what...at this point I think it is time to try a different CD/DVD drive...that is about the only thing we haven't thrown out the window/gave the 12 ga treatment to....YET!!!!

[deltabwa]

I tried both DVD drives. The first DVD drive gave me the HAL error and the 2nd the STOP error. They can't possibly BOTH be bad.....

Ok, while I was away I ran the Seagate full structure scan, and The File structure scan. I got only an error with the File Structure. So I used the Seagate disk to wipe the drive and repartition a 40g section. . I then did a Quick Test and File Structure test and the File Structure failed with this error:

1 or more errors in the Metadata File records

I did see that Windows Website but it's kinda greek to me. Also, the USER32 that they mention, is the "User" just a generic form, meaning anything can be in that place if it has a "32".dll" behind it? And should that be happening with a new install?

[deltabwa]

Ok, wiped the drive again and tried to install again and got the same STOP error. I will write down the directions and see if that works. I don't ahve a printer that I can use on PUPPY.

Can I install in under PUPPY? or do something under this program?

[mjc]

You should be able to copy the contents of the i386 folder over to the drive under Puppy.

[deltabwa]

Ok, well, After several more attempts at trying to reformat, reinstallm etc I've gotten that C:0000221 error all but once. I also followed the directions on the page supplied by Sylvander and when that was rebooted I got the Stop 0x07F error . Tried again, format, copy, reboot back to the C:0000221 error. I moved the RAM to another slot, I ran Memtest again and tried yet again and Got the old NTFS.SYS error.

I finally decided to run chkdsk. It found 1 or more errors. So I ran chkdsk /r - it said it fixed 1 or more errors. I rebooted again <sigh> and it told me I had to create partition. It showed one there but told me I had to create anyway. So I hit enter to create there and at the next screen it said "this disk does not contain a Windows XP Compatible partition". I hit enter, went back and deleted that partition and hit Creat again and got the same message and then it loops. So I went back to DOS and ran chkdsk again, found 1 or more errors, I told reformated in DOS and fixed again and then ran chkkdsk again and it still found 1 or more errors.

What does that mean for the HD and is it time to send this back to Seagate? Or is it not HD issue.

Is there a better program than the Seagate that will totally wipe the drive? Is it possible it's got junk on there that is not wiping clean and therefore causing all this problem?

[deltabwa]

Also, I tried to copy under Puppy and it told me 6331 errors, "Operation not supported" Yet it did copy 5651+ items, but many of the items under the folders are missing.

[deltabwa]

Ok, Update. I found an old 4 g HD and reformatted and installed XP on it. Wa-La. I am in XP SP1, on the internet.

Now, the question I have is this. Is the other HD not working becuase it's Bad or is it having Large Disk issues?

As a reminder, I only have 1 IDE slot and I still have my 1 HD and 1 DVD drive hooked to it so I haven't tried to look at the problem drive under Windows yet but plan to do that tomorrow.

Can anyone tell me what I need to look for, under windows, to see if the problem drive is bad or just having large disk issues...

[Paul Komski]

You could try the tool at http://www.48bitlba.com/hdinfo.htm to check your BIOS.

BTW an obscure cause of file corruption is having the last drive in an extended partition formatted as FAT.

[Sylvander]

"Is there a better program than the Seagate that will totally wipe the drive?"
The "Emergency Boot CD" [EBCD][see link below] could be useful to you.
It includes...
a. A "Drive Fitness Test Utility".
b. "Memtest" RAM testing utility.
c. A utility to "Unrecoverably wipe info from disks" [never used it, zero fill?].
d. "Microsoft Scandisk" that will scan and fix a file system [not NTFS] and fix faulty clusters.
e. "Free fdisk" to repartition.
f. "Format.com" at the "DOS 7.10" command prompt to reformat.
g. "Image for DOS" can be used to image the contents of a [good, working boot] partition [holding the Windows OS] from one HDD and restore to a [C:] partition on another HDD.
You'd need a 2nd internal HDD with a FAT[32] partition on it, to which to save the image files.
h. The "File Manager" can see the various drives [including a HDD] and browse [and manipulate] any contents.

"is it having Large Disk issues?"
A controller card would fix that and give you more controllers [each drive on its own controller is good].

"Can anyone tell me what I need to look for, under windows"
Test and scan using the EBCD.

1. How to make a free “Smart Boot Manager” floppy
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41498
This makes it easier to boot a chosen drive [particularly the one holding the EBCD].

2. How to make a free EBCD bootable CD
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
This has a number of useful utilities included including "Image" [for DOS, by Terabyte] & "File Manager".

[deltabwa]

How to make a free EBCD bootable CD[/b]
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
This has a number of useful utilities included including "Image" [for DOS, by Terabyte] & "File Manager".

I made this ISO file but gave me an error. Does this mean anything?

Warning: Creating filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660.
Warning: Creating filesystem with <non-standard> Joliet extensions but without <standard> Rock Ridge extensions. It is highly recommended to add Rock Ridge.


Is that something to be concerned about? Will it not work? I see that it shows on the instructions that it shows the 1st warning but not the 2nd. I guess taht's the one I'm concerned about.. The Rock Ridge thing.

Also, is there a way to check the HDD to see if it is bad? The Seagate disk keeps telling me it's good but obviously there is some issue.

And the original Master HD that has all my stuff on it kept giving me an error yesterday which I think means everyhting is unrecoverable,.... "Disk Read Error" Please tell me that I can get my stuff off of it.

<sigh> Edit: Will nothing work... I am getting I/O errors when I try to write it: SCSI Status 0x02; Inerpretation: Check Condition; A bunch of numbers than at the bottom under interpretation It says: Invalid address for write.

[deltabwa]

You could try the tool at http://www.48bitlba.com/hdinfo.htm to check your BIOS.

BTW an obscure cause of file corruption is having the last drive in an extended partition formatted as FAT.

This says it is not. Does/Could it change with formatting? I tried to format under Windows but it gave me an error that it couldn't.

[Sylvander]

"Warning: Creating filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660.
Warning: Creating filesystem with <non-standard> Joliet extensions but without <standard> Rock Ridge extensions. It is highly recommended to add Rock Ridge."
Ignore these; not a problem.

"is there a way to check the HDD to see if it is bad?"
Run some appropriate EBCD utilities [previously listed] to test/scan the HDD.

"And the original Master HD that has all my stuff on it kept giving me an error yesterday which I think means everyhting is unrecoverable,.... "Disk Read Error""
See if the EBCD "File Manager" [it can read FAT & NTFS partitions] will read the contents of the HDD.

[deltabwa]

Please see my EDIT. I could not create the CD.

[Sylvander]

Failure when you try to burn the iso image to a CD-RW or CD-R?
Have you much experience of burning an iso to CD?
[You know exactly how to do it and have done it successfully many times, or what?]
Normally this works fine just so long as it's done right.
If you think there may be something wrong with the iso I can upload a known good iso to a hosting site and post a link to that here.

Did you use a known good PC and burner to do it?

[deltabwa]

I have done it several times yes, I just did one making the Recovery CD. I redid the ISO file twice and tried it 3 times.

I used the only PC and burner I have available. This one.

Here is the error I received from ImgBurn

E 20:49:48 Failed to Write Sectors 1376 - 1407 - Logical Unit Communication CRC Error (ULTRA-DMA/32)
I 20:49:48 Synchronising Cache...
I 20:49:49 Cycling Tray after Test Write...
E 20:49:52 Failed to Write Image!
E 20:49:53 Operation Failed! - Duration: 00:00:54
I 20:49:53 Average Write Rate: 152 KB/s (1.0x) - Maximum Write Rate: 152 KB/s (1.0x)

[Sylvander]

I have uploaded to HERE (http://www.verzend.be/v/6464697/1_EBCD061P.ISO.html) an EBCD Pro iso file that I know works.
It will be hosted there untill 21st Sept 2006.
You could download that iso file and try to burn it to CD.

Is your burning hardware and software normally reliable?

[deltabwa]

It's the same error.

Yes, the hardware and software are usually reliable. I will try another program tho. The problem is that I can't install too much here because I've only got 1.5 g available on this drive.

[deltabwa]

I've tried another burning program and I get another error. Both errors happen at 4%. This error reads

Writing Error: (3) Error occured writing data to disc. Communication with drive unit failed (1003). Error Sense Data: SENSE Key 4 ASC: 8 ASCQ: 3

This player worked perfectly before all this mess happened. I just burned backups a couple days before the crash.

[mjc]

Have you tried new IDE cables?

[deltabwa]

Thank You, I changed cables and I made the disk. I haven't tested it yet but I will do that in the morning.

Also, updating you. I Contacted Outpost and am returning the drive. I also ordered a SATA drive this time so I won't have to worry about the IDE issue. Hopefully this drive will work and load with no problems.

Thank you for all your time and help. I will probably be back if I can't get the files off of the old master drive.

[deltabwa]

Hi again.

Last night this 4g HD started making very strange noises. It wasn't clicking it was more a constant whine for a few seconds. Then afew minutes later IE crashed on me and wouldn't come back up so I rebooted. Upon rebooting it would make 3 clicking sounds, then load but when it loaded XP It gave me the error: Generic Host Process Win32. I was really never able to do anything because it took forever and would freeze up. So I rebooted and let it have the night to do whatever. This morning I woke up to that same error and was able to view the report but only momentarily. It mentioned 2 files, the 1st one was Svchost.exe but before I could finish writing that file name it rebooted and it drags forever.

I have looked up on microsoft's fix and actually downloaded and installed it even tho it says it is only for XP SP2 and I am running SP1 at the moment. It didn't do anything. I have also restored to a previous day and that didn't do anything either.

This drive is only temporary but I haven't installed anything except a few drivers on it and I'm sure the drive is going up but that, I thought, is an odd error to get. Also, occassionally, it would tell me I don't have a sound card installed even tho I know I do.

I am trying to get this HD to last until I get the new one at the end of this week. And it does make the noise every time it boots.