Windows 2000 installation

[JLW]

My machine is a lowly PIII 500 with a QDI BrillianX 1S/2000 motherboard.
I am trying to install Windows 2000 onto a 60Gb HDD.
Windows 2000 starts installing, Formats the drive to NTFS and performs the initial file copy.
On restarting the machine to continue the installation I get the message Error loading operating system.

I have tried updating the Bios but it doesnt seem to have made any difference.

I tried the same installation on a brand new machine in the office and got exactly the same result, so I dont think it can be a Bios problem.

Now the strange bit. The Bios hdd detection is normally set to Auto. I put my old HDD back in the machine and set the Bios to a 16Gb Hdd.
When I tried getting the 60Gb disk to work again I forgot to change the Bios and Windows 2000 started the second part of the installation.
On changing the Bios to Auto.I get the message Error Loading operating system. again.

Some more info. With HDD auto detect on the Bios the old disk is reported in LBA mode the new HDD is reported to be in CHS mode.

Can anyone please help as this is driving me nuts!

Thanks in advance

JLW

[mjc]

This may sound a little strange........but, with the new drive in change it to user, and then set it to LBA, reboot, the set it back to auto, reboot again (saving the changes first) and see if it "sticks". The last time I updated the BIOS on my HP it did that and it would not change to LBA when set to auto, but after I manually changed it to LBA it was fine.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links

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

[JLW]

Originally posted by mjc:
This may sound a little strange........but, with the new drive in change it to user, and then set it to LBA, reboot, the set it back to auto, reboot again (saving the changes first) and see if it "sticks". The last time I updated the BIOS on my HP it did that and it would not change to LBA when set to auto, but after I manually changed it to LBA it was fine.

Thanks for the reply, but unfortuanately your suggestion didnt fix the problem. Whilst the HDD is set to LBA it incorrectly shows the size of the disk as just over 2Gb. I still get the message "Error loading operating system".
When the HDD is set to Auto it correctly shows the size of the disk as being over 60Gb but in CHS mode.
No machine in the office is able to view this drive, even brand new ones. Is there a possible problem with Win 2000 using this type of drive?

Thanks in advance.

[mjc]

Ok...time to get the drive's diagnostics from the drive manufacturer, it sounds like there is a problem with the drive. If more than one machine won't see the drive properly it most likely a drive problem.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links

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

[Rick]

May I suggest before you return the drive.
Boot from a floppy and remove the original partition.
Taking it back to factory condition. (Clean and Clear)

When you are finished.
Reboot and set the bios to the spec’s printed on the drive label .
In some cases it will be shown using the CHS settings

You should be able to change the CHS to LBA after you enter the first set of correct parameters
Then Fdisk and format the drive. Using the correct utility from the file system you want to use.

This should force the drive into its manufactured spec’s
You should also be able to use autodetect after this and it will/should use the default setting


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To ERR is HUMAN
To REALLY screw things UP, YOU NEED a COMPUTER !

[JLW]

Originally posted by Rick:
May I suggest before you return the drive.
Boot from a floppy and remove the original partition.
Taking it back to factory condition. (Clean and Clear)

When you are finished.
Reboot and set the bios to the spec’s printed on the drive label .
In some cases it will be shown using the CHS settings

You should be able to change the CHS to LBA after you enter the first set of correct parameters
Then Fdisk and format the drive. Using the correct utility from the file system you want to use.

This should force the drive into its manufactured spec’s
You should also be able to use autodetect after this and it will/should use the default setting

It looks like it was a faulty drive. I have just received a replacement and it seems to work fine. Only a couple of days wasted. Thanks for everyones help though.