Adding a second hard drive cannot format

This is my first attempt at adding and formatting a hard drive. I kind of messed up and hope someone can steer me in the right direction as to what I did wrong and how to correct the problem. Thanks!!!
This is what I have. So I have installed a second HD as slave. Under Disk Management on C: layoutartition; Type:basic: File syst:FAT32. And on D: this is the new one, at Layout:simple; Type:dynamic and nothing is under the File system.
The new drive is seen at Device Manager and in My Computer. When I try to format it, it goes on for a while and at the end, indicated by the bar on the formatting dialog box, a message "Windows cannot complete formatting" pops up. Any idea on how can I fix it?

 

Unless you have a specific need for a dynamic drive, stick with basic.

You might check your event logs for more details about the failure. start~run~eventvwr

 

How to delete?

So I have to open disk management and select the volume right? then go to Actions/All task/delete volume... I just don't want to mess up anything so forgive my hesitation.

 

Back to the same thing

I deleted the new Volume inside Disk Management and I cannot create a basic Volume for the second hard drive. This latter is on primary IDE channel as is my C:....maybe that's the problem hein?

 

Looking at the extent of the problem, I would question whether you have a hardware fault. Probably the easiest way to check this would be to use a different operating system to set up the disk. So how to do this without installing another OS.

1. Disconnect the master existing disk from the IDE cable (you don't have to do this, but it would be wise to do this to ensure you don't accidently wipe your existing disk). Change the jumper on the hard disk to Master.

2. Obtain a Windows 98 boot disk. Put it in the floppy drive and restart the computer (I will assume your system is set to boot to floppy).

3. At the command prompt use FDISK to delete any existing partitioning (repost if you need help with this)

4. Restart still with the boot disk in place

5. Create a new partition with FDISK - FAT32 would be best. Repeat step 4.

6. At the command prompt type FORMAT C:

It will take a while to format, but as well as formatting the disk, this process will also test the drive. If you get errors during running FDISK or FORMAT I would expect that you have a hardware fault. Try changing cables first (swap the one on the hard disk for the one on the CD). Then take the hard disk back to supplier. It's possible that it could be the IDE controller on the motherboard, but try a different hard disk first.

Assuming no errors, after you've formated the disk change the new disk back to slave, and check that your original is jumpered as master with slave (worth checking as I have seen some disks with a Master only setting as well as master with slave. Also if it is set to cable select you may get some strange behaviour akin to what you are seeing - perhaps you should check this first). Connect both disks to the IDE cable, remove the boot disk and restart the PC.

If this goes well then I expect you'll find that you can see the disk correctly in disk manager, and be able to remove the partition you created with Windows 98 if you wish. Or you could just change it to NTFS.

 

Is this hardware fault?

I did excatly what you have instructed. It does not boot. I get a message like "NTDLR is missing, type any key to restart ". What is NDTLR? I got my bootdisk from bootdisk.com. I tried different bootdisks and got the same message.

 

The best boot disk IMHO is the native Windows 98 disk. If you or a friend have a windows 98 PC there is an option to create a boot disk (If memory serves me right it is an option on a tab in Add/Remove Programs). Try using one of those.

Try the boot disks you have on another PC - does it boot on those?

Does the floppy disk drive light flash just before you get the "NTDLR is missing, type any key to restart "?

 

I agree with ReggieB.

If you are trying to boot from a proper boot floppy (and that site has good ones) and getting the NTLDR error, it means the system is still trying to load 2K from the hard drive.

98 has no clue about NTLDR and wouldn't need it or look for it.

You need to check your BIOS (some key needs to be pressed when you start the machine. F8 is common on some brands but DEL and others can also be used depending on who made the system) and arrange the boot order so it tries for a floppy boot before checking the hard drive.

 

Clearing up the Dynamic disk problem

I would recommend getting a Win98 boot disk to start. What you need to do is play with some of your hardware.

Take your second harddrive set it as a master, unplug your boot drive and plug in your second drive. Use the boot disk to fdisk and then format the drive using the disk.

When all of the formatting and fdisking is done reassemble your harddrives in the correct order, set the second drive back to slave.

now when you get into windows and check the drive management you will have your harddrive setup and ready to go. The harddrive will be set as a basic drive not a dynamic.

Another suggestion is to format using NTFS (more secure, more reliable, easier to defrag, you won't have to worry about scandisk from running if you hard reboot)

Being that you are running Win2K or better NTFS will make your life easier. FAT32 causes all sorts of problems.

***Note***
make your second harddrive an extended partition not a primary.