CD works but can't boot from it

Install is going well - no freezes. Some problems getting Tbird and FFox settings back - will figure that out when fresh or visit Ramona.

Further Q:

When I installed XP I carved out 9 Gigs for my C: from the 40 Gig HD. Set it up in Fat32 so I could get it installed (eventually will want to convert it to NTSF). The part that I carved from now can't be accessed. Apparently, I should have formatted it at install.

What options now? Following Win help didn't work.

I know I could use 3rd party partition manager. What do you recommend?

Scott

 

When you add the old drive back in the drive letters will be automatically arranged. There should not be a problem adding it latter, but I recommend to put it in as soon as you think Windows is set up and running well. There is a slight possibility that programs that are installed with the old drive letter arrangement may not be able to find files with the new arrangement (say if the CD drive letter changes). It should only be a matter of reinstalling the program over itself if there does happen to be a problem. Win XP people could probably tell you more. I think you need to get your hardware arrangement set up ASAP.
A partition manager will probably be the only way to partition the free space on the drive. They are handy to have. Paragon demo if you are interested:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2812.html

You should be able to get rid of the c:/i386 folder to reclaim some space. Rename it to say Xi386 for a while to see if Windows does not need it for reference.

Me, I would stick with Fat32. As you saw, utilities work in Fat32. Only a small advantage in NTFS.

Matt

 

Great info, Matt.

I'm using Partition Manager. Have formatted the empty partition. Tried it as a logical and as a primary drive (very educational help file) but still this area of my hard drive is not viewable in explorer. I expected it to be a D: drive. I've looked all through their web site and help file without finding the probably easy thing I'm overlooking. Suggestions?

Scott

 

You've got me on this one.

Have you activated the Paragon program? It may be doing a demo "simulation ".
From what I saw about the demo, I think you need to boot from a set of boot floppies to make the actual changes.

Check if you can see the new partition with the bootdisk.com floppy.

Use the harddrive's utility to see if it shows.

Run the process again. I use an old version of Partition Magic (I have a new version of Partition Manager through a magazine offer, but have not used it yet). What I watch is not to make a list of processes eg. resize + partition + format, I just run one process at a time.

Can't think of much else at the moment.

Matt

 

Thanks, Matt.

I downloaded the demo. It did everything ok in virtual but wouldn't implement unless I buy so I bought. I downloaded the full program and it seemed to implement it - it shows it as done. They also emailed my a password which activated my online account with them. Didn't see anything about a key or activation of product- just a simple install. Will look further.

I'm on my way out the door. Will try bootdisk when I get back. The new partition does show in P.M.

Scott

 

I wrote earlier that the new partition shows in PM - but it doesn't have a drive number.

Bootdisks indicated only C: D: R: and S: (the last two are the DVD and CD drives and I assume the D: is the logical drive setup by the bootdisk).

I went into safe mode with command and tried chkdsk D: and was told it was not accessible.

Ran PM again and looking at the drives I saw my old HD was set up as a primary and then a second partition with a subpartition as a logical partition so I made the second part of the new drive logical and formatted it as FAT32. It now looks in PM like the old HD but without a drive letter.

While in PM and before I made it logical I ran Partition Explorer. Under options added a check to "show NTSF system files" and it showed "BOOTSect.dos 0KB" That wan't there until I checked it. It also wasn't there after I added logical and reformatted.

Maybe there's a clue in this but it's beyond me...

BTW, other than a glitch in Tbird everything is running well - NO freezes

Keeping my fingers crossed after having written the last comment.

Scott

 

Hey, I ran the defragmenter and it recognizes the partition/drive but labels it Logical drive without a letter. Showed it 99% free.
Scott

 

Double this time.

Trys:
See if Windows "drive manager" may see the partition and make changes. I have not come across it, but maybe you have not given the drive a "label" so it does not give the drive a lettering ??

Run Checkdisk.

Destroy and remake the partition with PM. See if there are any sections where you may have chosen the wrong selection (Give it a good label, like "!@#$%^ drive" )

If it may have been formatted as NTFS, that may be the cause.

Matt

 

Well, I'm learning - the hard way - and I think I fixed that problem.

I destroyed and remade partition then merged it with C:. It wanted it to be NTSF so then I did just what you wrotenot to do - I added a convert to FAT32 command on top of that. Then realized I hadn't pushed apply. So I did. Computer took about 30 minutes to reboot as it went through merging and converting.

When it finished it would only boot to a dos screen - rather a screen with a cursor slash. Thought it was reformatted but no. It showed a windows dir and several others when I ran bootdisk.

Couldn't find the command to get windows to boot so went to option two - reinstall XP. it showed C: as corrupted and wouldn't let me install so - I've reformatted the HD and am now transferring i386 to folder on c: <sigh>

Learning...

Scott

edit addendumb: feels like Groundhog's Day here.

 

Ok, now it's not going so well...

As it was copying files and running set up it stopped, saying "file 'asms on Win XP Home SP2 CD (my OEM) is needed. Type path and click ok. "

I looked at CD in anther copmuter to find asms. Search only showed it as a folder in i386. So I tried path both to i386 on HD and also i386 on S: drive (my CD drive). No recognition of it. Caught in a loop... I cancel and it reboots - sans bootdisk - into setup where it left off (after Windows XP screen comes on - got as far as "Installing Windows" in set up).

What now. I'm willing to reformat or whatever.

Scott

 

Learning...
Learning...
Learning...
I like it... (been there, but not sure I have done that...so I wish I was sitting next to you so we could both be learning).

You have a (virtually) blank drive, you can do what ever you like. This is the time to learn.

Your CD drive may still be suspect. Otherwise, check the Windows disk does not have any smudges/gunck on it (clean it with some warm soapy water, don't scratch it (use some tissue paper) rinse the soap off and let it dry.

UNFORTUNATELY, I only have experience with installing XP once and that went smooth as silk.

I would:
Install your other CD drive, then use boot floppies to DIR the folders of some CDs (in other words, see if it may be more reliable).

Repartition and format with the harddrive utility (Partition Manager may be having problems because of the the original partition/format).

I would format in Fat32

Try installing by running winnt.exe from the CD (S: drive) first. Copy i386 to the C: drive if that will not work.

Try some variations if you like, you may see a better way.

Matt

 

Thanks again, Matt.

I've posted so much, it seems, about everything I'm doing (since I seem to always be up against some mistake I've made or edge of understanding) and you've been so good about hanging in there that it's like you're here.

Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of my work week so most tinkering will have to wait until Friday.

I'll let you know what works; what doesn't. I'm discovering that patience, passion, detachment and a sense of humor are essential to learning well.

Scott

 

Had a little time this am and begain tinkering with Format and Fdisk. Ended up going in midday.

I used the disk I downloaded from www.boodisk.com. Best $4 spent. Formatted the drive but it still showed second partition as NTSF so Fdisked and deleted second partition. Formated again (sorry I didn't take note and that you couldn't be here, Matt. It's fun just tinkering with no angst about losing anything). Set up an extended partition then made it logical. Forget how I got it to FAT32 but I think it was part of the options in Fdisk.

Oh, it didn't go all this smoothly - this was the final result of a fair amount of trial and error which is why I'm not totally clear on the details of what all I did.

Interestingly, the HD retained the partition sizes I set up originally many formats and repartitions ago.

I went to S: drive, found i386, entered "winnt" or "winnt.exe" and install went smoothly.

Did have one scare this evening. I stopped this am after initial install and shut her down. Before booting I hooked up a new keyboard and the old drive. Booted and light that indicates read/write to HD came on, stayed on. Monitor was lightly lit with nothing on it. A light was on the keyboard. No boot, though. After a worried few minutes I realized I'd forgot to remove the jumper clips from the new slave drive.

Still setting up tonight but all looks good so far. I now have C:, D:, G: & H: paritions on my two HDs.

Question. You suggested FAT32 over NTSF. My old C:, now G: is still NTSF.
My new C: is FAT32. I want to use my C: only for OS and a few programs; D: for rest of programs & data. When I have the computer going well and have what I need from the old HD I plan to format it and use it to mirror the new (they are both 40 Gb). I had heard that XP ran better or was more secure on NTSF but know little about this. What are your thoughts on converting C: to NTSF?

Thanks, Matt and all others who have helped with this project over the past month.

Scott

 

Yes, NTFS is more secure because access is harder, but it is also harder for you to access if things are not going right. With the problems you have experienced with that machine, I would leave the door open to being able to repair it. Speaking of "leaving the door open ", if you do not have high security material on the machine, invaders will have no point in invading. I use Win98, although I can dual boot with WinXP, I am used to working in 98 and like to be able to access all the systems easily. I try not to keep any "high security" stuff on it (otherwise you have to live in fear). High security stuff should be kept on a removable drive. If they want to trash my system it will be a good excuse to start a new one (about 4 years old now). You need to research how to maintain security (close ports, firewalls, antivirus, etc) and it is good to (basically) understand how they work, "automatic" does not always work as expected.

Learn, learn, learn as you say. Put a post in the XP forum about their thoughts on Fat32 vs NTFS. I was reading one the other day (which I can't find now) regarding this. Made me wish I hadn't formatted my WinXP drive as NTFS.

Put a post in the Security forum about how to secure your system without NTFS.

Make those guys work for their money!!

Matt