Dual HDs...still trying to sort out....

[Naja]

Ok, I've gotten the two HDs to act independently with the nicklock selector. I just cannot seem to load up Win98 off a 98 Disk or ME off of a Compaq restore disk.

I have created bootdisks from bootdisk.com for both 98 and ME. They do not seem to be helping.

All I get is either:

1) "Reboot and select proper boot drive or insert boot media and select any key when ready"- no matter what I do, I get a repeat of this message when I press any key.

or

2) Cannot read ATAPI CD-rom-after it starts reading 98 on the ME Compaq restore disk--then continues to the A:\ prompt and no matter what I type in I get either "Improper Drive Specification" or "Bad Command or File name".

I've even installed the CD-Rom Drive out of the compaq and into this PC--no help.

I've pulled up the bootdisks thru XP to check the file names and have typed them in exactly with and without the extra A:\.

I've tried X:\Win98\setup.exe (X being whatever drive D,E,A), X:\WinME\setup.exe (both commands w/ & w/o capitals)

The files on the Compaq restore disk are BOOTCAT.BIN and BOOTSECT.BIN. That's it, and I've tried various commands and drives with them also.

I've tried a lot of different things-the end result is I get #1 above or make some progress and get #2 above.

I don't have a clue what the problem is or what to try next.

Any thoughts would be Greatly appreciated!

Thanx!

PS All I did was DL the boot disks on to floppies. That's all I need to do with them, right?

[ktkendall]

I am pretty sure you can only use the Compaq restore disk on the same PC that it came with and pretty much has to be same configuration as original..

[Naja]

"Same Configuration" meaning what? Same Hardware components?

Also, I get "further" with the restore disk then the 98 disk.

[ktkendall]

Yes hardware, but since you mention that you also are trying with regular win98 disk and also failing then it must not be a problem with that restore disk.

[mike breck]

So what system are you trying to use the Compaq restore disks - a Compaq? Is it the disks that came with that particular Compaq model?

Like ktkendall, I'm sure you can only use a Compaq Restore disk
on the Compaq model it was supplied for.

Try removing the Nicklock and installing one HD at a time and one OS on it. When you are satisfied that each HD with it's OS will boot up on it's own, refit the Niclock and attach the two HDs.

Then see if you are able to boot from the OS on either HD.

[Naja]

Try removing the Nicklock and installing one HD at a time and one OS on it. When you are satisfied that each HD with it's OS will boot up on it's own, refit the Niclock and attach the two HDs.

Thanx, Mike

I've considered that option, so I guess I will give it a whirl.
The 80g has a "G:\" drive that's recognized by the 120g XP disk management-Should I delete that?
and
Should I name the 80g "system" drive something other than "C:\" when I load things up?-just to make sure that there are no conflicts between the OSs and HDs. Can I leave/put the 98 OS on the "G:\" drive on the 80g?

My main concern at this point, doing it this way, is that the 120g recognizes the 80g, if I have 2 C:\ drives both with OSs I may get a conflict-then again I may not-the selector SEEMS to be setup/working properly.

[mike breck]

Hi Naja,

I thought you wanted each HD to boot seperately and be completely independent of each other?

As far as I'm aware, NickLock just allows the system to see one HD at a time. So you select the HD you want to boot from before you switch on the PC by turning the key and the other HD will remain unseen by the system.

Just make the Primary FAT32 partition on the 80GB, C:
As both HDs will not see each other, it doesn't make any difference.

Both OS will be installed on a C: partition on their own HD.

BTW, did you use XP to format the 80GB? What file system - NTFS or FAT32? It'll need to FAT32 for Win98 or Me.

However, XP cannot format a HD in FAT32 that is larger than 32GB.

You should format the 80GB with the patched version of FDISK

http://support.microsoft.com/suppor...s/Q263/0/44.ASP

That can format HDs greater than 64GB.

Alternatively, the utility program from your HD manufacturer should format an 80GB HD e.g. Maxtor's MaxBlast. Just
make sure you say no to any offers to install any Drive Overlay software. You don't need it or want it. However, it shouldn't offer to install it if it detects the BIOS can recognise the full capacity of the HD.

HTH

[Naja]

I thought you wanted each HD to boot seperately and be completely independent of each other? I thought NickLock just allowed the system to see one HD at a time. So you select the HD you want to boot from before you switch on the PC by turning the key and the other HD will remain unseen by the system.

Nicklock, ultimately, gives the option of the HDs being able to see each other, completely isolated from each other, or A to see B, Or B to see A. In order to isolate them from each other you have to delete the drive link in the OS that u don't want to see the other.
I would like the HDs to be mechanically(the nicklock switch) isolated from each other, but would mostly likely want B to see A.

Did you use XP to format the 80GB? What file system - NTFS or FAT32? It'll need to FAT32 for Win98 or Me.

I used the XP Disk Manager on the 120g (A) to partiton and format a 12g partition in FAT32 on the 80g (B).
I didn't have a choice for C:\ because it was already taken as far as the 120g's XP is concerned, so I made it the next in line which was G:\

Just make the Primary FAT32 partition on the 80GB, C: As both HDs will not see each other, it doesn't make any difference.

Problem is that I don't want to COMPLETELY isolated them from each other at THIS point. I can do that later, if I want/need to. Simply put: I know how to keep one HD from seeing the other, BUT I don't know how to get those links BACK if for any reason I want one or both to see the other. As far as I know, At this point in time: once I delete those links to each other: I'm committed.

Believe me: I'm not trying to be complicated. I just don't want to burn any bridges before I'm sure I don't need to travel down that road anymore.

[mike breck]

Hi Naja,

Yes, you appear to be right. According to the scant documentation at NickLock.com, you should be able to access the Win98/80GB drive from XP and, I assume, drag and drop files from the Win9x HD to the XP HD.

According to NickLock if you want one HD to be accessible by the other:

"If you like to boot from either one HDD and be able to reach the other. Set also the slave to automatic."

So that implies you set both HDs in the BIOS to AUTO.

I still think your best way of doing this is to partition (you can have up to four Primary partitions or up to three Primary Partitions and an Extended Partition containing any number of Logical Partitions) and format the full capacity of the 80GB using the patched version of FDISK and then install Win9x to a C: partition. When Win9x is installed and running, then connect it to NickLock.

You should then be able to boot from either HD, and from your point of view, more importantly, access the Win9x HD when you choose to boot up from the XP HD.

However, remember, if the 120GB is formatted using NTFS, then it will see the contents of the FAT32 80GB but the 80GB will not be able to see the contents of the 120GB. The 80GB will only read the contents of the 120GB if the 120GB is also formatted using FAT32.

It should not matter if both HDs have a C: partition. Although both HDs are bootable, NickLock selects which one the system will boot from.

This is rather like trying to drag and drop from a old HD to a new HD. The new HD is the Master and then you jumper the old HD as Slave. When the system starts, it will boot from the Primary Master (not the Slave - even tho both HDs are bootable) and you are able to access the data on the Slave thro Windows Explorer on the Master HD.

It is also similar to using two PCs connected on a simple Peer to Peer Network. After you boot up both PCs, you can access data on each PCs HD from the other PC.

Anyway give it a try and see if it works. If you set up the 80GB on it's own first, then there is no chance of making a mistake during the Partitioning and Formatting stage which would affect the 120GB.

HTH

[Naja]

Hey Mike,

Let me take a second and Thank You for the time and energy that You've put into this on my behalf.

I've firugred out how to make the drives accessible/inaccessible to each other. So if anybody wants to know, here it is:
Device Manager>right-click the drive to disappear>properties>Enable/Disable this Device.
Enable makes the Drive appear.
Disable makes it Disappear.
Upside is that it works and its quick and convenient.
Downside is that You have to Enable/Disable the entire drive-You cannot just Enable/Disable specific partitions, not even thru Disk Management.-Good enough for me though.

It should not matter if both HDs have a C: partition. Although both HDs are bootable, NickLock selects which one the system will boot from.

My biggest questions with this are:

1) How does either OS "register" two C:\ drives at bootup from either drive? If I bootup from either drive, and it can see the other--then there are going to be two C:\ drives "registering". I don't have a clue how the OSs would handle this, but it just seems like a major conflict brewing.

And

2) If the drives can see each other-then what happens to all the OS commands that are sent to "C:\ Drive"? Since there's two C:\ Drives, How will the commands know "which" C:\ to goto/work from?

I can understand dual booting from one HD--two different drive-letters keeps things separated.

This is rather like trying to drag and drop from a old HD to a new HD. The new HD is the Master and then you jumper the old HD as Slave. When the system starts, it will boot from the Primary Master (not the Slave - even tho both HDs are bootable) and you are able to access the data on the Slave thro Windows Explorer on the Master HD.

That's an interesting point for me right now. From what I understand, I canNOT drag & Drop most Programs, correct?
I would need something like "Ghost" to copy my MS Office off of an old HD, right? Just Copy the 14gigs (windows and all) to this 80g HD, then upgrade the OS if I want to
I'll do a search here, and see what I can come up with. But I've read some complaints here about "Ghost".
So, does anybody have any recommendations for a good "Ghost" type progam?

Thanx Again, Mike! Its Guys like You that make this place what it is> a GREAT Resource!

[mike breck]

1) How does either OS "register" two C:\ drives at bootup from either drive? If I bootup from either drive, and it can see the other--then there are going to be two C:\ drives "registering". I don't have a clue how the OSs would handle this, but it just seems like a major conflict brewing.

No. There is no conflict. Each drive is Active, has it's own Master Boot Record, and boot files to make the drive bootable.

NickLock disables one bootable HD temporarily and lets the other boot up. That HD is now active. That OS now has full control.

Because the second HD did not Boot Up, it is in, what I will call, a Passive state and the data can be accessed.

Like I said, the usual process of copying some data (not cloning the entire drive or partition like Ghost and Drive Image does) from an old HD to a new one, is to install the OS to the new one and then Slave the old HD to the new HD.

Each HD is bootable and has a C: partition.

When the PC starts it will normally look for the first bootable HD at the Primary Master position. If it cannot find one there, it will check Primary Slave, Secondary Master, Seconday Slave until it finds a bootable HD (this may not be true of all mobos and HDs - but lets just say it is for the sake of arguement).

As the new HD is on Primary Master, it will be found first and will Bootup and Windows will load.

All being well you be able to view the contents of the Slave HD and drag and drop data from the old HD to the new one via Windows Explorer.

The fact that the old HD has a C: partition does not inhibit the process.

That's an interesting point for me right now. From what I understand, I canNOT drag & Drop most Programs, correct?

Correct. It would make no sense to copy program files anyway, as the program needs to be installed on the new HD.
Simply copying the program files across would not create the Registry entries that are made during the program installation.

would need something like "Ghost" to copy my MS Office off of an old HD, right? Just Copy the 14gigs (windows and all) to this 80g HD, then upgrade the OS if I want to

Is this installation of Windows with Office on a third HD?
If so, you don't even need Ghost. You should have got a Cloning utilty with your new HD that will allow to Clone the contents of an old HD to a new one.

If you didn't get it with the HD, then you should be able to download it from the WD (it is a WD HD, isn't it) Website.

However, I always think a clean install of Windows is best. So if you do have the MS Office CD, then I would recommend a fresh install of Windows and then a fresh install of Office.

Windows always runs leaner and quicker with a fresh install.


HTH

[Naja]

Is this installation of Windows with Office on a third HD?

Yes. It's on a Generic HD in this compaq (30g).
The two HD in my sig are both WD (120g & 80g).

I have the WD HD Data Lifeguard Tools floppy. But I originally partitioned and formatted the 120g with the XP Pro during installation. I partitioned and formatted the 80g thru the XP on the 120g.
I guess I will need to go to WD and DL another copy of this Data Lifeguard: The Utilities work, but it didn't recognize, initially, the 120g and now the 80g. XP and the BIOS recognises them, but this Data Lifeguard Initialized, Partition and Format part doesn't, so I guess there's something wrong with it.

Anyway, I don't recall a cloning tool in the utilities (but
I'll check again), and in order to install this Generic HD into the custom pc in my sig I would have to do the ENUM trick, Right?
OR
If I installed the 80g WD into the Compaq-cloned the 30g Generic HD and then RE-installed it (80g) into this custom pc-I would still have to do the ENUM trick, Right? NOTE: 80g has no OS on it.
And
Either way I would need a Cloning tool from Generic, right?
Or does it even matter where the cloning tool comes from?

So if you do have the MS Office CD, then I would recommend a fresh install of Windows and then a fresh install of Office.

Believe me, If I had an MS Office disk--I wouldn't be going thru all of this. I have a 98 disk and an XP Pro disk. I can do a fresh install of Windows, BUT I WANT My copy of MS Office off of my Compaq.

I've read the "ENUM Trick" thread more than once and I basically understand it, EXCEPT--what are "cab" files and how do I find them?

ENUM Trick Thread

Qoute from ENUM Trick thread, glc:

Before starting, make sure the Windows "cab" files are on the hard drive, plus any drivers that are not included with Windows (video, sound, modem, etc.) and expand them into a folder if appropriate.

I don't have a clue WHAT he's talking about! LOL

And with respect to the ENUM trick--from what I understand: It doesnt work on XP, so I would have to do it on the 30g Generic (WinME), install it into this custom pc, clone it, do the ENUM trick again and put it back into the compaq, right?
If so, that's why I was thinking that Ghost or DriveImage would be worth the 35 bucks.

Thanx Again, Mike

Any answers or thoughts would be Great!