Lost Weekend: everthing I knew about computer was wrong ack

[Dodge7]

It all started on Saturday when I decided to add a second HD to my old computer, so I could safely experient with OSs and the the like. After I got the 2nd hard drive running, and saved important data, I decided to try Suse Linux on the first HD.

The install took almost an hour, but once installed it ran fine... although a little slow. I couldn't get the modem to work [that has alway been a problem, even with Windows]. So I played around with Linux and decided to go back to Windows. THIS IS WHERE IS GOT WEIRD...

I could not get rid of that damm Linux Loader boot file... I used FDISK, deleted the Linux Partitions, tried Del *.*, etc etc, and the Linux Loader kept running at restart [although less and less of it was there]. I spent hours... and finally after using FDISK one last time the loader didn't start.What is a good program to completely wipe the disk?

The last thing I did was install the modem [I remember it was difficult before... but it was 10 times worse this time]. I tried installing the driver from CD...modem not detected... I tried pointing Windows to the driver file on the CD... it kept saying it was the wrong "PCI device: file. It wouldn't recongnize the driver. Finally, it recongnized the drivet for the modem, ont eh sixth try or so..[maybe the modem was loose?]

Still, I got the message "modem not detected". I finally moved the modem to another PCI bus.... and then another. Still got messages "modem not detected" but finally it changed to "can't conntect".

Turns out the modem was finally working, but the windows dialer wouldn't work right with it. I finally installed my ISP dialer, and it all worked fine.

I tell you all this story becuase maybe it will help, and becuae I hope a little of this can be explained? Is there special way to install modems? I always have trouble with them. Other devices, like CD ROMs work for me right after I install them.

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Do you use Windows XP? Well either way, use a bootdisk of some sort(or XP Cd at the recovery console), and "fixmbr" is what you want to type in at the promt. Fixes the Master Boot Record, which is what Lilo or Grub will replace upon installation of most Linux Distro's.(They ask the user if that's what you want, and generally that is the correct thign to do, install LILO or GRUB to the MBR.)

This is assuming you have an alternative OS(such as XP or Windows 2k) on the drive that you want to get too.

If not, then you can juts do that I suppose, but all you really need to do is a fresh install of your OS. I assume you wiped the drive prior to installing Linux, since you say you used FDISK, which formats, right? So just stick in your XP or 2k CD and do a format and install.

I can't help on the modem, didn't read it, to tired... Hope everything gets working well.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Dodge7 What is a good program to completely wipe the disk?

Try KillDisk. It's a zero fill utility and will pretty much wipe everything from the hard drive.

Cricket

[Urban Earth]

I've had problems before with modems as well. Did you check in the device manager for what the problem was? I find that some modems (mine in particular) have problems with com ports. If Windows assigns things, they don't work. What I did is to remove the com ports, reboot and then Windows installs them after the modem and everything seems to work. Hope this helps.

AJ

[Dodge7]

Thanks for the responses. I think I understand both issues a little better. On the disk problem I needed to install an OS to completely reformat the boot sector. I should have thought of that.

That Kill disk program would have likely helped allso, I'll have to get that there is a com port issue... at first the only thing that showed was a "PCI device" Only after maually setting it did any com port device appear. I think your idea of adding the com port later may work. Whatever the case, the process is confusing, I think Windows could make modem installation much easier. The confuseing thing is installing a PCI device and yet installing a com port device at the same time.

As for my modem problem., I think it was a combination of things. At points the Query command couldn't contact the modem. It may have been loose. However, I think

[freemon27]

Hi , i believe with fdisk you needed to add /mbr to format the master boot record .