problems using FDISK under Win 98

[shoesup]

I recently purchased a 20GB Maxtor hard drive that I am trying to install into a Compaq DeskPro 4000 computer. When I boot using the Win 98 Systems Disk and run FDISK, the following happens:

1. “Win 98 has detected that drive C: does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition.”
2. When I go into FDISK from the SYSTEMS DISK, I click “Y” to enable large disk support.
3. Under “display partition information” (4) the text reads: “no partition defined”.
4. Under “set active partition” (2) the text reads: “no partition defined”, and “no partition to make active”.
5. Under FDISK option, I try to create a DOS partition (1), then “create primary DOS partition”.
6. When I do this, the “verify data integrity” scrolls to 24%, then it reads: “no space to create a DOS partition.” !!!!

I AM GOING IN CIRCLES WITH THIS !!!

How can I correct this problem, to properly partition, format and use this drive on my Compaq DeskPro 4000 ???

[homer15]

is this a brand new drive, or second hand?

the fact that it doesn't verify drive integrity is sort of scary.

[racerbrownn]

yeah, my money is on the hdd being the problem. try to download a diagnotic program from maxtors website to see if you can [save] it. good luck.

i would also try swapping the hdd into another pc to run the fdisk and see if the conflict still exists. [compaqs can be fussy about their motherboard settings and such.]

[Alfie]

Are you using Compaq's disk or a full version of Win98?

[racerbrownn]

is it possible for fdisk to screwup if ran from a compaq disc[floppy or restore?] instead of a regular win 98 boot disc??

[homer15]

nah, i don't think so. it's the same program, and i doubt the fact it's being run from another disk would effect it.

[Alfie]

racerbrownn,
I don't know,but as Compaq has it's own set programs,you never know!
The Compaq disk could be looking for something else!

[racerbrownn]

that's what i thought. still, alfie has something up [his] sleeve. i can't wait to see where that post was going.

dang your fast alfie....snuck right under me!

[Iman74]

I posted a resolution to this problem; I don't know what happened to it but here it is again.

Click here
Download zap
Run it so it extracts to 2 files
copy it on a bootable diskette
then run it at the command prompt a:\zap /?
and follow the help suggestions in reference to what you want to do.

Easy as pie

[Iman74]

Then after you do that, reboot and re FDISK and then it should work okay from there. If it's not you might have a bad HDD doing some really wacky things.