Windows 98 Freeze

[mike12]

I am trying to help a friend with his computer. He completly shut everything down and pulled all plugs because a storm was coming. Now when it starts up. we get the Windows 98 screnn and it just freezes there. I tried booting into SAFE MODE, but the same Windows 98 screen comes up. I then choose- "Step By Step Conformation" and the first thing it tells me is that "System configeration Manager Failed to Run"
One of my other steps was to insert a bootup disc, and try to format the drive. I was told there was insufficient memory.
Thanks for all suggestions.

[mike12]

Additional info. I tried a windows 98 startup disc. I got to the part to have the computer start using CD Rom suppport. but then when it was examining the computer, I got the following message " Scan disc. encountered a data error reading the FAT entry for cluster o. This error prevents scan disc from fixing the drive." does this mean the drive is shot ?

[TwoRails]

It sure seems so... If the first cluster goes, it typically means your SOL

[Redo40]

It sounds like the File Allocation Table has gotten messed up and it can't find everything. The hard drive may still be fine, but I believe you will have to fdisk, format and reinstall everything. If you do, it would be a good idea to run the hard drive manufacturers utility on the drive to be sure it is good.

Wait before doing anything to see if anyone comes up with a better solution.

[mike12]

Tried to do the FDISK. Went in and deleted the partitions and tried to set new ones. Then it started "Checking the integrity of the disc" It kept starting over and over, and never got past about 50 % complete, so I gave up. I believe I have another disc laying around here somewhere, but I believe it has Windows 95 on it. I anticipate problems when I try to get that HD to work in this computer. Any tips ?

[TwoRails]

Other than just start with a fresh Win 98 install, nothing I can think of off the top of my head...

[mike12]

TwoRails, no luck. Somehow the computer still thinks the other HD is installed. If I remember correctly, I should have formatted the HD before I started steeling parts from the computer. I tried the FDISK, and that worked, but I could not format the HD. It told me that it could not format a network drive. I do not know why it said anything about a network drive since I know the HD was in another computer with Windows 95 on it. I have spent enough time on this antique 200 mhz. processor. I am pretty sure if we get a used HD of E-Bay for about 10-20 dollars, and it is already partitioned and formatted, i should have no problem then. Thanks again to you and Redo40. Mike

[Markoman01027]

Download a hard drive diagnostic utility from your HD's manufacters website and test the HD. Sounds like your HD has gone south, since it is having trouble checking the integrity of the drive.

[mike12]

Hi Mark---, It is a Western Digital Cavier 22000. The model is
AC22000-00LA I went into WD site and downloaded what I thought I needed (from my computer) to test the HD in the old computer. I then put the floppy in the old computer, and booted up, but it told me to remove all discs and hit any key. I then got to the dos prompt, and typed the program that I just downloaded, but was told that the program could not be run from DOS. Can you provide me a link to the exact download file I need ? I assume it has to be a bootable file ?

[TwoRails]

I bet the BIOS is old enough where it doesn't auto config the HDs. Did you go in and manually set up the second drive with number of heads, sectors, etc??

TwoRails

[GaryRouth]

Hi all -

I think DataLifeGuard 2.8 is old enough for that drive: http://support.wdc.com/download/dlgless137.asp

The program creates a bootable floppy = you need to create the floppy from a Win9x system. [you shouldn't see any messages at all when booting from the floppy you've created. It should indeed boot the computer into DOS (often DR-DOS) and run from there: you'll see a "Data LifeGuard" logo in blue when it starts]

Is it the old drive or the Win95 drive that's the Western Digital? You really want to wipe the Win95 drive clean before trying it: delete all the partitions, create a new Primary Dos partition and mark it active, and let Win98 setup format it with FAT32 (say "Yes" to "Enable Large Disk Support?")

Here's a page with that WD's specs (in case you end up needing to enter them manually, like Rails suspects):
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc....cGFnZT0x&p_li=

I hope your friend had current backups of his critical data.
. . . Gary

[... you may want to run diagnostics on both drives ...]

[mike12]

TwoRails and GaryRouth, I have been away for the weekend. Thanks for the replies. What does it mean when it says to "Download that file to a Windows Directory" Can I just set up a file in "My Documents" and download and execute it from there. I see the file already is about 1.3 meg. I hope it fits on a floppy after I execute it. I obviously will be downloading that file from another computer. It won't mess up anything on that computer when I execute it, will it. Thanks, Mike

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

I usually create a new folder to hold it, since I usually have so many things already in My Documents. In Windows Explorer, you can choose New, then Folder, & give it a name that will make it easy to find and delete later if you want to (something like "DataLifeGuard Download"). From either Windows Explorer, or from the Start/Run box (browsing to the location) you can run the file: it should prompt you to place a formatted floppy disk in the drive. It will create the bootable diagnostic floppy. Then you can write-protect it (slide the little plastic tab to the "locked" side), scan it for viruses (just to make sure), then take it to the computer you are troubleshooting, boot from the diagnostic floppy, and let it test the drives.

It won't hurt to leave the folder on your working computer's drive (it can be used to create more diagnostic floppies, should you ever need another). . . and it won't hurt to delete the folder, either [after all, you can always download it again when needed].

I'd be surprised if the surge-damaged drive tests OK. The Win95 drive might be just fine, though. Just remember to wipe it clean first (like I mentioned in my last post).

You may want to test the other components of the storm-hit system, in addition to testing the hard drive. DocMemory is available over at http://www.simmtester.com = it works a lot like the hard drive diagnostics= from DOS.

Once you get Win98 going again, something like SiSoft Sandra can test the rest of the components, just to be thorough: http://www.sisoftware.co.uk

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[mike12]

GaryRouth, downloaded that 2.8 diagonostic tool, and executed it on another computer. Made the boot disc, and then placed it in the computer with the suspected bad hard drive. Turned the computer on and got the following message-
"Cannot load DOS, press any key to retry" Tried it several times-no luck. Am I doing something wrong, or can I assume the HD is dead. Many thanks, Mike

[mike12]

Additional info- Got the disc to load. Got two messages.
1-Device error reading drive 1, absolute sector 63 count 1
2-Final code for this drive is 0207. I looked up 0207, it says
Smart status failed before the media scan.

I think it is time for a new hard drive!!!

[GaryRouth]

I'm wondering if the motherboard itself is OK, since you had troubles booting from the floppy at first (should boot right up the first time). If your friend didn't unplug the computer until after a few of the closer lightning strikes, a surge could have already done some damage. Why not test the Win95 disk, use fdisk to clear and then create partitions, load Windows98 & let it format to FAT32 ("Large Disk Support"), and try Sandra to test the different parts? If you encounter strange problems all along the way, more than just the hard drive might be in trouble.

Let us know if you have more questions
. . . Gary

[p.s. ---did you check in Bios Setup to see if the settings still match the hard drive? ---the cylinders, sectors, etc. . . . If those aren't right, try setting them manually with the Western Digital link I posted earlier, and try running the Diagnostics again]