| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
 Posted - 10/25/2003 : 23:54:06
|
I finally got my own person computer...a bit old but it will do. It had windows 98, but I wanted to install FreeBSD (www.freebsd.org). I reformated the computer to get rid of windows 98 fully. When I instaleld FreeBSD, I went downstairs to get some coke, and when I came back up I saw my little sisters hitting the keyboard. of course this messed up the whole installation thing, so I turned the computer off, and restarted it. It started booting from floppy, but then it went back into it's "i'm not reformatted so I can't install" error thing.
well...you didn't need to read that whole thing...question time
is there a way to reformat your computer from BIOS?
I have something like half an OS, so I can't do anythign with it, but it's still there.
------------------
absu-f***ing-lutly |
|
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 01:26:09
|
notes:
all the drives work.
loading from floppy works up to a part until a part, where it always freezes and goes into a infinte loop of typing some error message. too fast to read.
I know the computer works because it worked with windows 98.
------------------
absu-f***ing-lutly |
 |
|
|
Slayer_Allen
Incredibly Wordy Bastard
2081 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 02:18:49
|
Just put in the floppy to get the prompt before windows loads and then format c:
Where is the problem at?
---------------
Just because I play CPA doesn't mean I suck. That is a seperate occurance. |
|
|
|
Impact4ever
Wordy Bastard
664 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 03:27:55
|
So did it work? if not, I got a good way to fix it.
"Just because your a genius doesn't make you a smart guy"
Edited by - Impact4ever on 10/26/2003 03:36:06 |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 07:52:43
|
quote:
Just put in the floppy to get the prompt before windows loads and then format c:
Where is the problem at?
The problem is he's installing BSD not Windows...
Andrid, why are you using a floppy? Virtually all OS installs can boot from CD (including BSD).
When the error scrolls by you should be able to hit "Pause" and have it stop.
Either way if that's the root/boot floppy for the install, simply rebooting back to the floppy should start you back at square one. My guess is, it's detecting an install (and you're missing the part where it says click now to reinstall) and continuing booting.
/me hates BSD because of **** like that.
 |
|
|
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 10:05:14
|
quote:
So did it work? if not, I got a good way to fix it.
If that doesn't include using a hammer sure.
quote:
Andrid, why are you using a floppy? Virtually all OS installs can boot from CD (including BSD).
I was asking my dad about how drivers work a long time ago, and after her explained that to me, I asked him how they install an OS if the computer needs a driver for the floppy drive. my dad told me that the driver is already installed on the computer. I was thinking about that so i decided to install through the floppy drive. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that because also windows 95 & 98 are installed like that, and that's about when this computer was made.
I sent some emails out to my dad's freind this is how they said to fix it. I'm posting this so that if anyone else has this problem they can return to this post.
quote:
Hi Jonathan,
Unfortunately, on most systems you can't format from
the bios. With SCSI disks you sometimes get some bios
tools including basic formatting but you most likely
have a regular IDE disk (also known as ATA), not SCSI.
Look around on bootdisk.com to get a floppy that you
can boot from which will have a formatting tool. They
have various bootable floppies there with things on
them; although of course it depends on exactly what
you want to do but I think all you need is fdisk and
format from a win98/win95/dos boot floppy.
And another way: The linux fdisk program is great
for partitioning but it's an "expert" tool. You
should try that if you can find a boot floppy or boot
cd that has it. I know that the old redhat linux
install cd (redhat linux 6 or 7) used to offer fdisk
as a partitioning option very early in the install.
So if you have a CD burner on some other system
somewhere, then go find the redhat linux 6 or 7 cd
"iso" image file and burn it onto a CD. (Search for
"redhat mirror" on google).
Pete
Edited by - Andrid on 10/26/2003 10:13:07 |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 10:25:02
|
fdisk would fix it.
Go for RedHat man! Leave the dark side and come into the light. 
/me is a Linux fool!
|
|
|
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 12:23:49
|
don't tell me you're my father now...lol
well...i got a ms dos boot disk from www.bootdisk.com
when i type in "format c:" it replies
"invalid drive specification".
i know that drive c exists, because i called it that. i really think that i'm going to move to linux. thanks for the advice so far.
------------------
absu-f***ing-lutly |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 13:38:22
|
Hmm, usualy that means the disk is not recognized.
Try the BIOS and make sure it sees the drive.
Then "fdisk /mbr"
The reboot and try fdisk again, create your partition.
And it's "format c: /s" BTW. Unless you don't want to boot to that hard drive. "/s" tells it to transfer system files.
|
|
|
|
Impact4ever
Wordy Bastard
664 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 13:46:57
|
Alright its time for the true Tribes geek to go to work.
I notice some of the OS dealing unix some how corrupts the Master Boot record when improperly configured on the hard drive, well too novices... Anywho to fix your problem just follow my simple steps:
1) Put in your boot disk wait until you see the A: prompt.
2) Then type this in Fdisk /MBR press enter.
3) restart the system place the boot disk back in the floppy drive and at the A: prompt type C:press enter. Then from there you be able to refomat your hard drive. Keep me posted your accomplishments.
"Just because your a genius doesn't make you a smart guy" |
|
|
|
Impact4ever
Wordy Bastard
664 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 13:49:24
|
Damnn Lister, You beat me to it! I just left for a few minutes and you posted befor I did
"Just because your a genius doesn't make you a smart guy" |
|
|
|
Impact4ever
Wordy Bastard
664 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 15:11:21
|
Hey Andrid if you going try Linux, try Mandrake9.1, its easy to install, the Gui interface looks real good, plus it a graet place for beginners. Redhat9 is pretty much for advance users but I heard its goten a little better for novices.
The real fun is using the command line. My command line is setup to with a clear background with green text. Have fun guy.
"Just because your a genius doesn't make you a smart guy" |
|
|
|
Slayer_Allen
Incredibly Wordy Bastard
2081 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 16:06:46
|
And be careful.
All I have heard about Mandrake9.2 is that is a piece of buggy crap. There were lots of patches the first week after its release, and it is still not working right.
So get 9.1
---------------
Just because I play CPA doesn't mean I suck. That is a seperate occurance. |
|
|
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 16:28:35
|
well...this computer is really just for me to learn more about computers, so I am going to put redhat on it....if it ever finnishes d/ling.
n00b question, but how do i make sure that the computer recognised the hard drive?
------------------
absu-f***ing-lutly |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 17:18:11
|
Check the system BIOS.
|
|
|
|
Slayer_Allen
Incredibly Wordy Bastard
2081 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 17:58:56
|
You should see it when BIOS posts on start-up anyway, unless you have some silly brand of computer where the BIOS psot is covered up by a screen that says "Compaq" or "Toshiba".
---------------
Just because I play CPA doesn't mean I suck. That is a seperate occurance. |
|
|
|
na85
Incredibly Wordy Bastard
1404 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2003 : 17:02:10
|
... or "Dell"
If it has a dumb screen like that, you could always hit F2/Delete right at bootup to go into the BIOS menu and check out the listings there. It will say something like "Ultra ATA Hard Disc controller" or "SCSI Uber-IDE Hard Disc controller" or some such.
They call me Sodium |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2003 : 18:30:43
|
Usually either
F2
DEL
ESC
CTRL-S
|
|
|
|
Andrid
Wordy Bastard
692 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2003 : 22:32:11
|
I'm not that stupid. I havne't worked on the computer all day cause i needed to help out around the house. i have a feeling the problem is that i need a driver for the hard drive (i think...donno too much about drivers and stuff). i'm gonna work on that either tomorrow or wed. probably.
------------------
absu-f***ing-lutly |
|
|
|
Slayer_Allen
Incredibly Wordy Bastard
2081 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2003 : 09:21:54
|
Yeah, it was an adventure figuring out the right comination on my friends toshiba laptop.
Esc-f1 at the very first screen. Took me awhile.
---------------
Just because I play CPA doesn't mean I suck. That is a seperate occurance. |
|
|
|
ListerD
Administrator
1205 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2003 : 11:45:47
|
Nobody said you were stupid.
With RedHat you don't need a "driver" for the hard drive. You would need drivers for the IDE/ATA controller but it's included (unless you've got some really obscure system.
If the system doesn't detect the hard drive, then either the BIOS is wrong, the drive is unplugged, unpowered or the drive is just plain bad.
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
computer help
