Can't install O.S.

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Kistner
  • Start date Start date
D

David Kistner

My homebuilt computer worked fine for about a year. Yesterday I loaded
Partition Magic on my XP system and attempted to merge two partitions.
The system crashed and would not reboot. Ultimately I did a low level
reformat of the HD and tried to reinstall XP. When I try to boot the XP
cd I get the message "Searching for boot record from CDROM" and
everything stalls -- the system is locked at that point. When I tried a
boot floppy disk (one from my Windows 98 boot disk) the system stalls
after I make a choice from the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu (e.g.
start computer with CD-ROM support). Once I make a menu choice I get to
a message stating "Device Name : OEMCD001" that's it. Locked tighter
than a clam. Any ideas of what's going on? I've tried everything I can
think of but have totally struck out...I'm really feeling bad...

TIA
- Dave Kistner
 
My homebuilt computer worked fine for about a year. Yesterday I loaded
Partition Magic on my XP system and attempted to merge two partitions.
The system crashed and would not reboot. Ultimately I did a low level
reformat of the HD and tried to reinstall XP. When I try to boot the XP
cd I get the message "Searching for boot record from CDROM" and
everything stalls -- the system is locked at that point. When I tried a
boot floppy disk (one from my Windows 98 boot disk) the system stalls
after I make a choice from the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu (e.g.
start computer with CD-ROM support). Once I make a menu choice I get to
a message stating "Device Name : OEMCD001" that's it. Locked tighter
than a clam. Any ideas of what's going on? I've tried everything I can
think of but have totally struck out...I'm really feeling bad...

TIA
- Dave Kistner
Click to expand...

My symphaties.
Earlier versions of Partition Magic are not compatible with WinXP. XP
seems to be keen to handle a lot of really lowlevel stuff by itself. I
assume that caused the original problem.

I shudder at that "low level reformat", why would that be necessary?
Why didn't you just remove all partitions with Fdisk? But don't worry,
I think you have a different problem.

You can't access the CDROM. Concentrate on that for now. That may have
nothing at all to do with your earlier problems.
My only suggestion right now is that your mobo, by itself - without
OS, lacks support for the CD, the way your CDROM is currently
connected?
Since you built it you should know. Have you changed the interface?

Otherwise, push and check a bit on connectors and cables.


ancra
 
Ancra said:
My symphaties.
Earlier versions of Partition Magic are not compatible with WinXP. XP
seems to be keen to handle a lot of really lowlevel stuff by itself. I
assume that caused the original problem.

I shudder at that "low level reformat", why would that be necessary?
Why didn't you just remove all partitions with Fdisk? But don't worry,
I think you have a different problem.

You can't access the CDROM. Concentrate on that for now. That may have
nothing at all to do with your earlier problems.
My only suggestion right now is that your mobo, by itself - without
OS, lacks support for the CD, the way your CDROM is currently
connected?
Since you built it you should know. Have you changed the interface?

Otherwise, push and check a bit on connectors and cables.


ancra
Click to expand...

It was the hard drive itself. Dead. I had the latest Partition Magic
(version 8) but it hosed the drive anyway. I'm really upset that I paid
so much for a product to hose my hard drive (and it's out of warranty
too). Geesh.

- Dave
 
How did you "Low level Format" the drive?
Using the manufacturer's drive diagnostic utility or some other method?

John S.
 
It was the hard drive itself. Dead. I had the latest Partition Magic
(version 8) but it hosed the drive anyway. I'm really upset that I paid
so much for a product to hose my hard drive (and it's out of warranty
too). Geesh.

- Dave
Click to expand...

Ouch! My sympathies again.
But that sounds strange. It's no comfort, but maybe it just was that
your hd decided to take its last gasps during the lengthy and
labourous merging op. (but I would also be hesitant to use PM again, I
can understand that feeling. :-( )


ancra
 
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