Compaq Deskpro 2000 Fdisk problem, No OS installed 1

[fenix]

When I delete the primary active partition, (100 % of drive), and check it with step 4, which says that there are no partitions defined, upon reboot, soft or hard, using a 95 or 98 start up floppy to boot from, the partition reappears like it was never deleted. Any ideas appreciated.

I am trying to install the diagnostic partition SP 8126 (CMOS setup access) before I install an OS, but naturally it says it needs 2MB of unpartitioned space, so I'm intending to fdisk and leave some unpartitioned space for this purpose. I tried to install after the supposed partition delete, but it still says no room, so I am not getting the partition deleted, even though it says I am.

I've had OSs on this computer before, and haven't had this problem until I started messing with the Service Pack install. Can it somehow have locked up my fdisk functions?

 

[ceh4702]

with a compaq dont you have to change the settings with cmos floppy disk?

Isnt the CMOS for Compaq proprietary? If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[fenix]

Yes, exactly right, with this particular model.

You have 2 options with the Service Pack floppies. You can just use the floppies everytime that you need to access the CMOS setup, or you can install the data on what they call a non dos diagnostic partition that requires 2 MB of space on your hard drive. It resides on it's own partition.

This is what I am attempting to do, but as I said in first post, fdisk is not functioning properly and won't let me delete and repartition the drive.

What's worse, is that it's stuck on FAT 16, as I was trying to enable and not enable large drive support in the numerous times that I attempted repartitioning and trying to troubleshoot. I also tried to use partition magic, but it seems that an os has to be present for that to work.

thx for the reply, hopin' to get some other ideas on this.

 

[edfair]

I would try with a generic set of boot. MSDOS 6.22 or non Compaq w95. This is assuming that you have access to such.
There are some 95/98 issues with the file descriptor that can lead you into this problem. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[fenix]

Hi Ed, good ol' 6.22 did it! I should have thought of trying that, thanks alot. Booted form 95 floppy to check and there are now no partitions defined.

Now to install the diagnostic partition, and then hopefully NT 4.0 from the 3 floppy's and cd.

Last attempt to install NT, it got way into it but then stalled on the reboot with a blank screen. It might have had something to do with the partition being locked. (i'm hoping anyway)

 

[edfair]

I think you'll find that the NT boot loader is going to intefere with the diagnostic loader. Or maybe the other way around.
This is one playpen I've not climbed into. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[port911]

There are similar problem with HPOmnibookXE2. I think that is because there are hidden option Boot Sector viruss protection in BIOS. After using utilities such as killcmos.com (be carefully when using this!) boot sector virus protection was set disabled and any fdisk programs still working.