Invalid Drive Specification

[timorr]

I am trying to start my computer from a boot disk (Windows is having problems and I am trying to start from scratch). I finally got the correct boot disk with the CD drivers, and now I am getting a message "invalid drive specification" when I try to access the c: or d: (same hard drive, separate logical drives), but am able to access the cd drive. I think I accidentally changed the hard drive setting in bios when playing with the cd drive setting (trying to fix THAT problem). I tried the auto setting and that is not working. I checked the hard drive itself and it is a Western Digital. It has 16 heads, so I chose every option with 16 heads and it still does not work.
I have checked the cables and it is ok. FDISK appears to see the drive, but scandisk won't work for it.

What else can I do? Does autoexec.bat or config.sys need extra entries for the hard drive?

 

[gargouille]

Best probable remedy for any mess in the BIOS is to note (as in write down the settings) then invoke the defaults, save and exit.
Let the BIOS do the auto detect thing on the drives...it'll maybe do it slower, but it'll get it right that way.
The boot disc is creating a "ram drive" that's moving all the drive specs down a letter...that's probably causing you the confusion.
Where did you get the boot disc? Making one on a friend's Win98 computer would be the best route...
Why are you booting with the disc in the 1st place...you have another post somewhere that explains this?

 

[gargouille]

Nevermind the last stoopid question I asked...you're trying to reinstall Windows (if I'd just reread your post!)