Repeated Loss of DOS Partition

[chiefl]

I am running Windows ME with two hard drives. I powered up the system and find, using FDISK, that I no longer have a DOS partitionon either drive. I try FDISK /mbr to no avail. I create a DOS partition, format the drive, reinstall ME and a few applications. Shut the computer down for the evening and the next morning, the DOS partition is gone again. Any ideas would surly be appreciated.
Chief L

 

[wolluf]

This happens on both drives? Are they connected to same IDE cable? Have you checked that cable (seated properly and for damage - I had something a little similar which turned out to be a damaged IDE cable - a small piece of plastic had broken on side of connector - it wasn't obvious until I actually pulled the connector out of socket).

 

[chiefl]

Thank you for the reply. It happened to both drives. I have two cables, one HD and CD on each. I looked at the cables, connectors on the MB and drives, and everything looks fine. I did find out we had some electrical storms while I was out of town last week. Any chance a power supply could be causing the problems?
Chief L

 

[garebo]

I had my hard drive scrambled after a bad storm, but when I fdisked,formatted, and reinstalled windows all was fine again.
Its really the cheapest thing to replace your ide cable, specially if its only ide 33 so you should do that first. I had a hard drive prob and that was the cause, the cable was loose right where it connects at the plastic part that fits on the pins. You couldnt see it because you push down on the plastic part to push the cable on but eventually it separates again and you have probs with drive freezing up.
I replaced cable and all fine.