won't format hard drive 2

[bazeze]

i had windows Xp, on my 160gb,also has symantec Antivirus, i was trying to do partition via partition magic.Before it finish blue screen came up,it never go back to windows, i try on safe mode,last nomal start nothing.so i use the boot disk, now i can do the partition,via partition magic but it won't late me format.i try to format via dos,error message pop up "can't write on BOOT" when i format via partion magic,it say can't write remove anti virus.
Pls i need help.

 

[jimp56]

you can format the partition when you are re-installing windows xp, if you boot from the XP install cdrom. try that and see if it gives you another error.

 

[bazeze]

i try to use recovery disk OS that come with the PC, but it did not give me the format option,it just say you need to format.

 

[garebo]

How about trying a boot disk and the mfgr diagnostic program. The diagnostic fits on a floppy and you use it after you have used the boot disk. You can use the diagnostic to write zeros to the drive and then it will format. I had the same problem with a western digital last week, so i did what i am telling you and all was well.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[micker377]

Have you turned off the "partition anti-virus protection" in the BIOS?

 

[bazeze]

I try to look for it, in system setups but i can't find it.Unless it's somwhere else.
When i boot with windows XP and try to install it say it can't detect the hard drive.

 

[bazeze]

garebo,
i'll try that, i'll get back to u guys

 

[bazeze]

on the bios, it say the hard drive is controlled by the bios
i thought may be this might provide more info

 

[garebo]

What makes you say that?
Either way, you are saying, i think, that the bios sees the hard drive so i would still suggest you try what i mentioned above.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Also, micker377 has a good suggestion too.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[bazeze]

like i said on the "bios i could not see the anti virus settings".
garebo, im trying to do what you said "You can use the diagnostic to write zeros to the drive and then it will format" im just waiting to finish, Hope fully it will work.

 

[garebo]

Im almost positive it will, hope so for your sake.
Has done for me many times.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[bazeze]

Did you use quick zero or full diagnostic to write zeros? Im using full diagnostic and it sure take it's time,

 

[garebo]

full, and i dont remember how long it took, i did it on a test bench i have and came back to it later.
So im sorry i cant tell you how long it should take, but its a 160 gig drive, so it could take many hours i think.
Worth it though, as i bet it works!


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Last time i did it, it was with a western digital 20 gig h drive and the time before that i believe it was a 40 gig maxtor, but again, i left it and came back later.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[bazeze]

Thanks gerebo,
it work but the problem now is it won't take Xp so i chose Windows 98sec, Now i install windows 98sec and trying to upgrade to Xp it is not letting me Do it.Screen of Death pop up (blue screen)I need to use Xp what can i do now.
one thing is sorted the harddrive is up and running. THank you all

 

[garebo]

We can do this!
After you zero'd the h drive, what did you do?
If you used boot disk to partition did you make it active? Some people forget that part!!
How did you format the h drive? Did you use boot disk to format fat32?

Depending on your answers i am starting to think there is a problem with your cdrom as well.
I might get criticized again for this but here goes. The best way to find out if its your cd or your cdrom is to wash the cd. they often get dirt or acid from our fingers on them and wont read well. So you use liquid soap and water together and wash the cd, go across the cd with soap on your fingers, dont go around in circles. after its cleaned then rinse cd real well and then your hands real well and then get paper towels and blot the cd, dont rub, just get most of the water off with blotting. Then take kleenex or other unscented tissue, but not toilet paper, its too full of pieces that will come off onto the cd. Rub across the cd with tissue until dry. When all done take one finger and rub across the cd to get the little specks of tissue off the cd.
Then check your manual on how to reset your bios. It differs from one motherboard to another so check the manual or let us know what motherboard it is if you dont have a manual. Anyway, you want to reset your bios.
then check all your connections, ide, power, all of them.
Then try the cd in the cdrom. If that fails i think you may need another cdrom.



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[bazeze]

after i have done zero format. It say boot with the operating system and install the OS. I did that but it did not take windows XP it say won't recognised the Hard disk. At that time i hard NTFC. Then i went back and use Diagnostic and put to FAT 32 and this it did not pick windows XP. So i install windows 98sec edition and it did install. I have Windows Xp ser1. so i try to upgrade to windows xp won't take.I try clean installation won't won't recognise the hard drive.Try to boot via CD andtry to install no chance,the problem Windows Xp it does not give me the option if i want to format,it just install system setup files,then it just say windows can't see the hard drive.

 

[garebo]

Okay, lets start at the start.
Go into the bios and tell us what it says about the hard drive. Tell us all it says about hard drive.
Also, do you have the hard drive jumpered as master on the primary ide channel?
did you clean your cd's as i suggested?


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[bazeze]

In BIOS it say bios:this hard drive is control by bios.
I have only one sata hard drive and yes it is set on master.
dvd rom and dvd writer.
i haven't clean the cd yet.
Give us few minute and ill do that.