Getting A HD to work in DOS.

I cant get my HD to boot up when i start my PC. How do i go and format the drive? i cant boot from disk because it says non valid system disk. Please Help

Thanks

Hi,

Formating HD will destroy all data on it, so you first try to restore system files without formating. If you have boot diskette but can't boot from it - enter CMOS setup (usually you need to press DEL key while booting) and set sequence of booting A, C. Then boot from diskette and look if you have access to HD. If HD seems to work run Scandisk on it and then from the A:\ prompt use command:

SYS C:

to restore system files on HD.
If you not have access to HD booting from diskette try to run scandisk. If after Scandisk you get access to HD, then use SYS C: command. If you still not have access - proceed with formating. Run FDISK from boot diskette and with its 4th option look if you have active partition on your HD. If not - create it. Then from A:\ prompt use the command:

FORMAT C: /S

Good luck, Igor M