corrupted files

Quote:

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Originally posted by mransom
Calpitor,
I can't use quick restore because compaq changed by cd drive for a 4x to a 16x and the system has to be factory exact. I was told that when they changed the drive.

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That is a load of rubbish. As long as it is your only CD drive and any ADDED hardware is detached\removed the CD will work provided the drive is in working order and the Cd is good shape.

OK,

I'm not a compaq guru, but appears that is the problem. You had Win 98 installed on the drive from Compaq. You installed an upgrade of Win 98 over the top of this installation using an upgrade CD.

Your Hard Drive is partitioned:

C: Has the operating system on it
d: Appears to be a partition used for storage
e. Appears to be another partition used for storage
f. Probably your CDROM


When Windows 98 installs it creates a virtual drive to load system files on it during installation, it will use the next available drive letter, in your case G:

Those are system files you see on G:

On the C: drive do you know if there is anything important there that you have not backed up i.e., mail, bookmarks/favorites/documents...

Do you have the original cd's/floppies for any programs that were installed on the C:?

Lets try this also:

Get to the A:\ prompt and type the following:

c:
scanreg /restore (hit <enter>)

Do you get a screen that gives you a choice? If so select a file with the earlist date on it.

When I type scanreg/edit I get the cdr101: not ready reading drive H
abort, retry, fail?

I am looking to see if there is anything that has not been backed up. Then I will remove the extra hard drive. The worry I have is that since the CD drive is not working how am I going to use the quickrestore CD?

When you get that message are you at the C:\> prompt????

yes

Geez:

At the A:\prompt (with the boot disk in) type the following:

fdisk (hit <enter>)

If a screen comes up and ask about large disk support say YES

Select on the menu DISPLAY PARTITION INFORMATION

Write down what it shows and post here.

This will tell us exactly how many partitions you have. Also we are looking for "A" for active.

To get out of the program use the ESC key

How do you copy an entire directory in dos. I am trying to get some files off the C drive and put them on the e drive so I can try a quick restore.

If they are programs your wasting your time, as copying programs then copying back they will not work (most won't). As the program must be installed.

However, to copy a complete folder and it's contents do this:

Coping from C: to E:

Lets say the folder is called Junk

xcopy c:\Junk e: /e (hit enter)

[- /ecopies all directories including empty ones]

this is what I got from fdisk:
partition 1, status , type non-dos, volume label , mbytes 8, system , usage %
C: partition 2, status A, type PRI DOS, volume label PRESARIO586, mbytes 2048, system FAT32, usage 66%,
partition 3, status , type EXT dos, volume label , mbytes 1036, system , usage 34%
This what it says, It is hard to read because I cannot format in this screen.

The A is on Partition 2 (the C drive).

C: partition is ACTIVE and 2048 or approximately 2GB in size (66%) and is FAT 32 which is right for Win 98.

D: partition is 1036 or approzimately 1GB (34%)

Tells me your hard drive is a 3 or 3.1GB drive.

Partition #1 only has a small amount of data (this is probably the virtual drive that Win 98 loaded.

Appears OK.

I really think you are to the point of starting ALL OVER, the corrupted installation I don not think can be fixed.

So you need to save as much as you can before Formatting the C: partition. We can walk you through formatting and reinstallation of the O/S.

Now the question;

You have Windows 98 on a CD, right? It's an upgrade or full install?


Although there may be a way of using the restore CD on a clean drive...

for Windows 98 I only have an upgrade disk. This computer came with Windows 95 on the quick restore disk.

Is it a Compaq Upgrade disk? If you have programs installed that you no longer have the original cd's floppies, or there is data on the drive you can't save, we may be able to remove windows 98 manually and use the restore disk to get Win 95 back on while saving that data.

I will need some help here on the restore as I have never used one.

I have a booter that will boot you from death.

my email is ( [email protected] ) . it will guide you through the preliminary's. no guarantees from what you've done so far. it must be down loaded and expanded to a 1.44 floppy or I can send file for file. (I recommend file for file it's faster and cleaner)

Then you must add copy "command.com" to the floppy disk for it to boot. either way you must add command.com because it's illegal to send that file via email. I.e you can download a booter but you must add the command.com file.

.. it might just be your hd's file allocation tables are shot. (the boot sector or files that manage windows) as murf said.

since it's a compcrap I'm not sure if the booter will work. but it will get you cdrom support with a: drive.

mach

Murf, The only things I am concerned about saving on this computer are the files not any programs. If I don't have the original disks for the programs then I don't need them.

The windows 98 disk that I have I purchased. It is not a compaq issue.

OK, MACH2 just said something,

Get back to the A:\> prompt and type the following:

fdisk /mbr (note space - hit <enter>)

In the mean time I will do some instructions that I can email you rather then long posts as to formatting and installing.