Can only type 6 characters when working in DOS

[gwillis]

Trying to format a hard drive after doing fdisk. Have worked in DOS numerous times and never had this problem. I can type up to 6 characters at the prompt but no more. Have to restart PC to get anywhere. Can type 'format' or 'fdisk' but not 'format c:', etc. What gives?

[gwillis]

Could it be problem other than DOS? What started the whole thing was that computer would not set up modem. It would see it as new hardware but wouldn't load driver. Tried both PCI slots, no go. Decided to load win95 over itself but no good. Next step I tried was to reformat drive and start from scratch. That is where I found out I couldn't type commands (AFTER wiping out the drive!). Took hd and put in another machine and got it formatted - put back in original to run WIN95 and at prompt type "cd" to get to D drive and that is all I can type. So now I'm wondering if motherboard problem? ANYONE have ANY ideas? This is a first for me! Thanks!!

[tiberiuscan]

As I am sure you know all versions of DOS are supposed to have an 8 character limit not 6. But that is in names not commands. I think your problem may be your hard drive, or it's cables or controller. If you can try new cables please do so.
Then try booting from a start floppy. In C: try fdisk/mbr This repairs the master boot record. This is handy too if you had a virus infect the master boot record. Or do you still have that limitation in C:?
You mentioned putting the hard drive in another machine. Can you do a format and re-install Win 95 from the other machine?
Then try it out again. It could be the IDE controller in or on the motherboard. You don't mention any specifics regarding the machine.

[gwillis]

The system is IBM 200 MHz. I was able to fdisk hd in system (cause I could type 'fdisk' at the prompt.) But not able to 'format c:' That's when I pulled the hd and stuck it in other system to format. Thinking it was a go I put back in original system to copy Win95 from cd. But at prompt I could only type cd (to get to d drive) and couldn't type anything else. I am in process of pulling hd (again!) putting in other system to load. However, I'm wondering if this is going to help my original problem of not being able to load drivers for modem? Live and learn, and learn, and learn! Will let you know what comes of this. Thanks for the reply.

[gwillis]

OK. Here's where its at. Put new cables on drive - no difference. So will pull hd and load from another machine. IF its the IDE controller on the first machine, would that give me the problem of not being able to load the drivers for the modem we put in? Drivers for video loaded fine (on-board video) and everything else looked good. Just wouldn't load modem. Thanks again for input.

[tiberiuscan]

Hi gwillis I'm afraid so. You will probably be able to get Win 95 installed fine on the other machine, but I wouldn't count on it working on the first one. (Worth a shot though). If the hard drive boots and works fine in the second machine, then it has to be in the first machine's motherboard or IDE controller.
The function of the IDE controller is to convert signals from the hard drive for the motherboard. BTW calling the paddle board a controller is a bit of a misnomer, but modern systems no longer rewuire one. There are seperate IDE adapter control boards but I've yet to need one. I have seen them mentioned on other forums.

[Vernon Frazee]

Have you tried a different keyboard?

Have you tried a different bootdisk?

[Eeyore]

I'm curious if this occurs when booted from Floppy? Also if you try with hard drive disconnected. That would isolated hadware from software problems. The Environment setting determines how much data such as paths can be stored. But that has nothing to do with how much you can type, just how much it can process of what you type.

I might suspect the Keyboard contrller.
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[AlaricD]

Well, if you can make 6 characters show up, then hit "enter", then you're really allowed 7 keystrokes... But you're only allowed to type 6 (or 7) characters at ALL without rebooting again? Ouch.)

If you could type 6 characters per line, one thing you could do with the Fn keys would be to type part of the line, hit "Enter" (and ignore the "Bad command or filename"), then hit F3 and type more of the line, hit enter again, then F3 and complete the line (for those long commands.)

This, of course, if the problem occurs even with different boot disks...

[gwillis]

My first thought was bad keyboard - but it's not. I've tried 3 or 4 different keyboards. I've also booted from a WIN95 disk and a WIN98 disk. No difference.

Since I had managed to "fdisk" (only 5 characters plus enter = 6) I have to boot from floppy. I haven't tried disconnecting harddrive to see if I can get more characters or not. But will let you know.

As I said earlier - this one has me really stumped. I was able to reformat drive and load programs when I put it in a different pc. But it still won't let me load drivers for modem when back in original pc.

[jdc2000]

At this point, I'm thinking that you may have either a problem with the BIOS setup or with the keyboard controller hardware on the motherboard. You could try going into theBIOS setup and 'Restore Default Settings' (and save them), then power off and re-boot. If the problem still occurs, then it is probably hardware. You could create a boot disk that calls a batch file from autoexec.bat to run FDISK or FORMAT or D:\SETUP (for Windows), but if it is a hardware problem, you still won't be able to enter any keystrokes even if you get the Windows install program running.

[gwillis]

Just as a closure to this subject, I took out and put back in everything in this pc. CPU-heatsink-memory-riser card-you name it, I took it out and back in. Had already formatted hd on different system. Hooked everything back up and we're running like there's no tomorrow!! Go figure! I am not going to question the computer gods, but boy!! if I understood it would make it a lot simpler!!

Anyway, thanks to one and all for suggestions. You'll never know how much I appreciate you all!

[Eeyore]

Thanks for letting us know. Glad it had a happy ending. Guess i'll file that as "can't type= unplug and re-plug".

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[tiberiuscan]

Hi gwillis You mentioned a memory riser card. Someone on a nother posting (and I've since confirmed this with a little research) that bad memory could cause the same problem. Perhaps the memory card wasn't seated properly.
Glad it worked out anyway.