Unable to format a hard disk, is it dead?
Steg...@gmail.com
I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning it
using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I can't
format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I get the
message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and the
formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in order
to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other places with
the same problem.
Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
doesn't work. My question is: What could be the origin of the problem ?
Can I save the hard disk, and if it's possible could you please explain
how?
Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is to boot
from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
Rod Speed
> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning it
> using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I can't
> format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I get the
> message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and the
> formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in order
> to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other places
> with the same problem.
>
> Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
> doesn't work. My question is: What could be the origin of the problem ?
Either the drive has died or what you are using to format it with
is useless and is getting confused by the way its partitioned.
Try wiping the drive with clearhdd from
http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/clearhdd.htm
and then formatting it again.
> Can I save the hard disk, and if it's possible could you please explain how?
See above.
> Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is
> to boot from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
You could try wiping the drive usng ubuntu.
philo
<Steg...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1154886449.3...@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning it
> using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I can't
> format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I get the
go to Maxtor's website and download their disk diagnostic utility
and run it.
if it says the drive is bad...no sense in going any further...
since it's a 20 gig...it must be fairly old anyway
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
kony
>Hi everyone,
>
>I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
>Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
>4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning it
>using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I can't
>format it.
Can't format it with what, exactly?
>The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I get the
>message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and the
>formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in order
>to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other places with
>the same problem.
We can't see what you can of the system so I have to ask,
are you sure the cables are good, as are the power
connections, the rest of the system in general, and that the
drive is jumpered correctly?
If so, boot the Maxtor diagnostics floppy and test the
drive. How are you making these partitions? I suggest
using the most generic way, with a DOS7 (like Win98)
bootdisk, then of course rebooting and formatting with the
included Win98 bootdisk (DOS) format program.
>
>Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
>doesn't work.
No point trying to install Windows if the formatting doesn't
complete.
>My question is: What could be the origin of the problem ?
>Can I save the hard disk, and if it's possible could you please explain
>how?
>
>Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is to boot
>from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
Don't use Linux to partition or format, if you were, use the
Win9x/DOS bootdisk.
Steg...@gmail.com
> > Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
> > doesn't work. My question is: What could be the origin of the problem ?
>
> Either the drive has died or what you are using to format it with
FORMAT command from the boot diskette created by Windows Millenium, on
which I replaced FDISK by FreeFDISK ( http://www.23cc.com/free-fdisk/ ,
just to see how it "looks". )
> is useless and is getting confused by the way its partitioned.
I was fearing that the partitioning might be the origin of the
problems. In fact, I hope it is, as this would mean that the disk is
not dead.
> Try wiping the drive with clearhdd from
> http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/clearhdd.htm
> and then formatting it again.
Yeah, but as I can't use nor reinstall Windows, using such a software
is not easy right now. If everything goes wrong, I'll probably get
another hard disk and mount it.
> > Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is
> > to boot from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
>
> You could try wiping the drive usng ubuntu.
Tomorrow, I'll record the iso of the latest ubuntu, I hope the install
process will help. I'll put the feedback here.
Steg...@gmail.com
> >I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
> >Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
> >4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning it
> >using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I can't
> >format it.
>
> Can't format it with what, exactly?
FORMAT command from the boot diskette created by Windows Millenium on
which I replaced FDISK by FreeFDISK. Note that I created several
partitions in order to insulate what I supposed to be some kind of bad
sector, and some of these little partitions were formatted properly.
Others, though, returned the "Not ready" error after a while during the
formatting process.
> >The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I get the
> >message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and the
> >formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in order
> >to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other places with
> >the same problem.
>
> We can't see what you can of the system so I have to ask,
> are you sure the cables are good, as are the power
> connections, the rest of the system in general, and that the
> drive is jumpered correctly?
I think so, as I didn't touch any of what you mention above and the
disk has been properly functionning until a few days ago.
> If so, boot the Maxtor diagnostics floppy and test the
> drive. How are you making these partitions? I suggest
> using the most generic way, with a DOS7 (like Win98)
> bootdisk, then of course rebooting and formatting with the
> included Win98 bootdisk (DOS) format program.
>
> >
> >Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
> >doesn't work.
>
> No point trying to install Windows if the formatting doesn't
> complete.
Right, but when I ran out of solutions, I tried to boot from the
Windows Me CD-ROM and see whether installation of Windows would fix the
issue. It didn't. Just a desperate attempt.
> Don't use Linux to partition or format, if you were, use the
> Win9x/DOS bootdisk.
Already tried this, without success, so I'm planning to use the latest
Ubuntu GNU/Linux CD. If that doesn't work either, then I'll have to get
another hard disk and use the utilities mentioned in this thread. If
you have another suggestion, if course I'd be pleased to hear about it.
Anyway, thanks for the three answers.
Rod Speed
> kony wrote
>>> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
>>> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
>>> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning
>>> it using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I
>>> can't format it.
>> Can't format it with what, exactly?
> FORMAT command from the boot diskette created by Windows Millenium
> on which I replaced FDISK by FreeFDISK. Note that I created several
> partitions in order to insulate what I supposed to be some kind of bad sector,
That is almost certainly why the format failed, you have another bad sector.
Its pointless trying to partition around bad sectors,
more will inevitably show up since the drive is dying.
> and some of these little partitions were formatted properly. Others, though,
> returned the "Not ready" error after a while during the formatting process.
>>> The formatting correctly begins, but around 15%
>>> I get the message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret''
>>> in French) and the formatting process aborts.
Because of a bad sector.
>>> I tried to make several partitions in order
>>> to isolate this location, but it seems that there
>>> are other places with the same problem.
Yep, when the drive is dying, as this one obviously is,
you will get new bad sectors showing up over time.
>> We can't see what you can of the system so I have
>> to ask, are you sure the cables are good, as are the
>> power connections, the rest of the system in general,
>> and that the drive is jumpered correctly?
> I think so, as I didn't touch any of what you mention above and
> the disk has been properly functionning until a few days ago.
No it wasnt, you had bad sectors.
>> If so, boot the Maxtor diagnostics floppy and test the
>> drive. How are you making these partitions? I suggest
>> using the most generic way, with a DOS7 (like Win98)
>> bootdisk, then of course rebooting and formatting with
>> the included Win98 bootdisk (DOS) format program.
>>> Windows Millenium refuses to install,
>>> explaining that the formatting doesn't work.
Because of the bad sectors.
>> No point trying to install Windows if the formatting doesn't complete.
> Right, but when I ran out of solutions, I tried to boot from the
> Windows Me CD-ROM and see whether installation of Windows
> would fix the issue. It didn't. Just a desperate attempt.
Yep, once the drive has bad sectors, its time to replace it.
>> Don't use Linux to partition or format, if
>> you were, use the Win9x/DOS bootdisk.
> Already tried this, without success, so I'm planning to use the latest
> Ubuntu GNU/Linux CD. If that doesn't work either, then I'll have to
> get another hard disk and use the utilities mentioned in this thread.
> If you have another suggestion, if course I'd be pleased to hear about it.
Just replace the hard drive with a good one.
pau...@efn.org
The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will automatically TRY
to partition around the damage (after lots of restarts, just let it do
it's thing). This is only an option if you have no other choice, and
nothing important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can
reinstall all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard
drive.
PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
Rod Speed
> Steg...@gmail.com wrote:
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
>> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing
>> Ubuntu
>> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning
>> it using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I
>> can't format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I
>> get the message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and
>> the formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in
>> order to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other
>> places with the same problem.
>>
>> Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
>> doesn't work. My question is: What could be the origin of the
>> problem ? Can I save the hard disk, and if it's possible could you
>> please explain how?
>>
>> Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is to boot
>> from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will automatically TRY
> to partition around the damage (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
More fool you.
kony
<rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will automatically TRY
>> to partition around the damage (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>
>No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
Unless more and more of them are dying while he's working,
marking as bad to get to the point of finishing a partition
and format would get it to the point where WinME DID try to
install, while presently it rejects the partition/format.
>
>> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
>> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
>> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>
>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>
>More fool you.
>
WinME can be whittled down until equivalent to a patched
Win98SE and be about as good as a patched Win98SE... so it's
really a matter of the intended use, some things 9x can do
acceptibly and others it can't.
Steg...@gmail.com
Rod Speed wrote:
> >> We can't see what you can of the system so I have
> >> to ask, are you sure the cables are good, as are the
> >> power connections, the rest of the system in general,
> >> and that the drive is jumpered correctly?
>
> > I think so, as I didn't touch any of what you mention above and
> > the disk has been properly functionning until a few days ago.
>
> No it wasnt, you had bad sectors.
Just a precision: Before uninstalling Windows, I performed a detailed
analysis using Scandisk, and it marked several sectors as bad. But at
that time, Windows was functionning more or less properly.
MF
uh, i mean, get rid of free fdisk. run fdisk /mbr. use fdisk to delete all
partitions. create a partition or two with fdisk. try formatting. if it
still doesn't work, take the drive apart, remove the platters, go to cannes,
see if you can skim the platters across the sea. well, it's a reason to
take a vacation.
i've seen free fdisk cause similar problems on 3 different computers. you
don't need it for your situation, so use fdisk. then throw out the drive.
good luck
Mike
<Steg...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1154886449.3...@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Stegozor
>>> Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is
>>> to boot from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
>> You could try wiping the drive usng ubuntu.
>
> Tomorrow, I'll record the iso of the latest ubuntu, I hope the install
> process will help. I'll put the feedback here.
Well, I installed Ubuntu, and it works like a charm. / is the main
partition (15 Gb), /home is on another one (2Gb), there's also the swap
partition (1 Gb) and finally another one (1 Gb), not yet formatted,
which is waiting for FreeDOS 1.0.
Why is Ubuntu working fine, and why did Windows Me refuse to install? Go
figure...
Rod Speed
Most likely the partitioning was rather screwed.
You should be able to use clearhdd on a
floppy to wipe the drive and then install ME.
Rod Speed
The bad sectors. It wont install on a drive which has visible bad sectors.
Ubuntu is clearly more forgiving/takes more risks. That isnt necessarily a good thing.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed wrote:
>
>>>> We can't see what you can of the system so I have
>>>> to ask, are you sure the cables are good, as are the
>>>> power connections, the rest of the system in general,
>>>> and that the drive is jumpered correctly?
>>
>>> I think so, as I didn't touch any of what you mention above and
>>> the disk has been properly functionning until a few days ago.
>>
>> No it wasnt, you had bad sectors.
>
> Just a precision: Before uninstalling Windows, I performed a detailed
> analysis using Scandisk, and it marked several sectors as bad.
And ME wont install on a drive that has bad sectors marked.
> But at that time, Windows was functionning more or less properly.
Until more bads show up, as they inevitably will.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>>> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will
>>> automatically TRY to partition around the damage
>>> (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>> No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
> Unless more and more of them are dying while he's working,
> marking as bad to get to the point of finishing a partition
> and format would get it to the point where WinME DID
> try to install, while presently it rejects the partition/format.
I was JUST commenting on that claim that the fdisk that came
with W98 will automatically TRY to partition around the damage.
ALL it does is make clusters it decides have bad sectors as bad.
>>> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
>>> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
>>> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>> More fool you.
> WinME can be whittled down until equivalent to a patched
> Win98SE and be about as good as a patched Win98SE...
It works fine un 'whittled' if you know what you are doing.
> so it's really a matter of the intended use, some
> things 9x can do acceptibly and others it can't.
Irrelevant to what I chose to comment on again.
kony
<rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>kony <sp...@spam.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>
>>>> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will
>>>> automatically TRY to partition around the damage
>>>> (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>
>>> No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
>
>> Unless more and more of them are dying while he's working,
>> marking as bad to get to the point of finishing a partition
>> and format would get it to the point where WinME DID
>> try to install, while presently it rejects the partition/format.
>
>I was JUST commenting on that claim that the fdisk that came
>with W98 will automatically TRY to partition around the damage.
>ALL it does is make clusters it decides have bad sectors as bad.
Ok, my comment was more to the point that we can ignore the
bad sectors IF it had finished formatting, at that point
WinME *thinks* it can go ahead and install which it didn't.
>
>>>> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
>>>> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
>>>> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>
>>>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>
>>> More fool you.
>
>> WinME can be whittled down until equivalent to a patched
>> Win98SE and be about as good as a patched Win98SE...
>
>It works fine un 'whittled' if you know what you are doing.
"Fine" is subject to interpretation. "Bloated" is more
appropriate. While Win98 ran fast for light duty use, once
you start tacking on the addt'l resources (which are already
more limited in ME) you might as well use Win2k even for the
light tasks. Granted, if one doesn't have a spare Win2k but
they do a WinME...
pau...@efn.org
Rod Speed wrote:
> pau...@efn.org wrote:
> > Steg...@gmail.com wrote:
> >> Hi everyone,
> >>
> >> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
> >> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing
> >> Ubuntu
> >> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning
> >> it using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I
> >> can't format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I
> >> get the message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and
> >> the formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions in
> >> order to isolate this location, but it seems that there are other
> >> places with the same problem.
> >>
> >> Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the formatting
> >> doesn't work. My question is: What could be the origin of the
> >> problem ? Can I save the hard disk, and if it's possible could you
> >> please explain how?
> >>
> >> Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is to boot
> >> from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
>
> > The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will automatically TRY
> > to partition around the damage (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>
> No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
For certian kinds of damage, the fdisk will indeed partiton around.
I've seen it happen.
Most of the time, however, ordinary bad sectors are caught by the
format utility later.
>
> > This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
> > important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
> > all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>
> > PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>
> More fool you.
Windows ME doesn't work. The system restore doesn't work, the
hibernation deosn't work. (there's a patch available for the system
restore, but it STILL doesn't work well) The Windows Scandisk loads if
you failed to properly shut down (annoying restarts and all, the DOS
mode scandisk at least works right). Getting into DOS mode is
impossible (there isn't one), and the safe mode is worthless. You can't
create DOS boot disks with the format utility anymore, which is an
obsticle to BIOS flashing. On top of that, it's unstable. AARGH.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>> kony <sp...@spam.com> wrote
>>> Rod Speed <rod.sp...@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will
>>>>> automatically TRY to partition around the damage
>>>>> (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>>>> No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
>>> Unless more and more of them are dying while he's working,
>>> marking as bad to get to the point of finishing a partition
>>> and format would get it to the point where WinME DID
>>> try to install, while presently it rejects the partition/format.
>> I was JUST commenting on that claim that the fdisk that came
>> with W98 will automatically TRY to partition around the damage.
>> ALL it does is make clusters it decides have bad sectors as bad.
> Ok, my comment was more to the point that we can ignore
> the bad sectors IF it had finished formatting, at that point
> WinME *thinks* it can go ahead and install which it didn't.
Dunno, one of the versions of 98 would do a bad scan before
installing and would refuse to install if the drive had any bads.
Forget exactly which one that was.
>>>>> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
>>>>> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
>>>>> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>>>>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>>>> More fool you.
>>> WinME can be whittled down until equivalent to a patched
>>> Win98SE and be about as good as a patched Win98SE...
>> It works fine un 'whittled' if you know what you are doing.
> "Fine" is subject to interpretation.
Nope.
> "Bloated" is more appropriate.
Nothing to do with whether it works fine or not.
> While Win98 ran fast for light duty use, once you start tacking
> on the addt'l resources (which are already more limited in ME)
> you might as well use Win2k even for the light tasks.
Wrong with plenty of stuff that wouldnt run on 2K.
Rod Speed
>>>> I'm having a serious problem with my hard disk drive (20 Gb, brand
>>>> Maxtor). Recently I made several things on it, like installing Ubuntu
>>>> 4.01 Warty (with Grub as bootloader), removing Ubuntu, partitioning
>>>> it using FreeFDISK from a boot diskette and so on. But right now, I
>>>> can't format it. The formatting correctly begins, but around 15% I
>>>> get the message ''Not ready'' (in fact, ''non pret'' in French) and
>>>> the formatting process aborts. I tried to make several partitions
>>>> in order to isolate this location, but it seems that there are
>>>> other places with the same problem.
>>>> Windows Millenium refuses to install, explaining that the
>>>> formatting doesn't work. My question is: What could be
>>>> the origin of the problem ? Can I save the hard disk,
>>>> and if it's possible could you please explain how?
>>>> Right now, the only solution I found to post this message is to
>>>> boot from the live CD of Ubuntu and to post from Google...
>>> The version of fdisk that came with windows 98 will automatically TRY
>>> to partition around the damage (after lots of restarts, just let it do it's thing).
>> No it wont. The most it ever attempts is to mark clusters as bad.
> For certian kinds of damage, the fdisk will indeed partiton around.
Nope.
What are you claiming it does, create multiple partitions instead
of the one its told to create, or adjust the start or end of the partition
its told to create so that the bad is left in unpartitioned space ?
> I've seen it happen.
Dont believe it.
> Most of the time, however, ordinary bad
> sectors are caught by the format utility later.
>>> This is only an option if you have no other choice, and nothing
>>> important will be stored on the hard drive, AND you can reinstall
>>> all your stuff. Otherwise, don't mess, get another hard drive.
>>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>> More fool you.
> Windows ME doesn't work.
Bullshit. Works fine here.
> The system restore doesn't work, the hibernation deosn't work.
Bullshit.
> (there's a patch available for the system
> restore, but it STILL doesn't work well)
Irrelevant to whether ME works or not.
> The Windows Scandisk loads if you failed to
> properly shut down (annoying restarts and all,
Irrelevant to whether it works or not.
the DOS
> mode scandisk at least works right).
> Getting into DOS mode is impossible (there isn't one),
Wrong.
> and the safe mode is worthless.
Wrong again.
> You can't create DOS boot disks with the format utility anymore,
You can however create bootable floppys.
> which is an obsticle to BIOS flashing.
Irrelevant to whether ME works or not. There are
plenty of other ways to produce bootable floppys.
> On top of that, it's unstable.
No it isnt.
> AARGH.
Just mindless silly stuff.
pau...@efn.org
What happens on hibernation is that a certian percetage of systems fail
to return from hibernation. It hangs there forever, until the computer
is manually reset, and on next reboot it tells you that the compurer
failed to return from hibernation, do you wanna try again? This is the
one I've seen most often. On at least 5 different systems I've
personally seen.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303368
Here's more fun with Me hibernation
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296773
There's a fix for this, but you cant downloaod it with out actually
calling MS and ordering it.
And here's another fun one.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=273818
And another
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296883
And another
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250199
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302103/
Here's the flaw with the system restore, that ME shipped with.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290700
More of the joys and pitfalls of ME system restore. These are not
fixed, and never will be.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267176
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267426
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=250231
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261716
>
> > (there's a patch available for the system
> > restore, but it STILL doesn't work well)
>
> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not.
>
> > The Windows Scandisk loads if you failed to
> > properly shut down (annoying restarts and all,
>
> Irrelevant to whether it works or not.
It deosn't work well at all and may add an extra 10 minutes or more to
the boot time, because scandink keeps rechecking the same shit. This is
called a Major Flaw. As in it's such a pain in the ass, that this alone
qualifies as a reason to not use ME.
>
> the DOS
> > mode scandisk at least works right).
>
> > Getting into DOS mode is impossible (there isn't one),
>
> Wrong.
There is a command line. That's not the same thing.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269524/EN-US/
>
> > and the safe mode is worthless.
>
> Wrong again.
>
> > You can't create DOS boot disks with the format utility anymore,
>
> You can however create bootable floppys.
>
> > which is an obsticle to BIOS flashing.
>
> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not. There are
> plenty of other ways to produce bootable floppys.
It's called a workaround. As in perferred method doesn't work, let's
find some third party shit. Which is a pain in the ass. bootdisk.com is
my friend, too, but it's still a pain.
These are major flaws. THese were major selling points af ME. What
you're saying is a bit like selling a car with this ad.
Fuel tank cannot be filled above 3/4 due to hole somewhere
1 working brake (not sure which)
3 cylinders work most of the time
Moss growing on roof
Runs Great.
Mindows Me is a lot like that car, all of it's problems are fixable,
but I wouldn't sell it to any of MY friends.
>
> > On top of that, it's unstable.
>
> No it isnt.
Only if you're lucky.
Rod Speed
>> Nope.
>> Dont believe it.
>>>> More fool you.
>> Bullshit. Works fine here.
>> Bullshit.
A very small percentage, actually.
> It hangs there forever, until the computer is manually reset, and
> on next reboot it tells you that the compurer failed to return from
> hibernation, do you wanna try again? This is the one I've seen
> most often. On at least 5 different systems I've personally seen.
Irrelevant to whether ME works.
Most dont hibernate, and SE had a hell of a lot bigger problem
with shutting down, which most did much more than hiberate.
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303368
> Here's more fun with Me hibernation
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296773
> There's a fix for this, but you cant downloaod
> it with out actually calling MS and ordering it.
> And here's another fun one.
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=273818
> And another
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296883
> And another
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250199
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302103/
Just as many for SE and XP.
> Here's the flaw with the system restore, that ME shipped with.
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290700
> More of the joys and pitfalls of ME system restore.
> These are not fixed, and never will be.
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267176
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267426
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=250231
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261716
Just as true of SE.
>>> (there's a patch available for the system
>>> restore, but it STILL doesn't work well)
>> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not.
>>> The Windows Scandisk loads if you failed to
>>> properly shut down (annoying restarts and all,
>> Irrelevant to whether it works or not.
> It deosn't work well at all
Oh bullshit.
> and may add an extra 10 minutes or more to the boot time,
You can always cancel it.
> because scandink keeps rechecking the same shit.
No it doesnt.
> This is called a Major Flaw.
Nope.
> As in it's such a pain in the ass, that this
> alone qualifies as a reason to not use ME.
Mindlessly silly.
>> the DOS mode scandisk at least works right).
>>> Getting into DOS mode is impossible (there isn't one),
>> Wrong.
> There is a command line. That's not the same thing.
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269524/EN-US/
Its all most actually need. And its trivial to do
a real dos boot floppy if you actually need one.
>>> and the safe mode is worthless.
>> Wrong again.
>>> You can't create DOS boot disks with the format utility anymore,
>> You can however create bootable floppys.
>>> which is an obsticle to BIOS flashing.
>> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not. There are
>> plenty of other ways to produce bootable floppys.
> It's called a workaround.
Its called a perfectly viable alternative for the few situations
where the ME bootable floppy isnt good enough.
Same is true of XP too and only a fool would claim that that isnt viable.
> As in perferred method doesn't work, let's find some third party shit.
Nope, no third party shit is needed.
> Which is a pain in the ass. bootdisk.com is my friend, too, but it's still a pain.
Nope, not when the ME bootable floppy is perfectly viable most of the time.
> These are major flaws.
Nope, minor irritations.
> THese were major selling points af ME.
Like hell they ever were.
> What you're saying is a bit like selling a car with this ad.
Crap, nothing like.
> Fuel tank cannot be filled above 3/4 due to hole somewhere
> 1 working brake (not sure which)
> 3 cylinders work most of the time
> Moss growing on roof
> Runs Great.
> Mindows Me is a lot like that car, all of it's problems
> are fixable, but I wouldn't sell it to any of MY friends.
Your problem.
SE had its own problems. So does every OS.
>>> On top of that, it's unstable.
>> No it isnt.
> Only if you're lucky.
Mindless silly stuff.
pau...@efn.org
Rod Speed wrote:
> pau...@efn.org wrote
> > Rod Speed wrote
> >> pau...@efn.org wrote
> >>> Rod Speed wrote
> >>>> pau...@efn.org wrote
> >>>>> Steg...@gmail.com wrote
>
>
>
> >>> Windows ME doesn't work.
>
> >> Bullshit. Works fine here.
>
> >>> The system restore doesn't work, the hibernation deosn't work.
>
> >> Bullshit.
>
> > What happens on hibernation is that a certian
> > percetage of systems fail to return from hibernation.
>
> A very small percentage, actually.
>
> > It hangs there forever, until the computer is manually reset, and
> > on next reboot it tells you that the compurer failed to return from
> > hibernation, do you wanna try again? This is the one I've seen
> > most often. On at least 5 different systems I've personally seen.
>
> Irrelevant to whether ME works.
>
> Most dont hibernate, and SE had a hell of a lot bigger problem
> with shutting down, which most did much more than hiberate.
That's no excuse for ME's failures.
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303368
>
> > Here's more fun with Me hibernation
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296773
>
> > There's a fix for this, but you cant downloaod
> > it with out actually calling MS and ordering it.
>
> > And here's another fun one.
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=273818
>
> > And another
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296883
>
> > And another
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250199
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302103/
>
> Just as many for SE and XP.
>
> > Here's the flaw with the system restore, that ME shipped with.
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290700
>
> > More of the joys and pitfalls of ME system restore.
> > These are not fixed, and never will be.
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267176
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267426
>
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=250231
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261716
>
> Just as true of SE.
SE doesn't even HAVE a system restore.
>
> >>> (there's a patch available for the system
> >>> restore, but it STILL doesn't work well)
>
> >> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not.
>
> >>> The Windows Scandisk loads if you failed to
> >>> properly shut down (annoying restarts and all,
>
> >> Irrelevant to whether it works or not.
>
> > It deosn't work well at all
>
> Oh bullshit.
>
> > and may add an extra 10 minutes or more to the boot time,
>
> You can always cancel it.
Leaving potential file system errors. That's worse.
XP CAN create a MS-DOS startup disk via the format utility. ME can't.
>
> > As in perferred method doesn't work, let's find some third party shit.
>
> Nope, no third party shit is needed.
>
> > Which is a pain in the ass. bootdisk.com is my friend, too, but it's still a pain.
>
> Nope, not when the ME bootable floppy is perfectly viable most of the time.
>
> > These are major flaws.
>
> Nope, minor irritations.
They interfere with doing work on a computer, costing time, and very
likely, money. That's not minor.
>
> > THese were major selling points af ME.
>
> Like hell they ever were.
>
> > What you're saying is a bit like selling a car with this ad.
>
> Crap, nothing like.
>
> > Fuel tank cannot be filled above 3/4 due to hole somewhere
> > 1 working brake (not sure which)
> > 3 cylinders work most of the time
> > Moss growing on roof
>
> > Runs Great.
>
> > Mindows Me is a lot like that car, all of it's problems
> > are fixable, but I wouldn't sell it to any of MY friends.
>
> Your problem.
Are you saying YOU would?
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed wrote
>> pau...@efn.org wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>> pau...@efn.org wrote
>>>>> Rod Speed wrote
>>>>>> pau...@efn.org wrote
>>>>>>> PS: if I were a hard drive, I'd refuse Windows Millenium too. :)
>>>>>> More fool you.
>>>>> Windows ME doesn't work.
>>>> Bullshit. Works fine here.
>>>>> The system restore doesn't work, the hibernation deosn't work.
>>>> Bullshit.
>>> What happens on hibernation is that a certian
>>> percetage of systems fail to return from hibernation.
>> A very small percentage, actually.
>>> It hangs there forever, until the computer is manually reset, and
>>> on next reboot it tells you that the compurer failed to return from
>>> hibernation, do you wanna try again? This is the one I've seen
>>> most often. On at least 5 different systems I've personally seen.
>> Irrelevant to whether ME works.
>> Most dont hibernate, and SE had a hell of a lot bigger problem
>> with shutting down, which most did much more than hiberate.
> That's no excuse for ME's failures.
SE is obviously much worse because its
failure affects the mode that most use.
ME did fix that particular problem.
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303368
>>> Here's more fun with Me hibernation
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296773
>>> There's a fix for this, but you cant downloaod
>>> it with out actually calling MS and ordering it.
>>> And here's another fun one.
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=273818
>>> And another
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296883
>>> And another
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;250199
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302103/
>> Just as many for SE and XP.
>>> Here's the flaw with the system restore, that ME shipped with.
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290700
>>> More of the joys and pitfalls of ME system restore.
>>> These are not fixed, and never will be.
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267176
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=267426
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=250231
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=261716
>> Just as true of SE.
> SE doesn't even HAVE a system restore.
Yes, but it does have OTHER problems that ME fixed.
>>>>> (there's a patch available for the system
>>>>> restore, but it STILL doesn't work well)
>>>> Irrelevant to whether ME works or not.
>>>>> The Windows Scandisk loads if you failed to
>>>>> properly shut down (annoying restarts and all,
>>>> Irrelevant to whether it works or not.
>>> It deosn't work well at all
>> Oh bullshit.
>>> and may add an extra 10 minutes or more to the boot time,
>> You can always cancel it.
> Leaving potential file system errors.
Nope, no potential file system errors in that particular situation.
And that isnt true with SE's failure to shut down properly which ME fixed.
> That's worse.
Nope.
>> No it doesnt.
>> Nope.
>> Mindlessly silly.
>>>> Wrong.
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269524/EN-US/
>>>> Wrong again.
ME can however create a bootable floppy that works fine for most stuff
and its completely trivial to create a real dos boot floppy if you need one.
No reason why the OS must be able to do
that with something that unusually required.
>>> As in perferred method doesn't work, let's find some third party shit.
>> Nope, no third party shit is needed.
>>> Which is a pain in the ass. bootdisk.com
>>> is my friend, too, but it's still a pain.
>> Nope, not when the ME bootable floppy is perfectly viable most of the time.
>>> These are major flaws.
>> Nope, minor irritations.
> They interfere with doing work on a computer,
Hardly ever given that the bootable floppy that
ME can produce works fine for most stuff.
> costing time, and very likely, money.
Oh bullshit. Its completely trivial to produce
a real dos floppy if you actually need one.
> That's not minor.
Corse it is. Very minor indeed in fact.
>>> THese were major selling points af ME.
>> Like hell they ever were.
>>> What you're saying is a bit like selling a car with this ad.
>> Crap, nothing like.
>>> Fuel tank cannot be filled above 3/4 due to hole somewhere
>>> 1 working brake (not sure which)
>>> 3 cylinders work most of the time
>>> Moss growing on roof
>>> Runs Great.
>>> Mindows Me is a lot like that car, all of it's problems
>>> are fixable, but I wouldn't sell it to any of MY friends.
>> Your problem.
> Are you saying YOU would?
I certainly have used ME fine, and recommended it to others too.
You cant manage to work out how to use ME effectively ? YOUR problem.
True in spades of XP too.
Stegozor
> before you throw out the drive, unreplace fdisk.
Well, now I installed Ubuntu, it's running properly. However, some
advices pointed out that next time I should use use FreeDOS FORMAT /U,
which takes a long time but checks the whole partition for bad sectors.
Also that I should "scan" the drive by creating a very big file with
known contents and checking the md5sum.
> uh, i mean, get rid of free fdisk. run fdisk /mbr. use fdisk to delete all
> partitions. create a partition or two with fdisk. try formatting. if it
> still doesn't work, take the drive apart, remove the platters, go to cannes,
> see if you can skim the platters across the sea. well, it's a reason to
> take a vacation.
:)
> i've seen free fdisk cause similar problems on 3 different computers. you
Are you sure? In the FreeDos mailing-list, some people think that
FreeFDISK is the best FDISK ever released. As it came after FDISK from
Microsoft, and as it's been widely reviewed, I think the opinion makes
sense. Maybe the computers you talk about had dying hard disks? Anyway,
almost everyone thinks that my disk (not a Maxtor as I previously wrote,
but a Western Digital) has a serious problem with broken sectors. When I
find time and patience, I'll check it with some isos put together (md5),
and possibly look after another hard disk.
> don't need it for your situation, so use fdisk. then throw out the drive.
My next boot disk will probably come from Freedos, but anyway, I'll keep
it homogeneous.
> good luck
Seems I'll need it.