Hi, One of my computers is an old Compaq 386 (Dos 6.2 OS) with 40M HDD. I would replace the 40M HDD with a 3.2G I recently bought. I have a "setup" floppy for this computer. Due to the BIOS limitations, is there a way I can use this HDD, even if I have to partition it into smaller logical...

Hi Ben, Here is more information I forgot to mention: This laptop had no trouble reading the "burned" CDs before this trouble started. Note: I often used the CD drive to read a particular "burned" CD. Now, it has trouble reading that CD. Floppy drive problem, which started at the...

Hi, Mystery problem with Compaq Presario 1060 Laptop. Note: I service TVs, etc., rarely service a computer. PROBLEM (Hard Disk Drive is fine): On the same day (no storm and it wasn't dropped) this laptop started to have read/write problems with the floppy disk drive

Hi, Sorry I forgot to mention that I thoroughly cleaned both drives and I do not smoke (very bad for your health). INTERESTING FLOPPY DRIVE TEST: I used a program called "Sector Access" and read a string (100) of sectors starting at sector 00000000 (boot sector) into a file called...

Hi, The laptop had a "stroke" while I was using it. Note: Windows booted up just fine, then something happened. Everything "froze" and there was no response to any input. I had to turn off the power. I disconnected power, removed the battery pack, and waited. Later, when I turned on the...

Hi, I am a heavy user of USB flash drives such as the Lexar "Jump Drive" 1G and 2G types. I use these to transfer stuff from one computer to another, then delete (clear) the flash drive for more stuff. What is the life span of a USB flash drive (example 1000 re-writes)? ...

Hi, I have three computers that developed problems with reading floppy disks. Note: This problem occurred at a different time for each computer. What is the most common problem with floppy disk drives? Thanks in advance, Brad Before you type your password,...

Hi, One problem floppy drive in a laptop, I hear a "wine" noise (belt slip) during an attempt to read a floppy. I removed the floppy drive and checked it. I removed the belt and cleaned it with a rubber cleaner/revitalizer. Afterwards, no more "wine" noise and the floppy drive can read/write...

Hi, Recently, I started to have trouble with my HDD (slow access). When I performed a "surface scan" (via scandisk), accessing clusters was slow and "jerky". I aborted the surface scan because it was going to take a very long time. Note: The HDD is 8 Gig. Note: Last year,...

Hi, Note: I cleaned both drives, floppy & CD, (Compaq Presario 1060 laptop yr 1997) but problem remains. I used a "lab" type of power supply as substitute for latpop's external power supply. Also, see original post below. More tests made since my original post exposed something very...

Hi, The floppy drive, part # 261848-001, in my 1997 (abt.) Compaq Presario 1060 laptop is bad and there is no replacement available. Note: I service TVs, etc., rarely computers. I have a floppy drive from another model Compaq laptop, not the same part number, but it could fit in the space...

Hi, With a horizontal mounted HDD, gravity may be pulling down the heads (top sides of platters) closer to the platter surface? If this is true, then a vertically mounted HDD is better? Thanks in advance, Brad Before you type your password, credit card number, etc., be sure there is no active...

Hi, I have a 750 Meg HDD which I would like to install in an old Compaq 386 PC with Dos 6.22. The 386 BIOS only "sees" 520M. If I put the HDD in one of my newer PCs, using a Dos 6.22 boot floppy disk (with Fdisk & Format), partition it into two logical drives, C: with about 520M, and D: with...

Hi, I have a HDD with 16 physical heads according to the label on the HDD. When this HDD was installed, partitioned, formatted, etc., a "Block Information" program shows this HDD has "128" heads, which I assume to be "logical" heads. What "logical" heads would physical head "0" (zero based)...

Hi, One of my computers is a portable Compaq 386 (sold for $5,700 around 1988). It has 2 meg of ram and Dos 6.22. I replaced the 40 meg hdd with a Quantum "Lightning" 750 meg, that was partitioned (on a newer computer) into two logical drives (520 meg and 230 meg). The 386 BIOS doesn't...

Hi, My "main" computer is a Gateway "Color Book II" laptop. It is on every day from 7:30AM until almost 6:00PM. I have been using it like this for about 7 years. It has a 1.6 GB hdd. Recently, for the first time, the hdd started to "wine" (high pitched) for about 3 minutes. Then it became...

Hi, Thanks to everyone who responded to my various posts relating to this problem. I hope I didn't annoy anyone. I did perform the cleaning, lube, etc. which some of you suggested, but that didn't solve the problem. I found technical information on the web about CD disk media, but not...

Hi, From time to time, I come across an article about CD roms, etc. What I have learned so far, CD-R (I use) is better than CD-RW for long term storage of important data. Also, how they are stored can have a bearing on their "life". I keep CD roms in a dark cool location. To test the integrity...

Hi, My cousin asked me to repair his Compaq Presario 1060 laptop (Windows 95) which developed two problems at the same time!!! One of the two problems has to do with the floppy disk drive which suddenly has trouble reading floppy disks. The other problem (started around the same time...

Hi Glee, Thanks for all that information. I forgot to mention that this is a Seagate HDD. Brad On Sun, 2 Dec 2007 14:11:33 -0500, in microsoft.public.win98.disks.general you