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Bypass Win98 for DOS on startup?
I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started crashing (of
course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" screen with "Windows" in the top program block. Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. But I could get into DOS. What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? All help is greatly appreciated. Ed |
#2
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"Ed" wrote in message ... I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started crashing (of course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" screen with "Windows" in the top program block. Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. But I could get into DOS. What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. That's not the most advisable approach. I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? Yes. You need to insert a boot floppy, and the BIOS needs to be set to boot from the A drive. (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? You don't care. (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? No. You need a new hard drive, so get that FIRST, then use the software that comes with it to FDISK and FORMAT the drive, and copy the existing drive contents to the new drive. All help is greatly appreciated. Ed |
#3
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Hugh:
Thank you for replying. I'm not real good at any of this internal stuff, so I hope you bear with me. I'm trying this approach because I have tried adding a second drive to my computer before and it didn't work. Downloaded all the jumper settings and instructions, etc., but no go. It's a Compaq with an AMD chip that was given to me when my first computer went out. I tried adding in the drive from the first one to move files over, but I could never get the slave drive to recognize. So I'm loathe to try that now having to move files off TWO drives onto a third! Also, the OS is on a Compaq "restore" CD, which fully wipes the drive and installs Win98, plus a bunch of other junk. So copying the files onto the new drive wouldn't work - they would be overwritten when I reinstalled the system. That's why I was hoping to be able to copy them off the drive onto a Zip or something. But I think that would require booting from the installed hard drive to get the Iomega drivers, unless a boot disk would come with that. This is about all my limited knowledge can come up with, given these limitations. Is there any hope here? Ed "Hugh Candlin" wrote in message ... "Ed" wrote in message ... I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started crashing (of course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" screen with "Windows" in the top program block. Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. But I could get into DOS. What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. That's not the most advisable approach. I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? Yes. You need to insert a boot floppy, and the BIOS needs to be set to boot from the A drive. (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? You don't care. (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? No. You need a new hard drive, so get that FIRST, then use the software that comes with it to FDISK and FORMAT the drive, and copy the existing drive contents to the new drive. All help is greatly appreciated. Ed |
#4
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What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. That's not the most advisable approach. Will this work to get "My Documents" and personal data off at least? The moment a drive gives me any inkling of trouble, an unscheduled backup of data comes to mind :-/ Are quotes required to handle long file names, etc? |
#5
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"Ed" wrote in message ... . . . I have tried adding a second drive to my computer before and it didn't work. Downloaded all the jumper settings and instructions, etc., but no go. It's a Compaq with an AMD chip that was given to me when my first computer went out. I tried adding in the drive from the first one to move files over, but I could never get the slave drive to recognize. So I'm loathe to try that now having to move files off TWO drives onto a third! Also, the OS is on a Compaq "restore" CD, which fully wipes the drive and installs Win98, plus a bunch of other junk. So copying the files onto the new drive wouldn't work - they would be overwritten when I reinstalled the system. That's why I was hoping to be able to copy them off the drive onto a Zip or something. But I think that would require booting from the installed hard drive to get the Iomega drivers, unless a boot disk would come with that. Your simplest route may be to: 0. Prepare appropriately, cf. below. 1. Instal the new drive as C: and D: i.e. first drive connected to IDE line 1, partitioned into two drives (one Primary DOS, the other Extended DOS) formatted. 2. Instal the Compaq Win98 on the new C: from its floppy and CD. 3. Copy to the new D: urgently needed files from any other hard drive. 4. #2 means you will need to instal afresh your main apps, rather than reusing the old Registry. But you have not been able to confirm that the old Registry is undamaged. 5. You can figure out later how to connect for copying any other drives. When you earlier failed to add a second drive, you probably did something wrong --- check preparations beforehand e.g. via http://aumha.org/win4/a/clean.htm or http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
#6
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Scandisk can identify bad sectors and take them out of use, if they=20
exist, although it may take a while to find them all. Start the=20 computer in Command Prompt by tapping the F8 key repeatedly=20 during bootup, type "scandisk c: /surface" and press "Enter". Also,=20 most hard drive manufacturers have diagnostic software available=20 for download. Maxtor http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/index.htm Seagate http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/B7a.html Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp See the following about using your Zip drive in DOS. Please note that you may have to copy the files to a floppy on the computer you are using now, since you cannot start Windows on the problem computer. http://www.iomega.com/support/manual...t.html#dosmode Ben "Ed" wrote in message = ... I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started = crashing (of course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it = won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you = think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" = screen with "Windows" in the top program block. =20 Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it = still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. = But I could get into DOS. =20 What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going = through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files = via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard = drive. =20 I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer = them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port = 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer = an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? =20 All help is greatly appreciated. Ed =20 |
#7
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"Ed" wrote in message
... I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started crashing (of course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" screen with "Windows" in the top program block. Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. But I could get into DOS. What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? All help is greatly appreciated. Ed Most cloners and imagers drop the ball if you have bad sectors, and refuse to copy. A file level copier, like xcopy, may work. Assuming all the files/folders copied are not within that bad sector, and are properly readable. Many suggest this instead of xcopy for these cases: http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm If your PC has a hidden partition where some of the bios may reside or other critical data, you have to copy this to the new hard drive too. Xcopy and xxcopy can't do this. If you're copying a game (kids computer?) directory and its subfolder etc., this may not work properly when copying back to the new OS installation. Or, rather, you may not get what you're expecting. Parallel connected Zip drive at the real mode dos level? Check with the Iomega support site. Press F5 for real mode msdos at the right moment. Else F8, and select same. You said you could enter DOS anyway. So, why the question? |
#8
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Thanks for the info, Lil' Dave. All I want to do is rescue files from My
Documents and folders on the Desktop. I can reinstall all other programs. Thanks for the XXCOPY heads up. I'll look at that. This is a Compaq, and the Restore CD does create a partition on the drive, but the stuff in the partition is only to restore the drive, not run the computer (from what I understand). Why the questions? Because I never learned DOS. In fact, I originally went to Macintosh because I never wanted to deal with a DOS prompt! Due to work, I was "forced" to work on a PC, which I now enjoy. But I still don't know DOS. I can get there, and managed to do a SCANDISK last night, but that's about it. SCANDISK said I've got an invalid long filename, but I don't know how to find it, or open the log file through DOS to read it, or any other such stuff. I'm wanting to be very careful - as the rule is in carpentry and laying carpet: "measure twice, cut once" - because I'm well aware I may not be able to UNDO some of these "cuts", and won't realize until it's too late. Ed "Lil' Dave" wrote in message ... "Ed" wrote in message snip Most cloners and imagers drop the ball if you have bad sectors, and refuse to copy. A file level copier, like xcopy, may work. Assuming all the files/folders copied are not within that bad sector, and are properly readable. Many suggest this instead of xcopy for these cases: http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm If your PC has a hidden partition where some of the bios may reside or other critical data, you have to copy this to the new hard drive too. Xcopy and xxcopy can't do this. If you're copying a game (kids computer?) directory and its subfolder etc., this may not work properly when copying back to the new OS installation. Or, rather, you may not get what you're expecting. Parallel connected Zip drive at the real mode dos level? Check with the Iomega support site. Press F5 for real mode msdos at the right moment. Else F8, and select same. You said you could enter DOS anyway. So, why the question? |
#9
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Thanks, Ben. I needed to know that stuff, and didn't think there might be
stuff I needed to know. Just found out the power supply for my Zip drive is out, so now I've time to read before I get that fixed. I did do a DOS SCANDISK last night, and it gave me "invalid long filename". I did a Google Groups search for info on this, and have some other things to try. It might not be a bad sector after all. I appreciate the boost. Ed "Ben Myers" wrote in message ... Scandisk can identify bad sectors and take them out of use, if they exist, although it may take a while to find them all. Start the computer in Command Prompt by tapping the F8 key repeatedly during bootup, type "scandisk c: /surface" and press "Enter". Also, most hard drive manufacturers have diagnostic software available for download. Maxtor http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/index.htm Seagate http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/B7a.html Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp See the following about using your Zip drive in DOS. Please note that you may have to copy the files to a floppy on the computer you are using now, since you cannot start Windows on the problem computer. http://www.iomega.com/support/manual...t.html#dosmode Ben "Ed" wrote in message ... I think I've got a bad sector on my hard drive - Win98 started crashing (of course my kids didn't tell me in time!), and then it got to where it won't complete loading. It will get all the way to the point where you think it's going to show you the desktop, and then pops up a blue "fatal error" screen with "Windows" in the top program block. Pressing the "any key" restarts, including the ScanDisk run, but it still locks up at the same point. It won't even complete Safe mode Windows. But I could get into DOS. What I'm hoping to do is start up with a DOS prompt without going through the crash and restart scenario. Then, hopefully, I can XCOPY files via DOS commands from the hard drive to a Zip disk, then replace the hard drive. I guess I've got three questions for anyone kind enough to answer them: (1) Can I go straight to the DOS prompt? (2) If I do this, will the drivers for the external, parallel port 100-meg Zip drive be loaded? (3) Assuming all else is good, would XCOPY be the best way to transfer an entire directory, including subfolders and all files? All help is greatly appreciated. Ed |
#10
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Don and Hugh: Thanks for the input and guidance. I'm real leery about
dinking around with the insides of my computer. Back in the days when a programmable calculator was a "computer", I would sling solder in a radar or radio with no problem. Now, though, I look inside this box, and it's all plug and pray! There's no voltages, no waveform checkpoints - just these mysterious bits of software that all have to talk nice to each other or nothing works right. But I did learn to read manuals and follow instructions (*after* frying a wiring harness because I overlooked Step 1: "Disconnect power"!!). So I appreciate the info, and will try not to have too many disasters. I did manage a DOS SCANDISK last night, and got "invalid long filename". I did a Google Groups search and got lots more info, so I'll see where I wind up with this. Ed "Don Phillipson" wrote in message ... "Ed" wrote in message ... . . . I have tried adding a second drive to my computer before and it didn't work. Downloaded all the jumper settings and instructions, etc., but no go. It's a Compaq with an AMD chip that was given to me when my first computer went out. I tried adding in the drive from the first one to move files over, but I could never get the slave drive to recognize. So I'm loathe to try that now having to move files off TWO drives onto a third! Also, the OS is on a Compaq "restore" CD, which fully wipes the drive and installs Win98, plus a bunch of other junk. So copying the files onto the new drive wouldn't work - they would be overwritten when I reinstalled the system. That's why I was hoping to be able to copy them off the drive onto a Zip or something. But I think that would require booting from the installed hard drive to get the Iomega drivers, unless a boot disk would come with that. Your simplest route may be to: 0. Prepare appropriately, cf. below. 1. Instal the new drive as C: and D: i.e. first drive connected to IDE line 1, partitioned into two drives (one Primary DOS, the other Extended DOS) formatted. 2. Instal the Compaq Win98 on the new C: from its floppy and CD. 3. Copy to the new D: urgently needed files from any other hard drive. 4. #2 means you will need to instal afresh your main apps, rather than reusing the old Registry. But you have not been able to confirm that the old Registry is undamaged. 5. You can figure out later how to connect for copying any other drives. When you earlier failed to add a second drive, you probably did something wrong --- check preparations beforehand e.g. via http://aumha.org/win4/a/clean.htm or http://home.satx.rr.com/badour/html/w98_restore.html -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
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