formatting hard drive

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, attilathehun1

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
attilathehun1


Your problem is not due to the quick format...
the real question is: How, exactly is your *main* drive setup?

Though Windows can be installed on your slave drive,
the files needed to boot Windows will not be installed there...
they can only be installed to an active primary partition...
and that partition must be formatted as fat32 (or fat16).

Once you post back with the information concerning your main drive...
it should be fairly straight-forward to fully ascertain the situation.


As to the question of full format vs quick format:

The full format tests the drive as it is performing the operation
of assigning your drive as "free space". If the drive has any bad sectors on
it,
they will be mapped out. Other than that, the quick format "erases" your
drive
just as completely as the full format.

Ok, I took the drive. Western Digital 20 GB, out that had Window ME OS
running on it and stuck it into the PC as a slave that had Windows 98 SE
operating system on it. The Windows 98 SE PC has a 10 GB Seagate hard drive.
This is usually how I format my drives. Stick them into a PC as a slave and
then format. I presume that's is how it's done. If there is an easier way to
format a drive that is a master or single drive, then please tell me. A drive
that has the primary operating system or only operating system on it can't be
formatted, right?
Ok, so now I did the quick format (erase) and stuck the Western Digital
back into the PC that has 320 MB of RAM and a Pentium III. When I tried to
reinstall the Windows ME OS into the Western Digital it gets to the point
where it says:
Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Copying files needed for Windows Setup...
Please remove any floppy disks from your drives and press any key to
restart your system.
Then it just keeps blinking. I mean the symbol hyphen keeps on quickly
blinking. That's as far as I get.
I'm using a burnt Window ME OS disk. It's not from the Manufacturer. I've
used this copy about 25 times. I don't think that's the problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Attilathehun1


--
attilathehun1


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

--
attilathehun1


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Oh, that's probably the problem. I didn't partition the drive, I just
formatted it. Ok, I'll give that a shot.
I think I partition the drive during the Setup process, right?
I not even getting to that point. Let me check again, hold on. Nope, it's
still where it says to remove any floppy disks..etc
I know a new drive is partitioned while your loading up the OS.
If I'm wrong about the partition process, please tell me.
Thanks, attilathehun1
--
attilathehun1


"philo" wrote:


"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase the
whole disk and have it completely clean.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
attilathehun1


Your problem is not due to the quick format...
the real question is: How, exactly is your *main* drive setup?

Though Windows can be installed on your slave drive,
the files needed to boot Windows will not be installed there...
they can only be installed to an active primary partition...
and that partition must be formatted as fat32 (or fat16).

Once you post back with the information concerning your main drive...
it should be fairly straight-forward to fully ascertain the situation.


As to the question of full format vs quick format:

The full format tests the drive as it is performing the operation
of assigning your drive as "free space". If the drive has any bad sectors on
it,
they will be mapped out. Other than that, the quick format "erases" your
drive
just as completely as the full format.

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
Oh, that's probably the problem. I didn't partition the drive, I just
formatted it. Ok, I'll give that a shot.
I think I partition the drive during the Setup process, right?
I not even getting to that point. Let me check again, hold on. Nope, it's
still where it says to remove any floppy disks..etc
I know a new drive is partitioned while your loading up the OS.
If I'm wrong about the partition process, please tell me.
Thanks,
attilathehun1



No!

It is *impossible* to format a drive unless it has been partitioned first.
Since you have not answered the question that I asked you, there is no way I
can help you
nor is it likely anyone can guess how you have setup your primary harddrive.

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
Ok, I took the drive. Western Digital 20 GB, out that had Window ME OS
running on it and stuck it into the PC as a slave that had Windows 98 SE
operating system on it. The Windows 98 SE PC has a 10 GB Seagate hard
drive.
This is usually how I format my drives. Stick them into a PC as a slave
and
then format. I presume that's is how it's done. If there is an easier way
to
format a drive that is a master or single drive, then please tell me. A
drive
that has the primary operating system or only operating system on it can't
be
formatted, right?
Ok, so now I did the quick format (erase) and stuck the Western Digital
back into the PC that has 320 MB of RAM and a Pentium III. When I tried to
reinstall the Windows ME OS into the Western Digital it gets to the point
where it says:
Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Copying files needed for Windows Setup...
Please remove any floppy disks from your drives and press any key to
restart your system.

And did you press any key? And if that doesn't do anything, did you try
restarting manually after removing all discs, CD and floppy (and bootable
USB stick, whatever...)? And if that didn't work, did you try running SETUP
again?

Maybe you should start over: Actually, the easy way to format a drive is to
use a floppy Windows boot disk. If you don't have one, go to bootdisk.com,
download the WINME version http://vcic.com/vault/bootme.exe and make sure
you have a handful of floppies to try, since floppies are getting older and
older and less trustworthy.

You should make such a disk, boot to it on the machine that has the
"problem" drive in it. I presume you have re-jumpered the drive and it is
now Primary Master. RIGHT? When you get to the question, choose "without
CDROM support." When it gets to the A:\ prompt, run the following command:
FORMAT C:

Since there was a problem, do a full format. (Otherwise you'd use the
following command for "quick" format:
FORMAT C: /q

Yes, you can format a drive with an OS on it. Formatting wipes EVERYTHING
and leaves you with a blank, usable disk.

When the formatting is done, remove the floppy, insert the WinME CD, and use
Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart the system. The WinME disc should crank up and you
can go from there.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com



Then it just keeps blinking. I mean the symbol hyphen keeps on quickly
blinking. That's as far as I get.
I'm using a burnt Window ME OS disk. It's not from the Manufacturer. I've
used this copy about 25 times. I don't think that's the problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Attilathehun1


--
attilathehun1


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"attilathehun1" wrote in
message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase), instead
of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system
disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the
operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your
computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does
a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase
the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

I see what you were getting at -- no, an OS can't format its own partition.
But using a floppy-based OS like that on a Windows Startup floppy (or a CD
version) is MUCH easier than moving the drive to another machine and back.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
Ok, I took the drive. Western Digital 20 GB, out that had Window ME OS
running on it and stuck it into the PC as a slave that had Windows 98 SE
operating system on it. The Windows 98 SE PC has a 10 GB Seagate hard
drive.
This is usually how I format my drives. Stick them into a PC as a slave
and
then format. I presume that's is how it's done. If there is an easier way
to
format a drive that is a master or single drive, then please tell me. A
drive
that has the primary operating system or only operating system on it
can't be
formatted, right?
Ok, so now I did the quick format (erase) and stuck the Western Digital
back into the PC that has 320 MB of RAM and a Pentium III. When I tried
to
reinstall the Windows ME OS into the Western Digital it gets to the point
where it says:
Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Copying files needed for Windows Setup...
Please remove any floppy disks from your drives and press any key to
restart your system.

And did you press any key? And if that doesn't do anything, did you try
restarting manually after removing all discs, CD and floppy (and bootable
USB stick, whatever...)? And if that didn't work, did you try running
SETUP again?

Maybe you should start over: Actually, the easy way to format a drive is
to use a floppy Windows boot disk. If you don't have one, go to
bootdisk.com, download the WINME version http://vcic.com/vault/bootme.exe
and make sure you have a handful of floppies to try, since floppies are
getting older and older and less trustworthy.

You should make such a disk, boot to it on the machine that has the
"problem" drive in it. I presume you have re-jumpered the drive and it is
now Primary Master. RIGHT? When you get to the question, choose "without
CDROM support." When it gets to the A:\ prompt, run the following
command:
FORMAT C:

Since there was a problem, do a full format. (Otherwise you'd use the
following command for "quick" format:
FORMAT C: /q

Yes, you can format a drive with an OS on it. Formatting wipes EVERYTHING
and leaves you with a blank, usable disk.

When the formatting is done, remove the floppy, insert the WinME CD, and
use
Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart the system. The WinME disc should crank up and you
can go from there.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com



Then it just keeps blinking. I mean the symbol hyphen keeps on quickly
blinking. That's as far as I get.
I'm using a burnt Window ME OS disk. It's not from the Manufacturer. I've
used this copy about 25 times. I don't think that's the problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Attilathehun1


--
attilathehun1


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"attilathehun1" wrote in
message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase),
instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system
disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot
from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the
operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu
make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your
computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does
a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase
the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

I tried doing maybe 5 times over. I removed any floppies or CDs from the PC.
I think your right with having to partition the drive ahead of time. I
presume I can partition the drive after formatting as a slave? Anotherwords,
after I format the drive as a slave, I can then start the partition process?
Any response will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, attilathehun1
--
attilathehun1


"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

I see what you were getting at -- no, an OS can't format its own partition.
But using a floppy-based OS like that on a Windows Startup floppy (or a CD
version) is MUCH easier than moving the drive to another machine and back.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Gary S. Terhune" none wrote in message
...

"attilathehun1" wrote in message
...
Ok, I took the drive. Western Digital 20 GB, out that had Window ME OS
running on it and stuck it into the PC as a slave that had Windows 98 SE
operating system on it. The Windows 98 SE PC has a 10 GB Seagate hard
drive.
This is usually how I format my drives. Stick them into a PC as a slave
and
then format. I presume that's is how it's done. If there is an easier way
to
format a drive that is a master or single drive, then please tell me. A
drive
that has the primary operating system or only operating system on it
can't be
formatted, right?
Ok, so now I did the quick format (erase) and stuck the Western Digital
back into the PC that has 320 MB of RAM and a Pentium III. When I tried
to
reinstall the Windows ME OS into the Western Digital it gets to the point
where it says:
Please wait while Setup initializes.
Scanning system registry...
Copying files needed for Windows Setup...
Please remove any floppy disks from your drives and press any key to
restart your system.

And did you press any key? And if that doesn't do anything, did you try
restarting manually after removing all discs, CD and floppy (and bootable
USB stick, whatever...)? And if that didn't work, did you try running
SETUP again?

Maybe you should start over: Actually, the easy way to format a drive is
to use a floppy Windows boot disk. If you don't have one, go to
bootdisk.com, download the WINME version http://vcic.com/vault/bootme.exe
and make sure you have a handful of floppies to try, since floppies are
getting older and older and less trustworthy.

You should make such a disk, boot to it on the machine that has the
"problem" drive in it. I presume you have re-jumpered the drive and it is
now Primary Master. RIGHT? When you get to the question, choose "without
CDROM support." When it gets to the A:\ prompt, run the following
command:
FORMAT C:

Since there was a problem, do a full format. (Otherwise you'd use the
following command for "quick" format:
FORMAT C: /q

Yes, you can format a drive with an OS on it. Formatting wipes EVERYTHING
and leaves you with a blank, usable disk.

When the formatting is done, remove the floppy, insert the WinME CD, and
use
Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart the system. The WinME disc should crank up and you
can go from there.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com



Then it just keeps blinking. I mean the symbol hyphen keeps on quickly
blinking. That's as far as I get.
I'm using a burnt Window ME OS disk. It's not from the Manufacturer. I've
used this copy about 25 times. I don't think that's the problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Attilathehun1


--
attilathehun1


"Don Phillipson" wrote:

"attilathehun1" wrote in
message
...

I formatted my slave hard drive and did a quick format (erase),
instead of
a
complete format. I wanted to put another operating system on the hard
drive
and now I'm having problems loading it up. It says: Invalid system
disk,
replace the disk and press any key. I tried to get into BIOS but this
message
comes up. When I put Windows ME OS disk into it then it says: Boot
from
CD-ROM or boot from hard drive. When I chose CD-ROM and ran the
operating
system it got to the point where it says something to this natu
make
sure
to remove any floppy diskette and press any key to restart your
computer.
That's as far as I get. Maybe I should've done a complete format? Does
a
quick format leave the operating system on the disk? I want to erase
the
whole disk and have it completely clean.

Better repost with fulll details. It looks as if you want to instal
a second operating system: if so you need a boot manager
(as found in most Linux distros and WinXP but not in Win98:
I do not know about WinME.)
1. What hard drives are installed, with what OS, and what
do you want to instal?
2. BIOS menus are usually reached by interrupting reboot
process with the DEL key. How did you attempt (and fail) to reach
BIOS menus?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)