If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
I cannot start up my Windows ME computer and am getting "Primary master hard
disk fail" message. I have not had any luck using a startup disk or getting into Safe Mode. Is this possible to correct, or is it "terminal"? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
This message is not an operating system message but rather I suspect from
your system bios and quite possibly terminal. If you know the make of the hard disk you could try downloading their disk checking application and running this, For example the Maxtor utility is called PowerMax and can be run from either a floppy or CD. -- Mike Maltby Anhinga42 wrote: I cannot start up my Windows ME computer and am getting "Primary master hard disk fail" message. I have not had any luck using a startup disk or getting into Safe Mode. Is this possible to correct, or is it "terminal"? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
Mike, although I agree that you are correct in you suspicion of a bios or
other (hard drive?) issue, Anhinga42 also mentioned "I have not had any luck using a startup disk". Perhaps Anhinga would care to elaborate - like what exactly happens when the WinMe Startup (floppy) Disk is run. Error reports, etc.? Or even, what luck she/he *expects* to have by running it! Without a 'working' A: drive, etc., there seems little point in trying to make and run a disk checking application g Mart "Mike M" wrote in message ... This message is not an operating system message but rather I suspect from your system bios and quite possibly terminal. If you know the make of the hard disk you could try downloading their disk checking application and running this, For example the Maxtor utility is called PowerMax and can be run from either a floppy or CD. -- Mike Maltby Anhinga42 wrote: I cannot start up my Windows ME computer and am getting "Primary master hard disk fail" message. I have not had any luck using a startup disk or getting into Safe Mode. Is this possible to correct, or is it "terminal"? |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
Without a 'working' A: drive, etc., there seems little point in
trying to make and run a disk checking application g Mart, Yes I agree and I'm guessing why I included a reference to running for example PowerMax from a CD but then again I suspect that was more down to luck rather than anything else. :-) I'm running at best on one cylinder today and surprised that I posted at all. (Trying to clear my head) I recently bought myself a cheap external usb floppy drive and its been quite useful in such cases although to use at boot time you have to set the bios accordingly such as enabling legacy usb devices and in the case of one machine here specifically include usb floppy in the boot order list. Chers, -- Mike M Mart wrote: Mike, although I agree that you are correct in you suspicion of a bios or other (hard drive?) issue, Anhinga42 also mentioned "I have not had any luck using a startup disk". Perhaps Anhinga would care to elaborate - like what exactly happens when the WinMe Startup (floppy) Disk is run. Error reports, etc.? Or even, what luck she/he *expects* to have by running it! Without a 'working' A: drive, etc., there seems little point in trying to make and run a disk checking application g |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
"Mike M" wrote in
: Without a 'working' A: drive, etc., there seems little point in trying to make and run a disk checking application g Mart, Yes I agree and I'm guessing why I included a reference to running for example PowerMax from a CD but then again I suspect that was more down to luck rather than anything else. :-) I'm running at best on one cylinder today and surprised that I posted at all. (Trying to clear my head) I recently bought myself a cheap external usb floppy drive and its been quite useful in such cases although to use at boot time you have to set the bios accordingly such as enabling legacy usb devices and in the case of one machine here specifically include usb floppy in the boot order list. Chers, CMOS battery dead? BIOS not set to boot from floppy? 2 things I've seen more than once. -- "Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor." Horace (65 - 8 BC); Roman poet. Mike |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Primary master hard disk fail"
Time to reformat and breakout ye old install cd?
Which brings me you knew it would to my question. Anybody remember the syntax to get a full install from an update cd? Just a matter of the right (unpublished?) switche(s) with setup command? Last time I used it was in 2001. I don't think I had to cough up any other CDs and that was convenient. Something a Microsoftie told me back then that should be well known by now. Robert C. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
SCANDISK on 6GB drive producing Errors at 2.09GB to end. | Jerry | Disk Drives | 15 | July 21st 05 07:00 PM |
second 120 GB HD under win98 - anyone has the solution to my problem? | Jan Flodin | Disk Drives | 11 | January 12th 05 03:58 AM |
Hard disk problems | gz | General | 3 | December 27th 04 10:46 AM |
network adapters | Jeff | Hardware | 10 | December 21st 04 06:51 PM |
MBR switch on FDISK | jt3 | General | 30 | June 21st 04 08:56 PM |