Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 34252 2003-06-08 06:17:00 HDD failure ? Maybe not! Curly (487) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
150869 2003-06-08 11:43:00 It is not actually recommended to low-level format a HD as that is done at the factory with newer HD and it can totally destroy a HD. mikebartnz (21)
150870 2003-06-08 12:00:00 > It is not actually recommended to low-level format a
> HD as that is done at the factory with newer HD and
> it can totally destroy a HD.

Agreed, and I don't think any downloaded utility will perform a low level format anyway.
That software is only held by master service agents, as it also software maps out bad sectors on the drive to make it appear there are none. If this information was lost the drive would be very flakey.

The drive makers utilities are usually safe enough to avoid totally wrecking a drive.
godfather (25)
150871 2003-06-08 12:00:00 Woops

Used a Win98SE boot disk which had Format on it.

Sort of worked a treat, deleted prim DOS partition and created a new one. Popup said shut down and format drive after (words to that effect). There is more, these are just the highlights.

On the very first boot attempt, at the end of the process, the message "File missing a:/IFSHLP.SYS" was displayed.

Now when I boot we get to the line 'Verfying DMI Pool Data" and thats it.

Tried to get to safe mode but cannot get past the Pool Data statement.

Perhaps it's time to try the low level format that was suggested.
Curly (487)
150872 2003-06-08 12:22:00 After a normal format (which is what you did by the sound of it, and thats OK) you need to do a full restoration of the operating system, which will probably be why its not working as no system files are loaded? godfather (25)
150873 2003-06-08 12:30:00 Actually, I've come across this issue before, and it was a dead/dying drive which caused the errors in my case...

Lo.
Lohsing (219)
150874 2003-06-08 13:00:00 The problem I had was that I just could not get to any drive letter ie a, c or D, that is until I stuck in a floppy which contained Norton Ghost, this generated the prompt "Invalid disk replace and hit any key".

Pulled Ghost out and in with MS Win98 Boot floppy, this gave me access to all drives. :-) I have no idea why any drive letter was not displayed without having to put a floppy with no operating system in the drive.

Presently formatting the HDD and expect to have Win98 reloaded by around 1AM :-(

Hope I am not being premature, but thanks to all who offered help, it really is appreciated. If it had all failed, in this case, it would not have been a big deal. Still do not know why the problem occurred in the first place - maybe as someone suggested - the disk is on the way out

The learning curve continues.......
Curly (487)
150875 2003-06-08 14:48:00 I have this kinda stuff similar happened to my a few years ago before, I think you have a faulty drive there. As for me I took it back to the shop and got it replaced with a new one. Blue_face (1148)
150876 2003-06-08 14:51:00 damn. I didnt c curly's last post.... so please ignore what i posted before. Blue_face (1148)
1 2