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| Thread ID: 88011 | 2008-03-12 03:53:00 | Need boot floppy with disk repair tool | Billy T (70) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 648768 | 2008-03-12 03:53:00 | Hi Team I am trying to get my old Compaq Contura Aero 4/33C mini laptop (yep, that's a 33MHz 486) going again after several years stuffed away in a cupboard. It originally failed to boot one day and was getting old anyway so I replaced it with a Toshiba Libretto that is still in use. I was going to toss it, then I thought I'd see what could be done to recover it (just for fun) since I figured it was probably only a bit of disk corruption stopping booting, or so I fondly hoped. Anyway, I got out the old Dos 6.22/ Windows 3.11 floppy disks and it got a fair way into loading Dos then stopped at what I presume is a crook sector on the disk. Since then I've been looking for a download for a combined boot disk and disk repair tool but can't seem to find one, those I have downloaded don't boot, but the computer boots OK off a Dos disk, so can anybody point me at a reliable source for what I need? Cheers Billy 8-{) :thanks |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 648769 | 2008-03-12 04:03:00 | Do you know what the brand/model of the hdd is on this laptop?? You could try one of the zipped boot files from Bootdisk (http://www.bootdisk.com) Just copy it to a floppy. If you can find out what the brand/model of the hdd is in it, just copy the dos util for it to the floppy, and boot from it. Or get an adapter for the hdd and connect it to a desktop, then test it. I was going to say use a USB flash drive, but it probably wouldnt know what that is. Do you mean a crook sector on the floppy or the hdd? Or if its got a cd this (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 648770 | 2008-03-12 04:49:00 | Do you know what the brand/model of the hdd is on this laptop?? No, all I know is that it's 250MB/2.5 x .5 inch form factor/Type 65. I can't get it open without breaking it apart at present, I'll try harder later if I have to. You could try one of the zipped boot files from Bootdisk (http://www.bootdisk.com)Just copy it to a floppy. I'll give that a try. Do you mean a crook sector on the floppy or the hdd? On the HDD Or if its got a cd this (http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) It has a PCMCIA floppy only, and boots from that OK. I have a PCMCIA CD I could try, but I'm assuming it won't recognise a CD, correct me if I'm wrong please. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 648771 | 2008-03-12 06:52:00 | Well, things have progressed........from bad to worse. After removing all screws and failing to get the wretched thing apart, I refitted the screws and now we have progressed to a "1782 Disk Controller Failure" message It won't boot off the floppy drive any more either. All it does is make very loud and heavy grunting noises from the HDD. The word "bugger" comes to mind, and I'm wondering (hoping more like) if perhaps there are some loose bits inside. So, allowing I resolve the basic boot problem, and it decides to recognise my PC card CDROM, how do I burn an ISO to CD?? I do all my burning through Easy CD Creator and I fancy that's not going to cut it. Cheers Billy 8-{) Just realised, I haven't looked into the bios yet so I'll take a peek there. All I know at present is that it does the RAM check OK. |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 648772 | 2008-03-12 07:17:00 | WHAT version of Windows was on it? I managed to find everything for it (h20000.www2.hp.com) Well for 95 that is. That error maybe similar to this (support.microsoft.com) Something to do with the revision of the BIOS Looks like this (http://www.imgburn.com/) which is in Wainuitech's sig, does ISO. This may do it too (http://www.cdburnerxp.se) Both are free. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 648773 | 2008-03-12 07:40:00 | Ahh....That's the catch, remember I mentioned Dos 6.22/WFWG3.11? That's what was on it, she's pretty old but had very little use. I used it primarily for downloading instrument data when working on sites and it wouldn't have done more than 100 hours work since I got it and it's been retired for about 7-8 years. I bought it second-hand when it was about 2 years old though, so it probably did some prior work but it is in mint condition, including the carry case. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 648774 | 2008-03-12 07:43:00 | Would the fact that the HDD was probably in FAT16 format be an issue too??? | B.M. (505) | ||
| 648775 | 2008-03-12 08:04:00 | Would the fact that the HDD was probably in FAT16 format be an issue too??? I'm no expert but I can't see why, nothing has changed as such, and I'm not trying to do anything incompatible with FAT16 or FAT32 . The 1782 message has gone away, and now I'm being told there's no HDD at all, it was making some pretty heavy grunting noises I can tell you! Before I waste any more time (even though this is just for fun and I shan't be using it even if it does work) I'll try again to get it apart because it may well be that the HDD plug is loose . My biggest concern as such is that by trying to load DOS 6 . 22 I've partially overwritten the Compaq setup, utilities and diagnostics so that may make things difficult for me later . If I get it apart I'll report back sometime tomorrow . Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 648776 | 2008-03-12 08:07:00 | Hmm there's a bit about this here (www.faqs.org) According to this (if its right), that hdd maybe a Quantum Prodrive. Is it 50 pin? Does your desktop have a floppy?? You could try the diag software for it here (h20000.www2.hp.com) |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 648777 | 2008-03-12 08:28:00 | If u had a dead Ipod, you could probably connect its hdd to this laptop, if its got the same amount of pins . Or connect the laptop's hdd to the Ipod . See whats going on with it . |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
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