A Windows 98 & ME forum. Win98banter

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.

Go Back   Home » Win98banter forum » Windows ME » Setup & Installation
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

"Primary master hard disk fail"



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old December 3rd 05, 05:35 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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  
Old December 3rd 05, 06:31 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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  
Old December 3rd 05, 07:31 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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  
Old December 3rd 05, 08:04 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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  
Old December 3rd 05, 09:43 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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  
Old December 13th 05, 04:22 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsme.setup
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default "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

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

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 04:58 AM
Hard disk problems gz General 3 December 27th 04 11:46 AM
network adapters Jeff Hardware 10 December 21st 04 07:51 PM
MBR switch on FDISK jt3 General 30 June 21st 04 08:56 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 Win98banter.
The comments are property of their posters.