In a message dated 3/27/04 5:11:05 AM Pacific Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
This is a new one for me.  I have a KT 133/E/A K7 Chipset with AMD Duron
750Mhz and 512 RAM and 30Gig HD.  I received the box with the HD already wiped
clean.  When I first started it up I entered BIOS to double check settings.
All
appeared ok.  I began installing Win98se.  It said it wasn't eligible for a
quick  format and asked if I wanted an unconditional format.  I said ok.  It
hung on "trying to reclaim cluster" number such and such.  It stayed there
about
45 minutes.  I restarted.  The startup hung at detecting hard drive.  I am now
unable to enter BIOS.  What went wrong and how do I fix it?
Dear Listers,
Thank you all for your awesome suggestions!  So here's the scoop:  fdisk
reported a full 30gig partition, active.  Win98setup only saw about 8MB so it
wouldn't install.  Numerous partition deletions and formats still hung at sector
23,000.  It's a WD30gig Caviar.  Downloaded and ran their lifeguard utility.
It is very fast and reported no bad sectors.  Even ran quick and full
diagnostics with no errors reported.  Had lifeguard do the partitioning and formatting
with complete success.  Win98se install went without a hitch and the full
drive is recognized.  I still don't know why the glitch with fdisk from the Win98
startup disk but the WD lifeguard tools worked well.  Thank you again for your
help, sorry for the delay on getting back to you.

Kevin Nowicki

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