Thank you to all the wonderful people who helped me try every conceivable
method of fixing this computer.  I took it took a tech at Tiger Direct
today, he told me he could get at the files, and I paid him to do it.  The
client bought a new computer and monitor today, and I am getting the spare
parts for my own use, as well as the hard drive which will be reformatted
after the info is scraped from in.
So once again, this is the best forum there is, and thanks to all of you for
your help and patience.
Sincerely, Dianne
----- Original Message -----
From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:47 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk


> Dianne
> Make sure the bios is set up to read on the floppy disk. Remove the ram
> from
> the mb ( it should have 32mb resident) and start the computer. Does the
> computer read the bios setup? If it does, re-install the memory sticks one
> ( or two if needed) at a time and check the bios. If it does not do the
> same
> as without them,  you have bad memory stick. If it is ok, connect only the
> floppy drive and see if your system recognizes it. If it does, put a boot
> disk in and see if it reads it. Let me know.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 1:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>
>
>> Hmmm,
>> I am getting very frustrated, and don't quite know what to do next.  I
>> removed all the connectors, the cd, hard drive and floppy and dvd.  The
>> computer gave me the message that I should "insert the boot diskette into
>> a:"  So I reconnected the a: drive, and put the boot disk in, back to
>> same
>> old Invalid system disk message.  So I got another a drive from another
>> computer and got the same message.  The lights were on on both the a:
>> drives, by the way.
>> I cant get into safe mode because the computer will not take me to an A:
>> prompt.
>> I then disconnected the HD and connected it into an old computer.
>> Nothing
>> happens, not even an error message.  BUT.....I am not sure about the
> mother
>> board in the machine I tested it in.  The HD is a Samsung SpinPoint
> SV0484H.
>> I am afraid of trying the hard drive in my own computer, as I don't want
> to
>> mess around with it, it has all my work in it.  Any suggestions.  Would I
> be
>> better to take it in and have it diagnosed somewhere?
>> Dianne
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 10:54 AM
>> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>>
>>
>> > Remove all of the connectors to the cd, hard drive and floppy as well
>> > as
>
>> > any
>> > other assessory. Now start the computer and see if it goes thru the
>> > bios
>> > settings. If it doesn't, remove the memory and try again. If it still
> does
>> > not, the trouble is with the cpu or mb.
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
>> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 8:05 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >> I took a floppy drive that I know works, got the same error when
>> > connected.
>> >> When disconnected hard drive, still got same message.
>> >> Dianne
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "zucman0" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:45 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > Have you tried a new floppy disc drive...If it doesn't read you will
>> >> > get
>> >> > that error. The bios will not tell you if the mechanism is bad but
> only
>> > if
>> >> > can do the circuitry. Take of the hard drive cable, set the bios to
> see
>> >> > the
>> >> > A drive and see if you computer will start and read the boot disk.
>> >> > If
>> >> > it
>> >> > does, then the floppy drive is ok, if not you found the problem.
>> >> > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > From: "Dianne" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:58 AM
>> >> > Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hi Hugh, PHogan, Scott and John,
>> >> >> You guys are great. OK. Let me tell you what I have tried.
>> >> >> 1. I checked all the cables and made sure there were good
> connections
>> >> >> (floppy, cd, and hd).  All seemed ok there.  I went to the BIOS and
>> > under
>> >> >> IDE CONFIGURATION:  it said:  IDE Controller-Both,  Hard Disk
>> >> >> Pre-Delay-Disabled, Primary IDE Master:Samsung SV4084H, Primary IDE
>> >> >> Slave:
>> >> >> Samsung CD-R/RW Drive, Secondary IDE Master: SS06-Samsung DVD
>> >> >> Under
>> >> >> POWER
>> >> >> it said Hard Drive Enabled.  So I am assuming that all this means
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> is
>> >> >> recognizing the Hard Drive.  I attempted to boot some other disk (a
>> >> > windows
>> >> >> 98 boot disk), no go, as well as re-tried the Windows Me Boot disk,
> no
>> >> >> go.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I am going to hate to tell these folks that they have lost
> everything
>> > on
>> >> > the
>> >> >> HD, is that what you think it is?  I have a recovery CD-Rom as
>> >> >> well,
> I
>> >> > just
>> >> >> cant get it to recognize it, I changed the BIOS to read the CD
> first,
>> > but
>> >> > no
>> >> >> go there either.  Yes, I changed them back.
>> >> >> Thanks for all the help, if you can think of anything else I can
> try,
>> > let
>> >> > me
>> >> >> know.
>> >> >> Dianne
>> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> >> From: "Hugh Vandervoort" <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 3:51 AM
>> >> >> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] WIN Me invalid system disk
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > In the scenario you describe I would suspect that the Hard drive
> has
>> >> >> > lost its boot files, or possibly died. The HD is the "System
>> >> >> > Disk"
>> >> >> > referred to as "invalid". Check the HD and floppy ribbon cable
>> >> >> > connections.
>> >> >> > Verify that you have a good boot floppy by trying it in another
>> >> >> > machine.
>> >> >> > Try a boot CD such as an XP install disk, or get The Ultimate
>> >> >> > Boot
>> >> >> > CD
>> >> >> > from:  http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
>> >> >> > Are the floppy and HD recognized in the BIOS?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Dianne Erdos-Rush wrote:
>> >> >> >> Hello,
>> >> >> >> I am repairing a computer with Windows Me as an OS.  When it
> boots
>> > it
>> >> >> >> gives an "Invalid System Disk. Replace the disk and then press
> any
>> >> > key."
>> >> >> >> There is no floppy or any other disk in any drive.  The boot
>> >> >> >> will
>> >> > proceed
>> >> >> >> no further.  I attempted using an Me Boot Disk, but no good.  I
>> >> >> >> went
>> >> > into
>> >> >> >> the BIOS and made sure the boot order was correct (Floppy, CD,
> HD),
>> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> on another try I reset the BIOS to default.  No Go.  Any one
>> >> >> >> have
>> > any
>> >> >> >> ideas? Let me know.  Thanks.  Dont know whether this is a
> software
>> > or
>> >> >> >> hardware issue.
>> >> >> >> Dianne
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>          PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
>> >> >> >>                      visit our download web page at:
>> >> >> >>                   http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >> >                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> >                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >>                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >>                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> >> >> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/89 - Release Date:
>> > 9/2/2005
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >> >                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >> >                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>
>> >>                          PCBUILD's List Owners:
>> >>                       Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>                        Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> >> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.19/92 - Release Date:
> 9/7/2005
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >                  Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
>> >               articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
>> >                          http://freepctech.com
>> >
>>
>>                   Visit our website regularly for FAQs,
>>                articles, how-to's, tech tips and much more
>>                           http://freepctech.com
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.19/92 - Release Date: 9/7/2005
>>
>
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