i have never done a low level format that did not work but first check bios
files make sure ok
-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Alan Boyd Ramsay <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, May 09, 1999 12:52 PM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Old 486 won't boot up anymore


>>
>> Hi people,
>>
>> Here is what happens at boot up:
>>
>> You see the computer POST, summary of computer stats.
>>
>> Normally you would see
>>
>> Starting MS-DOS ... <I always see this when I boot with a floppy>
>
>Do you still see this with a bootable floppy?  Does it finish booting from
>the A: drive?
>
>> But I don't see that part. The computer just sits at this point.
>
>That is where it stops when you try to boot from the C: drive, right?
>
>> I believe the hard drive has some bad sectors.
>
>If the drive has some bad sectors, which are properly marked as bad sectors
>so that they are avoided and not used, then the only effect is a slight
>loss of capacity.  Have you tried any of the various hard drive checking
>utilities - especially the one from the manufacturer of your hard drive
>(but there are other generic utilities such as HDCHECK, SPINRITE, ONTRACK,
>MS-DOS's SCANDISK, etc.)?  These will do an exhaustive test of the entire
>drive, and mark any new (previously unmarked) bad sectors.  A few more
>won't hurt, but if you lose dozens and dozens, then perhaps a Low Level
>Format is in order.
>
>Done properly (See recent postings on this subject), it can resurrect a
>dead drive.  Done improperly, it can kill a good one.
>
>> It is very old. Only a 156 meg hard drive!
>
>> I have tried formatting the entire drive.
>
>I hope you had a recent BACKUP, as you have probably lost everything on
>the hard drive.  (You could try UNFORMAT to get it back.)
>
>I gather you booted (successfully) from a bootable floppy with the FORMAT
>and FDISK commands on it, using FDISK to check that the drive is set with
>one active, primary DOS partition and FORMAT C:/s to transfer the OS. (Or
>SYS C:.)  WARNING! If you change anything in FDISK, you could lose all data
>on your drive - on the other hand, if you have nothing to lose, or don't
>care, go ahead.  FDISK/MBR will restore the master boot record, and wipe
>out many viruses - but some, such as CIH/Chernobyl are triggered.
>
>>                                            Reinstalling DOS 6.22 on it.
It
>> always does the same thing!
>>
>> Could this mean there is something wrong with the drive?
>
>Yes, for instance, an unmarked bad sector where the Operating System is
>stored, could cause the system to crash.  So could some viruses.
>
> > If anyone have has suggestions I would love to hear them!
>
>See above, verify that the system operates properly (Run diagnostics, scan
>for viruses from a write-protected floppy, or play a game that tests the
>system when booted from the A: drive (bad memory, a failing CMOS battery -
>check if it keeps time overnight while switched off - or a failing chip,
>among other things, could cause the system to freeze).
>
>> +-/-\|)/-\|^| |_.----------------------------------------+
>> | [log in to unmask]              [log in to unmask]  |
>> | web: http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/park/2835  |
>> +--------------------------------------------------------+
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Boyd Ramsay
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>               PCBUILD mailing list is brought to you by:
>                            The NOSPIN Group
>                            http://nospin.com
>

            PCBUILD maintains many useful files for download
              on our web site - visit our download page at:
                     http://nospin.com/pc/files.html