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Hard Drive Format Number and used HDs
Using a Packard Bell, model PLT XI, 166 MHz, with original
install disks, I attempted to format two used HDs, each was recognized by the BIOS but not by Win95. The diagnostic software on the install disk identified that the used HDs had mapped partitions, none bootable. Does that means that the chip on each used HD is still good? The used HDs are a 3.2 GB Maxtor, model 90320D2 and a 1.5 GB Western Digital Caviar 21600. I attempted to format one of the used HDs, after connecting it as C:, the primary HD. The format software on the install disk required the Hard Drive Format Number before it would start the format. The format software would not accept random entries. After putting the PC back together, I found the Hard Drive Format Number on the PB system credentials. No format has been attempted with the Hard Drive Format Number. Does the Hard Drive Format Number function as a password? The number for the original HD is 556038.SRC, which looks like a file name to me. The prompt did not appear when I formatted the original (and still working) HD with the install disk format software. Is it only good for the original HD? If the used HD needs its own Hard Drive Format Number, how would I determine each number for the two used HDs? |
#2
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"Spooky" wrote in message ... Using a Packard Bell, model PLT XI, 166 MHz, with original install disks, I attempted to format two used HDs, each was recognized by the BIOS but not by Win95. The diagnostic software on the install disk identified that the used HDs had mapped partitions, none bootable. Does that means that the chip on each used HD is still good? The used HDs are a 3.2 GB Maxtor, model 90320D2 and a 1.5 GB Western Digital Caviar 21600. I attempted to format one of the used HDs, after connecting it as C:, the primary HD. The format software on the install disk required the Hard Drive Format Number before it would start the format. The format software would not accept random entries. After putting the PC back together, I found the Hard Drive Format Number on the PB system credentials. No format has been attempted with the Hard Drive Format Number. Does the Hard Drive Format Number function as a password? The number for the original HD is 556038.SRC, which looks like a file name to me. The prompt did not appear when I formatted the original (and still working) HD with the install disk format software. Is it only good for the original HD? If the used HD needs its own Hard Drive Format Number, how would I determine each number for the two used HDs? The Hard Drive format number would be needed if your reinstalling back to Packard Bell date of manufacturer. You would not need to use a format number for a slave drive. A simple boot disk with the Format.com command on it is all that is needed. You can get a bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com I like using the Windows 98 or ME versions since they allow for CD rom support. You would need to have the secondary drive on the controller ribbon as SLAVE and then from the DOS prompt enter the command as if at the boot disk prompt it would look like this" a: you then type: a:format [space][insert the slave drive number here with a colon:] then hit enter A command of "all media on drive ?? [?? should be the slave drive] will be erased, continue Y/N type Y then hit the enter key. After the secondary drive is formatted it will be viewable by the system and usable. I advocate the total non use of any Packard Bell recovery CD or diskettes since doing a fresh install with the OS of your choice is best. And the needed drivers for your sound card and or modem or video can be obtain on the web or off the supplied cd that came with the system. I hope that helped? Elector |
#3
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If the original poster to this thread is still using Windows 95A (I hope not!),
then the partitions set up by FDISK are limited to FAT16 2.1GB in size. To use a Win 98 or ME boot disk with Win 95A, answer NO! when FDISK asks whether or not to enable large disk support... Ben Myers On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 14:18:14 GMT, "Elector" wrote: "Spooky" wrote in message ... Using a Packard Bell, model PLT XI, 166 MHz, with original install disks, I attempted to format two used HDs, each was recognized by the BIOS but not by Win95. The diagnostic software on the install disk identified that the used HDs had mapped partitions, none bootable. Does that means that the chip on each used HD is still good? The used HDs are a 3.2 GB Maxtor, model 90320D2 and a 1.5 GB Western Digital Caviar 21600. I attempted to format one of the used HDs, after connecting it as C:, the primary HD. The format software on the install disk required the Hard Drive Format Number before it would start the format. The format software would not accept random entries. After putting the PC back together, I found the Hard Drive Format Number on the PB system credentials. No format has been attempted with the Hard Drive Format Number. Does the Hard Drive Format Number function as a password? The number for the original HD is 556038.SRC, which looks like a file name to me. The prompt did not appear when I formatted the original (and still working) HD with the install disk format software. Is it only good for the original HD? If the used HD needs its own Hard Drive Format Number, how would I determine each number for the two used HDs? The Hard Drive format number would be needed if your reinstalling back to Packard Bell date of manufacturer. You would not need to use a format number for a slave drive. A simple boot disk with the Format.com command on it is all that is needed. You can get a bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com I like using the Windows 98 or ME versions since they allow for CD rom support. You would need to have the secondary drive on the controller ribbon as SLAVE and then from the DOS prompt enter the command as if at the boot disk prompt it would look like this" a: you then type: a:format [space][insert the slave drive number here with a colon:] then hit enter A command of "all media on drive ?? [?? should be the slave drive] will be erased, continue Y/N type Y then hit the enter key. After the secondary drive is formatted it will be viewable by the system and usable. I advocate the total non use of any Packard Bell recovery CD or diskettes since doing a fresh install with the OS of your choice is best. And the needed drivers for your sound card and or modem or video can be obtain on the web or off the supplied cd that came with the system. I hope that helped? Elector |
#4
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ben_myers_spam_me_not @ charter.net (Ben Myers) wrote in message ... If the original poster to this thread is still using Windows 95A (I hope not!), then the partitions set up by FDISK are limited to FAT16 2.1GB in size. To use a Win 98 or ME boot disk with Win 95A, answer NO! when FDISK asks whether or not to enable large disk support... Ben Myers True, I am glad you caught that. In this day of the Windows XP and 2000 I don't even think of 95 anything ha ha Elector |
#5
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Elector wrote:
"Spooky" wrote in message ... Using a Packard Bell, model PLT XI, 166 MHz, with original install disks, I attempted to format two used HDs, each was recognized by the BIOS but not by Win95. The diagnostic software on the install disk identified that the used HDs had mapped partitions, none bootable. Does that means that the chip on each used HD is still good? The used HDs are a 3.2 GB Maxtor, model 90320D2 and a 1.5 GB Western Digital Caviar 21600. I attempted to format one of the used HDs, after connecting it as C:, the primary HD. The format software on the install disk required the Hard Drive Format Number before it would start the format. The format software would not accept random entries. After putting the PC back together, I found the Hard Drive Format Number on the PB system credentials. No format has been attempted with the Hard Drive Format Number. Does the Hard Drive Format Number function as a password? The number for the original HD is 556038.SRC, which looks like a file name to me. The prompt did not appear when I formatted the original (and still working) HD with the install disk format software. Is it only good for the original HD? If the used HD needs its own Hard Drive Format Number, how would I determine each number for the two used HDs? The Hard Drive format number would be needed if your reinstalling back to Packard Bell date of manufacturer. You would not need to use a format number for a slave drive. A simple boot disk with the Format.com command on it is all that is needed. You can get a bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com I like using the Windows 98 or ME versions since they allow for CD rom support. You would need to have the secondary drive on the controller ribbon as SLAVE and then from the DOS prompt enter the command as if at the boot disk prompt it would look like this" a: you then type: a:format [space][insert the slave drive number here with a colon:] then hit enter A command of "all media on drive ?? [?? should be the slave drive] will be erased, continue Y/N type Y then hit the enter key. After the secondary drive is formatted it will be viewable by the system and usable. I advocate the total non use of any Packard Bell recovery CD or diskettes since doing a fresh install with the OS of your choice is best. And the needed drivers for your sound card and or modem or video can be obtain on the web or off the supplied cd that came with the system. I hope that helped? Elector Thanks, bootdisk.com had everything that was needed to make one of the used HDs a secondary drive. |
#6
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Thanks for warning me about enabling large disk support.
Ben Myers wrote: If the original poster to this thread is still using Windows 95A (I hope not!), then the partitions set up by FDISK are limited to FAT16 2.1GB in size. To use a Win 98 or ME boot disk with Win 95A, answer NO! when FDISK asks whether or not to enable large disk support... Ben Myers On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 14:18:14 GMT, "Elector" wrote: "Spooky" wrote in message ... Using a Packard Bell, model PLT XI, 166 MHz, with original install disks, I attempted to format two used HDs, each was recognized by the BIOS but not by Win95. The diagnostic software on the install disk identified that the used HDs had mapped partitions, none bootable. Does that means that the chip on each used HD is still good? The used HDs are a 3.2 GB Maxtor, model 90320D2 and a 1.5 GB Western Digital Caviar 21600. I attempted to format one of the used HDs, after connecting it as C:, the primary HD. The format software on the install disk required the Hard Drive Format Number before it would start the format. The format software would not accept random entries. After putting the PC back together, I found the Hard Drive Format Number on the PB system credentials. No format has been attempted with the Hard Drive Format Number. Does the Hard Drive Format Number function as a password? The number for the original HD is 556038.SRC, which looks like a file name to me. The prompt did not appear when I formatted the original (and still working) HD with the install disk format software. Is it only good for the original HD? If the used HD needs its own Hard Drive Format Number, how would I determine each number for the two used HDs? The Hard Drive format number would be needed if your reinstalling back to Packard Bell date of manufacturer. You would not need to use a format number for a slave drive. A simple boot disk with the Format.com command on it is all that is needed. You can get a bootdisk from http://www.bootdisk.com I like using the Windows 98 or ME versions since they allow for CD rom support. You would need to have the secondary drive on the controller ribbon as SLAVE and then from the DOS prompt enter the command as if at the boot disk prompt it would look like this" a: you then type: a:format [space][insert the slave drive number here with a colon:] then hit enter A command of "all media on drive ?? [?? should be the slave drive] will be erased, continue Y/N type Y then hit the enter key. After the secondary drive is formatted it will be viewable by the system and usable. I advocate the total non use of any Packard Bell recovery CD or diskettes since doing a fresh install with the OS of your choice is best. And the needed drivers for your sound card and or modem or video can be obtain on the web or off the supplied cd that came with the system. I hope that helped? Elector |
#7
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"Spooky" wrote in message ... Thanks, bootdisk.com had everything that was needed to make one of the used HDs a secondary drive. Your welcome... Elector |
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