Still Having MBR Problems...

matt719 · Post by **matt719** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 4:59 pm

I used FDISK /MBR and it cleared it..... i reinstalled windows and i got the same error. Something along the lines of "Operating System Cannot Be Found." Any ideas?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:18 pm

You had no trouble installing Windows? The installer saw the hard drive and copied the files, etc?

How far did the installer get?

Or did the installer fail to run (in which case you don't have the CD configured to be the primary boot device).

To check the drive and make sure it will properly boot, try booting with a 98 EMergency floppy, FDISK the drive, format it using the /S option to make it bootable ( FORMAT C: /s ). The drive should boot to the DOS prompt after that. If it doesn't, something is fishy.

Have you tried downloading the drive manufacturer's HDD utility? Run the quick diagnostic and see if it finds any problems. If not, then run the extended diagnostic (may take several hours). If it detects a problem it may be able to fix it.

As a final recourse you can try performing a low level format (should be an option for it i nthe drive diagnostic utility) and then run the extended diagnostic again to be sure it's okay.

Hopw this helps...

Jim Z · Post by **Jim Z** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 5:43 pm

Also check your BIOS settings and make sure that the hard drive is listed in the boot order. I've run into that one before...

matt719 · Post by **matt719** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:01 pm

I'm positive the drive is working... It is the exact drive i have in the computer i'm on now. IBM 40GB 7200rpm. It gets through all of the copying of the windows install.... and then when it reboots to run off the hard drive, it gives that error. The biggest problem is, the onboard FDD controller on this board seems to be shot, so i have to put this drive in another computer to do anything and it is just a huge pain in the ass.

EDIT: Not that it matters, but it is actually a 46GB drive.