Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

Arghhhhhhhh!

Yup my 'tattoo' has been wiped and I don't have a master CD.

Obviously the low level format had totally blanked the disk but I can't
fDisk it coz the BIOS is locking the disk until it gets properly
tattooed. I hate vendor lock in! Grrrrr!

Do any of you out there have the following files from your Master CD I
could download? [For those of you who have had to re-tattoo before
you'll know the ones I mean]

tattoo.exe
shellhs.dll

You'd really help coz I told my girlfriend, "Yeah, I'll make your ill
notebook better".
Instead it's as dead as a Do-Do.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

I am a little confused
A low level format?

I only do such a thing if it can at all possible fix a bad sector or block.
and this is often hopeless in itself 99% of the time.

A bad low level format will often totally screw the HD
if done incorrectly.


Are you sure it was not normal format.

Maybe I am from Planet X but the bios to the best of my knowledge
should not stop a fdisk .
Having the parameters set incorrectly could cause some inconsistancies
but it should not stop it.

Tattoo to the best of my knowledge is in the master boot sector and just
tells the
Master Cd that it is a PB system and it is ok to continue with restore.


If you are truly having a problem with Fdisk and you did a low level format
perhaps you have done something wrong.



This site
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offi [...] bellusers/
thanks to Elector tells how to do a tattoo
but it requires the Master CD.



You do not have it so an alternative is to use a Windows Cd of the proper
vintage and
do an install assuming the Hd is OK


I would download if possible a copy of partition magic and
check out the HD and see what is going on


Perhaps Ben or elector have some more insight on the whole matter







<bryanross@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:1127847509.409523.80020@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Arghhhhhhhh!
>
> Yup my 'tattoo' has been wiped and I don't have a master CD.
>
> Obviously the low level format had totally blanked the disk but I can't
> fDisk it coz the BIOS is locking the disk until it gets properly
> tattooed. I hate vendor lock in! Grrrrr!
>
> Do any of you out there have the following files from your Master CD I
> could download? [For those of you who have had to re-tattoo before
> you'll know the ones I mean]
>
> tattoo.exe
> shellhs.dll
>
> You'd really help coz I told my girlfriend, "Yeah, I'll make your ill
> notebook better".
> Instead it's as dead as a Do-Do.
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

Thanks for your advice Metronid.

The disk is fine, tested elsewhere and the BIOS is seeing it.

The tattooing process writes the tattoo string right at the start of
the disk (track 0). Nothing should disrupt it. It's not part of the MBR
or PT it just sits there quietly.

I didn't know that Packard Bell used tattooing until I hit the forums
and I think this 'Vendor Lock-in' is awful

The low level format was a last ditched effort because I thought the
disk was knackered - it wouldn't allow MBR writing to the disk.

If anyone has the files above so I can give this 'tattooing' lark a
bash I would be most grateful.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

"metronid" <metronid@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:GcadnX0E_JjaHafeRVn-pA@comcast.com...
>I am a little confused
> A low level format?
>
> I only do such a thing if it can at all possible fix a bad sector or
> block.
> and this is often hopeless in itself 99% of the time.
>
> A bad low level format will often totally screw the HD
> if done incorrectly.
>
>
> Are you sure it was not normal format.
>
> Maybe I am from Planet X but the bios to the best of my knowledge
> should not stop a fdisk .
> Having the parameters set incorrectly could cause some
> inconsistancies
> but it should not stop it.
>
> Tattoo to the best of my knowledge is in the master boot sector and
> just tells the
> Master Cd that it is a PB system and it is ok to continue with
> restore.
>
>
> If you are truly having a problem with Fdisk and you did a low level
> format
> perhaps you have done something wrong.
>
>
>
> This site
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offi [...] bellusers/
> thanks to Elector tells how to do a tattoo
> but it requires the Master CD.
>
>
>
> You do not have it so an alternative is to use a Windows Cd of the
> proper vintage and
> do an install assuming the Hd is OK
>
>
> I would download if possible a copy of partition magic and
> check out the HD and see what is going on
>
>
> Perhaps Ben or elector have some more insight on the whole matter
>

Assuming that no restore CD is available and that one from a poster
here cannot be obtained I would say a clean install of the OS (Windows
version ??) would be the easiest. You can then go to
http://www.windrivers.com or http://www.drivers.com and get the needed
sound, video and modem drivers for the system.

I also know of folks selling Restore CD's on EBay even though I don't
get there much any more.
metronid's advice is sound and should be followed.

I hope I helped?

Elector

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

Thanks for replying, both of you.

Unfortunately the HD remains locked until the BIOS can authenticate it
as a genuine Packard Bell Fujitsu HD. This is done by the BIOS checking
track zero for the tattoo.

As the HD is locked I can't write squat to it therefore the iGo is
unusable. Even if another HD was put in he notebook I would have the
same problem as there would be no tattoo on the disk.

Once the tattoo is applied using the two files I mentioned above I'm in
business. Until then I can't do anything with it. The only alternative
is to obtain and flash a non Packard Bell BIOS onto the machine but as
you can appreciate this is a risky alternative and I haven't been able
to locate a BIOS that anybody can reliably tell me will work with the
NEC Premium 5a Mobo and VIA KN133 chipset (spot the geek ).

If you meet anyone on your net travels with tattoo.exe and the DLL I'd
be over the moon.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

Since he has made his mind up and how to restore his unit and knows what he
needs than I will leave it as is.
I only wish him good luck.


"Elector" <elector@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:%sB_e.9251$7b6.8892@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
>
> "metronid" <metronid@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:GcadnX0E_JjaHafeRVn-pA@comcast.com...
>>I am a little confused
>> A low level format?
>>
>> I only do such a thing if it can at all possible fix a bad sector or
>> block.
>> and this is often hopeless in itself 99% of the time.
>>
>> A bad low level format will often totally screw the HD
>> if done incorrectly.
>>
>>
>> Are you sure it was not normal format.
>>
>> Maybe I am from Planet X but the bios to the best of my knowledge
>> should not stop a fdisk .
>> Having the parameters set incorrectly could cause some inconsistancies
>> but it should not stop it.
>>
>> Tattoo to the best of my knowledge is in the master boot sector and just
>> tells the
>> Master Cd that it is a PB system and it is ok to continue with restore.
>>
>>
>> If you are truly having a problem with Fdisk and you did a low level
>> format
>> perhaps you have done something wrong.
>>
>>
>>
>> This site
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offi [...] bellusers/
>> thanks to Elector tells how to do a tattoo
>> but it requires the Master CD.
>>
>>
>>
>> You do not have it so an alternative is to use a Windows Cd of the proper
>> vintage and
>> do an install assuming the Hd is OK
>>
>>
>> I would download if possible a copy of partition magic and
>> check out the HD and see what is going on
>>
>>
>> Perhaps Ben or elector have some more insight on the whole matter
>>
>
> Assuming that no restore CD is available and that one from a poster here
> cannot be obtained I would say a clean install of the OS (Windows version
> ??) would be the easiest. You can then go to http://www.windrivers.com or
> http://www.drivers.com and get the needed sound, video and modem drivers
> for the system.
>
> I also know of folks selling Restore CD's on EBay even though I don't get
> there much any more.
> metronid's advice is sound and should be followed.
>
> I hope I helped?
>
> Elector
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.packardbell (More info?)

Read your suggestion again!

How on earth am I supposed to write any data to the HD when it's locked
by the BIOS?

Erase the first track (sector if you like) of your hard disk and then
start up DOS partition magic and see what happens!

Try and install any flavour of whatever you like... you won't get very
far.

I'm not disregarding any advice I just don't think you understand what
my posts said or ment.


metronid wrote:

> Since he has made his mind up and how to restore his unit and knows what he
> needs than I will leave it as is.
> I only wish him good luck.
>
>
> "Elector" <elector@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:%sB_e.9251$7b6.8892@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> >
> > "metronid" <metronid@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:GcadnX0E_JjaHafeRVn-pA@comcast.com...
> >>I am a little confused
> >> A low level format?
> >>
> >> I only do such a thing if it can at all possible fix a bad sector or
> >> block.
> >> and this is often hopeless in itself 99% of the time.
> >>
> >> A bad low level format will often totally screw the HD
> >> if done incorrectly.
> >>
> >>
> >> Are you sure it was not normal format.
> >>
> >> Maybe I am from Planet X but the bios to the best of my knowledge
> >> should not stop a fdisk .
> >> Having the parameters set incorrectly could cause some inconsistancies
> >> but it should not stop it.
> >>
> >> Tattoo to the best of my knowledge is in the master boot sector and just
> >> tells the
> >> Master Cd that it is a PB system and it is ok to continue with restore.
> >>
> >>
> >> If you are truly having a problem with Fdisk and you did a low level
> >> format
> >> perhaps you have done something wrong.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> This site
> >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/offi [...] bellusers/
> >> thanks to Elector tells how to do a tattoo
> >> but it requires the Master CD.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> You do not have it so an alternative is to use a Windows Cd of the proper
> >> vintage and
> >> do an install assuming the Hd is OK
> >>
> >>
> >> I would download if possible a copy of partition magic and
> >> check out the HD and see what is going on
> >>
> >>
> >> Perhaps Ben or elector have some more insight on the whole matter
> >>
> >
> > Assuming that no restore CD is available and that one from a poster here
> > cannot be obtained I would say a clean install of the OS (Windows version
> > ??) would be the easiest. You can then go to http://www.windrivers.com or
> > http://www.drivers.com and get the needed sound, video and modem drivers
> > for the system.
> >
> > I also know of folks selling Restore CD's on EBay even though I don't get
> > there much any more.
> > metronid's advice is sound and should be followed.
> >
> > I hope I helped?
> >
> > Elector
> >

Just go with F2 in the cmos and uncheck at the security the hdd bootsector, your computer should behave normal after that.

low level format? why a low level
what glue part error are you getting.

i work with customers everyday and deal with around 15 -20 Tattoo errros in any 10 hour shift,
this clearly is not a tattoo problem.

the tattoo is stored on the DMI section of the motherboard and the DMI of the Hdd.

both of these much match when trying to use the restore disc's.
this is packards bell way of making sure that the operating system cannot be installed onto a hdd that doesn't match the machine. also copyright issues with your operating system you have paid to use.

if this was a tattoo issue where the DMI had been earased it would clearly be stating a Glue part error, a low level format would not delect the DMI of your drive.

It will appear that something went wrong with the format or the hdd it self was faulty and has failed. perfect example the data arm in the hdd has become fixed on a bad sector.

if you havent got the master disc's then you have got to obtain them from packard bell. it's impoertant that you get the right disc for your machine. the disc has to match your tattoo and contains all the right drivers for your machine and software that was installed when you bought the uit.

is the unit yuou have under a year old?
have you got coverplan? or pc performance?
if in warrenty or has extended cover the drive if faound faulty over the phone will be changed and the recovery media supplied for free ( this is standard when having to change the hard drive due to a fault )

if in warrenty
call 08709013000 the techguys. we'll get you on the reight track