What happened to my fixed disk?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Trish wrote:

> I am trying to fix an old pc from scratch, it's an old
> viglen genie profeessional with a 486/sx processor. I know
> it has windows 98 on it but can't raise it! while booting
> up it says "fixed disk controller failure" then asked to
> resume or go to setup. If you resume it says " Diskette
> error - press any key" and just repeats that.
>
> I've tried using "fdisk" to bypass it and create a new
> partition to work with but it firstly flashes "unable to
> access drive 1", then I try to delete the partition but it
> says there is no partition to delete. i've also tried to
> create a partion but it just gets stuck!!!
>
> Can anyone help? Please.
>
> Trish.
>
Trish, make sure the cables are connected. I use to get the same error
on my old PC because the cables would come loose from time to time. Try
that and let us know what happens. Do you have a boot diskette?

--
Servo

"Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!"

tservo100 at
ameritech dot net

Slow, fiery death to all spammers!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Usually when a PC states fixed disk controller failure the
unit is dead. What you can try is to unplug the cables
then put them back in on both ends, reseat, be carefull
and do not bend the pins. Another thing is to try and find
a BIOS update for that unit, try at driversguide.com, and
last if these are new cables make sure that they are
ata66, 100/133's will not work in this unit.

good luck

>-----Original Message-----
>I am trying to fix an old pc from scratch, it's an old
>viglen genie profeessional with a 486/sx processor. I
know
>it has windows 98 on it but can't raise it! while booting
>up it says "fixed disk controller failure" then asked to
>resume or go to setup. If you resume it says " Diskette
>error - press any key" and just repeats that.
>
>I've tried using "fdisk" to bypass it and create a new
>partition to work with but it firstly flashes "unable to
>access drive 1", then I try to delete the partition but
it
>says there is no partition to delete. i've also tried to
>create a partion but it just gets stuck!!!
>
>Can anyone help? Please.
>
>Trish.
>
>.
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Trish wrote:
> Thank you for your help Servo, I've tried pushing in all
> cables but that doesn't seem to work. I do have a boot
> disk from a another pc which also has win98 on it, it lets
> me get to the "fdisk" point and no further. Should I just
> buy a new mother board and base unit? Or can this be saved?
>
> Trish.
Trish, at this point it SOUNDS like a problem with the mobo. It's not
worth fixing so I'd just go get a new one and move on I'm partial to
Gigabyte mobos myself. They're affordable and have lots of good features.

--
Servo

"Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!"

tservo100 at
ameritech dot net

Slow, fiery death to all spammers!