I just purchased a brand new 120GB hard drive online. I installed it into my computer, and I booted from a Win98 startup disk. I ran FDISK and it couldn't create a partition. Then I tried to use Norton's DiskEditor and it said "Error reading drive..." Ok. So, I thought, that the disk needs lowlevel formatting. So, I used Maxtor's lowlevel format utility. I formatted the drive, and then I tried again. Same thing.
Then I started my computer in Windows XP, and clicked on Disk Management. It said one of my disks needs to be "Initialized" so I clicked Next... It did everything. Finally, it created a partition. In Windows XP, I formatted the drive using FAT32format utility which you can download from the internet, and then I copied some files on this new hard drive. Yay!
Now, I booted from a Win98 startup disk again, and FDISK can't see the partition on my new hard drive! I ran DiskEdit and it still can't read from the hard drive!!! I must access this hdd from Win98, and I can't do it.
2007-05-20 02:45:55 · 7 answers · asked by frozen555 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Yes, win98 can handle it. I have another 120GB, and Win98 can read/write the entire drive.
BIOS identifies the hard drive, and recognizes the size. Ok. But when I issue read, it returns READ ERROR.
However, WinXP can read and write the hard drive without a problem!!! This is why I am amazed. How is it that WinXP can read & write, and Win98 can't?
2007-05-20 02:56:36 · update #1
It's a Magnetic Data Tech hard drive. There's probably nothing wrong with the drive, because I can use it in Windows XP perfectly. I will check the jumper settings again...
2007-05-20 03:03:30 · update #2
If you can go into your CMOS setup, I would suggest to go there and see if you are plugged in properly to the motherboard. If this is your second HDD ensure you have the proper settings for the master and slave drive.
2007-05-20 02:49:50 · answer #1 · answered by hwky 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
been a while since i used win98 but are there no restrictions to disk sizes for it to detect a drive ? I think your drive has too many GBs...
any idea what drive you bought ? Maxtor ? Seagate ? they have explanations on their website...
2007-05-20 02:52:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't remember ever buying and installing a brand new disk that didn't come with manufacturer instructions. Did you read the installation instructions or did you look up installation on the manufacturer's web site?
2007-05-20 02:51:08 · answer #3 · answered by snvffy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think Win98 can handle a disc that size.
2007-05-20 02:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Topper 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
go to cmos features by pressing del. on the first screen an format the system
2007-05-20 02:54:14 · answer #5 · answered by nikhil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a 120 gig hard drive should be formatted in NTFS and not FAT. Also the drive may be too big for an old OS.
2007-05-20 02:51:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
did you set the jumper on the back to master(ide)
2007-05-20 02:50:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋