RJOHNSON@CEBAFVAX.BITNET (02/22/90)
My question is concerning problems I have been having with a
Megafile 30. My system is a Mega-4, Megafile 30, and an SC1224 monitor. My
problem is that on an intermittent basis my system simply decides not to boot
off the hard disk. The process goes something like this.
a) The system boots with the standard messages and everything in
my AUTO file executes perfectly.
b) The screen flashes a colorful pattern and then restarts the boot
process. GOTO a)
What seems to cure the problem temporarily is for me to reformat the
hard disk and reinstall my files. It will then run fine for a couple of months
with a gradual deterioration until once again I can't get it to boot at all.
Note: Even when this is at it's worst, I can still get the system up by booting
off the Atari Hard Disk Utilities Disk, and running AHDI. My drive then
functions perfectly until I turn the system off. My guesses as to possible
sources of the problem at this point are:
a) The gradual fragmentation of files on the disk over time somehow
creates my problem (perhaps somehow corrupting the boot sector).
b) A virus. ( I unfortunately don't have any virus finder software. )
If someone could send me a binary of vkiller it would be appreciated.
c) Some undocumented feature of my Mega relating to desk accessories.
I think this is possible, because I have found that the problem
SEEMS to be affected by whether I have and even or odd number of
desk accessories installed. ( I have tried it with no desk
accessories and I still have the problem, but is 0 even or odd? )
Someone HELP! PLEASE!!!
"Certain it is and sure, BITNET: RJOHNSON@CEBAFVAX
love burns, ale burns, INTERNET: RJOHNSON%CEBAF2.DNET@SURAGATE.CEBAF.GOV
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But cold is life without Reality: Rick R. Johnson
them".- S'Task of ch'Havran =================================================ehood@ics.uci.edu (Earl Wayne Jr. Hood) (02/24/90)
Rick Johnson posted: > My question is concerning problems I have been having with a >Megafile 30. My system is a Mega-4, Megafile 30, and an SC1224 monitor. My >problem is that on an intermittent basis my system simply decides not to boot >off the hard disk. The process goes something like this. > > a) The system boots with the standard messages and everything in > my AUTO file executes perfectly. > > b) The screen flashes a colorful pattern and then restarts the boot > process. GOTO a) Rick, I have a similar hardware set up as yours except the computer is a MegaSt2. I have had what has happened to you and the cause is either a bad auto folder program or a bad desk accessory. To have me help you I need more information. First, what auto programs are running Second, what desk accessories do you have Third, TOS version (I have 1.2) Fourth, when exactly does the screen flash and cause a reboot. Does the bee cursor showup before it happens or not at all. To help pinpoint what my be cause your problem is put an auto folder program that outputs some text during bootup (e.g. UIS II) as the last program in your auto folder. If the system reboots before the installation message of the program comes up then it is probably an auto program. If reboot after then it is problably something to do with the desk accessories -Earl (UCI)