jillj@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Jill Jacomine) (09/26/90)
All of the sudden I can't seem to boot off my hard drive, when I try I get the message: Non-System disk or disk error Replace and strike any key when ready. I have no trouble at all booting off a floppy, and can attach to my hard drive and access all the files. Everything looks good, the hidden system files are there, the command.com is there (I even copied the copy of command.com from my hard drive, to the floppy I was booting from to see if it was corrupt, but it worked fine). A little background, I have a Compaq 286, running DOS 3.3. A couple of days ago I installed Microsoft Window/286 (v2.11) and the Window/286 Software Development Kit, I don't think this has anything to do with it though, because the problem started a day or two after I started playing around with Windows. I tried running chkdsk, hoping that if would fix things, but it didn't help. Is my next step to do a backup and reformat my hard drive, or is there something else I can do that may take care of this problem. I'd appreciate any suggestions, because I really don't want to reformat. Thanks, Jill Jacomine. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jill Jacomine (jill@brspyr1.BRS.COM) UUCP: BRS Software Products Latham, NY
browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems) (09/27/90)
In article <6985@brspyr1.BRS.Com>, jillj@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Jill Jacomine) writes: > All of the sudden I can't seem to boot off my hard drive, when I try I > get the message: > > Non-System disk or disk error > Replace and strike any key when ready. > > I have no trouble at all booting off a floppy, and can attach to my hard > drive and access all the files. Okay, so yopu know that your disk is basically okay. Good news! > Everything looks good, the hidden system files are there, the > command.com is there (I even copied the copy of command.com from my hard > drive, to the floppy I was booting from to see if it was corrupt, but it > worked fine). My guess is that you're on the right track, but it's the two hidden files that got scrogged (or one of them). Try this: put your original DOS diskette (write protected, of course) in drive A: and boot your system. Then type the command SYS C: (I assume C: is the hard disk you're talking about.) Then remove the diskette and boot again. You should be okay. > I tried running chkdsk, hoping that if would fix things, but it didn't > help. Is my next step to do a backup and reformat my hard drive, or is > there something else I can do that may take care of this problem. CHKDSK is useful for only one thing: putting lost clusters into files so that you can DEL the files and make the space available for new files. If you have overwritten [part of] a file, CHKDSK is no help. (Actually, none of the utilities can help either--except of course restoring from a backup copy.) Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. (216) 371-0043 email: browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com Disclaimer: Your mileage may vary. Close cover before striking. Void where taxed, regulated, licensed, or prohibited by law. I am not a crook.
ching@brahms.amd.com (Mike Ching) (09/27/90)
In article <6985@brspyr1.BRS.Com> jillj@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Jill Jacomine) writes: > >All of the sudden I can't seem to boot off my hard drive, when I try I >get the message: > > Non-System disk or disk error > Replace and strike any key when ready. > You might check to see if the partition is still active with fdisk. Mike Ching
kabra437@pallas.athenanet.com (Ken Abrams) (09/28/90)
In article <1140.2700dc30@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com> browns@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems) writes: >In article <6985@brspyr1.BRS.Com>, jillj@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Jill Jacomine) writes: >diskette (write protected, of course) in drive A: and boot your system. >Then type the command > SYS C: >(I assume C: is the hard disk you're talking about.) Then remove the >diskette and boot again. You should be okay. > In many cases, SYS C: won't "take" except to a virgin drive. I don't know exactly why this happens and I don't care since Nortons will overcome the problem and apply a new boot block, system files, etc. I have used it several times for this purpose in exactly the situation that the original poster described (won't boot but all files appear OK). My recommendation is to low-level format it after the fix is applied. Loss of a boot block or system files indicates a possible time bomb waiting to go off. Spinrite or Optune works well for this purpose without requiring backup and restore. Regardless of what the user tries, a complete backup would be in order FIRST. -- ======================================================== Ken Abrams uunet!pallas!kabra437 Illinois Bell kabra437@athenanet.com Springfield (voice) 217-753-7965