**Need Urgent Help with Booting**

[Messiah2k3]

Hi,

I have got the Windows XP evaluation edition, and it has now expired. I would like to install winME on the computer untill I can get a full copy of XP.

But the problem is my Floppy disc drive is having problems reading and writing on any flopy disk. There is an I/O error, and im pretty sure its my motherboards FD controller which is at fault (abit kt7a-raid).

I have been trying to get a boot disc that will let me format my drives and install a clean version of windows. I have been trying lots of different programs for about 8 hours now(litrally!).

I just cant get one that boots up and works !

I have tried Barts Cd boot disk, but it wont work. and the instruction are very complicated and unclear.

I have tried about 30 different programs with no luck.

Changing my motherboard is not really an option because my current motherboard seems to be fine (except for the floppy error)



Can anyone offer me some advice. As I have tried and tried with no results.

Thanks,

 

[Duracell]

you can use your (bootable?) XP CD to delete and/or format your current partitions;
this should be possible even when your evaluation is ended;

Greetings from
Duracell

 

[scarecrow]

You can make a bootable ME CD without using a physical floppy.
1. get a blank CD.
2. Get Burnatonce.
3. Get also your ME setup files (from ME CD or whatever)
4. Get the ME OEM boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm ( it is a self extracting file named bootme.exe ).
5. Open the file with winrar- which will complain about bad headers, corrupt archives and all sorts of such things, but nevertheless it will be able to extract the floppy image to harddisk ( named winmeoem.ima ).
6. Start Burnatonce, open a new data mastering job. Throw in the folder with your ME files (the folder name should be maximum eight characters, just letters and numbers) and whatever else you may need, and then press the "ISO settings" box. There check just "compliant PVD", and optionally "rockridge" andf "joliet names". Tick on "bootable image", leave the other boxes clean, and then on side of the "no image" warning press the small button and navigate to the .ima file you've extracted. Now, compile and burn your bootable ME CD. When rebooting your puter, enter bios and put your CD-ROM to boot before the harddisk.

PS: If for some reason this does not work with your hardware (it should), try your luck with the custom-no ramdisk image from bootdisk.com
Good luck.

 

[Nunyobiznes]

But the problem is my Floppy disc drive is having problems reading and writing on any flopy disk. There is an I/O error, and im pretty sure its my motherboards FD controller which is at fault (abit kt7a-raid).

I would suggest you acquire a copy of XP that is bootable and reformat from within the setup routine. WIN ME is a waste of time. If not XP then 2000 would be a better choice.

 

[NetLion]

...But the problem is my Floppy disc drive is having problems reading and writing on any flopy disk. There is an I/O error, and im pretty sure its my motherboards FD controller which is at fault (abit kt7a-raid)....

Thanks,

I've had a same problem with my FD and I was also pretty shure about MB FD contoller, but I was wrong. ( I replaced the FD driver with a new one without success).

Check your power supply. Check the 3.3 V. Maybe that's the cause.

When I replaced the power supply the FD problem was fixed.

Maybe it help you.

 

[Messiah2k3]

Ive tried creating the bootdisk, and follow them instructions word for word, but the damn thing refuses to boot of a cd. I have told my BIOS to only boot the cd and nothing else, but it still says 'insert system disk' !

Ive tried to use different .IMA's. I have tried burning using Nero.

I will try to get a bootable copy of XP, and your right, ME is a pile of crap.

I have a Macron power supply, which are quite highly regarded, so its unlikely that there will be any power issues, but I will have a look to make sure. I have pretty much tried everything to get the floppy to work, but stil have no success. (I change the floppy drive, changed all the cables, flashed the BIOS, took out everything except the essential hardware etc etc)

BTW the XP Evaluation cd is only an update, so it is not bootable.

I have a full copy of ME, but it refuses to boot.


Thnaks alot for all the advice,

But think I have tried everything possible ?!



@ Messiah2k3 careful how many times you hit that SUBMIT reply button bud u posted the same message 4 times ive deleted the others >>>>VIPER_1069<<<<

 

[Nunyobiznes]

If your floppy works try using a win98 bootdisk to fdisk the drive then reinstall your os. Better yet, you could just install LINUX and not have these issues to begin with.