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Hi everyone !5160 reformatting hard disk

A

AJ STORM

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
14
Hello this is my first post!! I have just started using 5160 computers and i had an issue with an error in one and the other would not let video come up. So I took the one that sort of worked switched the hard drives and reformatted the hard disk. Now it boots into basic. What do I need to do from here? I have a bunch of disks Dos 3-6.2 . PLEASE I need this to run Im using it to run an old 8 bit diskmix card from otari....thanks for all your help in advance!!:confused:
 
AJ STORM said:
Hello this is my first post!! I have just started using 5160 computers and i had an issue with an error in one and the other would not let video come up. So I took the one that sort of worked switched the hard drives and reformatted the hard disk. Now it boots into basic. What do I need to do from here? I have a bunch of disks Dos 3-6.2 . PLEASE I need this to run Im using it to run an old 8 bit diskmix card from otari....thanks for all your help in advance!!:confused:
Click to expand...

I assume that you mean low-level formatted it.

So, what you need to do now is to run FDISK to partition it and then FORMAT /S to put a system on it. Remember to make your primary (boot) partition active in FDISK. After the FORMAT operation, you should be able to boot from the hard drive.
 
format

format

How did you format the hard drive ?
If you're talking about the DOS format, did you type something like this:
Code: 
a:\format c: /s
patscc
 
patscc said:
How did you format the hard drive ?
If you're talking about the DOS format, did you type something like this:
Code: 
a:\format c: /s
patscc
Click to expand...

no when i replaced/swapped the drive out it automatically prompted to reformat i had no choice
thx:-D
 
Chuck(G) said:
I assume that you mean low-level formatted it.

So, what you need to do now is to run FDISK to partition it and then FORMAT /S to put a system on it. Remember to make your primary (boot) partition active in FDISK. After the FORMAT operation, you should be able to boot from the hard drive.
Click to expand...
How do you run FDISK exactly what do you type:confused:
 
The nice part about FDISK is that it's menu-driven. But you do need FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM on your DOS boot diskette.

Here's more on the procedure:

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/install/fdisk.htm

That's really odd about your system automatically reformatting a disk. Do you recall exactly what the message was and when it occurred? The standard 5160 hard disk controller isn't nearly so smart.
 
Fdisk

Fdisk

If you get a chance, some pictures of the controller would be appreciated. Do you know what model the hard drive is ?

Anyways, take a 5.25" DOS boot or System disk (probably says boot or system on it), put it in the left-hand floppy, and turn on.
You might get prompted for date/time, if so, enter it.
You should (after a minute or so) end up with:

Code: 
a:\
type fdisk
Code: 
a:\fdisk
hit enter
You should be in FDISK now.
At the top of the screen you should see:
Code: 
Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive
or something similar.
Select option 1, and follow the instructions.

When you're done, it will want to reboot.
Post back if you've got that done, and we'll walk you through format.
Post back if you're having troubles with the instructions.
patscc
 
error

error

Yeah it will first say "ERROR" then press F1 to exit before it goes into basic screen i guess all i have is the DOS 6.2 startup disc i put it in and it still goes straight to basic heres what i see
 

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problem

problem

Part of your problem is that someone yanked the original floppy drive out, and stuck an expansion card with it's own BIOS in there to handle the 3.5 & 5.25 drives you see there.

Do any lights light up on the floppies after you hit F1 ? Your boot disk should be in the drive that lights up first.
If nothing lights up, you might as well start opening the case and having a look inside.
patscc
 
the floppy light up

the floppy light up

The floppy does light up and i hear the thing spinning ........... I have the disk in the deive at the time its lit up still goes to basic!! I have the other st-225 drive though..... and the other original floppy drive too
 
Cool--you've got a Sysgen Omni-Bridge floppy controller! You can handle everything from a 360K to a 1.44MB--and up to 4 drives.

Do you have the docs for it? I do, if you don't--I'll wager some switches on the card aren't set right, which is why you can't boot.

What kind of floppy drive is your A: drive and what kind is your B: drive?
 
AJ STORM said:
Yeah it will first say "ERROR" then press F1 to exit before it goes into basic screen i guess all i have is the DOS 6.2 startup disc i put it in and it still goes straight to basic heres what i see
Click to expand...
Someone installed that 5¼" floppy drive upside down! Either reinstall the drive the correct way up, or put in the disk upside down as well (label side down) to match it.
 
vwestlife said:
Someone installed that 5¼" floppy drive upside down! Either reinstall the drive the correct way up, or put in the disk upside down as well (label side down) to match it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's that. My problem is that I assume folks know the way things were 20 years ago, so I don't state the obvious. :sigh:
 
vwestlife said:
Someone installed that 5¼" floppy drive upside down! Either reinstall the drive the correct way up, or put in the disk upside down as well (label side down) to match it.
Click to expand...

no thats the right way i put the disk in and it gives me a disk error message i put it in label side up and it boots back to basic.....:(:confused:
 
boot disk

boot disk

Just to double-check, the only boot disk you have is a 5.25" DOS 6.2 disk ?
Can you tell if it's double-density (DD), or high-density (HD), (should be written on it somewhere, if you can't see it, can you post a picture of it?)
patscc
 
Judging by the position of the latch handle, I'd say it's right-side-up (pointed down). I've never seen any drive that the handle flips upwards on, regardless of it's orientation.

--T
 
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