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Acer 1125E 386 Desktop System - Can't Startup

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Super-Slasher

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Jun 21, 2003
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Location
Ontario, Canada... the frosty north.
I want to turn this into a Linux box/server, but it just wasn't want to seem to get past the POST operations. It'll count RAM, but won't want to seem to do anything after that. It'll read the floppy drive and seek for hard disks and installed ports. I have an MS-DOS boot disk, but it won't read it. The system asks for a "system disk".

Can anyone lend a hand?
 
I'm 99% certain that this is a PC clone so if it's not getting any errors during the post then one of two things are wrong. Either the system isn't set up to boot from the floppy (which might be configurable in the BIOS, if it has one that sophisticated) or there is something wrong with the drive or media.

If it's hitting the drive (light comes on, etc.) then you might have some luck with a simple head cleaning operation. It may also be a misalignment or, worst, a damaged mechanism somewhere (stepper motor, drive motor, cracked head, etc.)

I'm assuming, of course, that your MS DOS disk is a known quantity.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Erik
 
Re: Acer 1125E 386 Desktop System - Can't Startup

Super-Slasher said:
I have an MS-DOS boot disk, but it won't read it. The system asks for a "system disk".

Can anyone lend a hand?
Click to expand...

Check the "MS-DOS boot disk" on another computer. It's probably NG.

OR, is BIOS setup correct for A: drive?
 
Well, it turns out the keyboard I was using at the time was defunct, so I used another one and was able to get into the BIOS to change the flopy/hard drive settings. Once then, it proceeded to boot with the DOS disk and I used Disk Manager to format and install a 170MB Quantum hard drive...

... then I lost all my settings at a reboot because my CMOS battery is dead. A brand new battery costs around $30, so I'll probably be throwing it out anyways.

*sigh* Guess I'll have to wait a bit longer to make myself a Linux-box. Thanks for all your inout, anyways.
 
It takes a 3.6V battery cell, and AA cells are 1.5V each. Plus it is said that my perticular mobo needs a very specific battery because of the amperage as well, or something like that.

I wish I could just wire up some AA's like in my AT's, but it can't be done (easily, anyways).
 
Super-Slasher said:
It takes a 3.6V battery cell, and AA cells are 1.5V each. Plus it is said that my perticular mobo needs a very specific battery because of the amperage as well, or something like that.
Click to expand...

That's a bunch of hogwash. The current drain is extremely low, besides a couple of AA batteries will more than be adequate. Don't give up without trying it.
 
barryp said:
That's a bunch of hogwash. The current drain is extremely low, besides a couple of AA batteries will more than be adequate. Don't give up without trying it.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you're going to throw it out anyway, what have you got to lose?

Erik
 
Most likely, a 3 V (2x1.5) setup will do just fine.

Otherwise, you could try 3 rechargables, they are 1.2 V... 3 x 1.2 makes..
 
I've tried two fresh/new Duracells in the place of the 3.6V CMOS battery on the Acer, and the only thing it would keep was the time. Thanks anyways, guys, but I've already got my hands on a 486 system I'll be using as a Linux box.

:)
 
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