jmfairchild
asked on
Explorer problems and second "Partition" showing up?!?
I am installing 95 on a system with an ASUS VX97 M/B, Intel P75 processor, 16MB EDO (two 8's) mem, Jaton Trident PCI video, Acer 20X CD, and a Maxtor 7850AV 850MB HDD. FDISK C: and install Windows 95B. FDISK works fine, have also checked out HDD with Maxtor's utility. Windows installs without any problems. But:
When 95 is completely installed, I try to do ANYTHING in explorer and the system locks tighter than a drum. Mouse moves, but nothing else. CTRL/ALT/DEL Close Program window doesn't even come up. If I reboot into safe mode, I can use explorer, but a D: drive also shows up. Looks like a mirror image of the C: drive file-for-file. I can create another file on the C: drive, and it doesn't show up on D:, so it's not mirrored or the like. If I reboot and run scandisk, scandisk will scan C: and D:! But there is only ONE physical drive! Boot to DOS command line only, and only C: shows up. FDISK again to display partitions, and only one partition. When I see both drives, they BOTH show up as 850MB (the size of the C: drive). Tried disabling 2nd IDE controller, same. Tried installing 95C, same again. Been working on this for 2 days. Help!?! Anybody ever seen anything like this?
KEYWORDS: phantom additional second drive asus vx97 bios hard drive hd hdd fdisk mbr mirror scandisk controller two
When 95 is completely installed, I try to do ANYTHING in explorer and the system locks tighter than a drum. Mouse moves, but nothing else. CTRL/ALT/DEL Close Program window doesn't even come up. If I reboot into safe mode, I can use explorer, but a D: drive also shows up. Looks like a mirror image of the C: drive file-for-file. I can create another file on the C: drive, and it doesn't show up on D:, so it's not mirrored or the like. If I reboot and run scandisk, scandisk will scan C: and D:! But there is only ONE physical drive! Boot to DOS command line only, and only C: shows up. FDISK again to display partitions, and only one partition. When I see both drives, they BOTH show up as 850MB (the size of the C: drive). Tried disabling 2nd IDE controller, same. Tried installing 95C, same again. Been working on this for 2 days. Help!?! Anybody ever seen anything like this?
KEYWORDS: phantom additional second drive asus vx97 bios hard drive hd hdd fdisk mbr mirror scandisk controller two
Nenadic
There's a possibility that the second drive is coming up because you Drivespaced your disk.
ASKER
It's a clean install. No Drivespace. As an addition, I went as far as using a debug I can usually use when I have "partition" type problems (works like a low-level format). But thanx.
ASKER
That last comment should have read "debug routine".
ASKER
That last comment should have read "debug routine".
Does FDISK/STATUS show more than one drive?
Try FDISK/MBR from a bootable floppy (won't work if you do it from the hard drive).
Try FDISK/MBR from a bootable floppy (won't work if you do it from the hard drive).
ASKER
FDISK/STATUS BEFORE the 95 install shows one drive. AFTER the 95 install it shows TWO drives! Both drives same size (814MB). Good call. I am at work now, but I will try the FDISK/MBR when I get home this evening. My debug routine supposedly wipes any trace of any installed O/S. I then run FDISK and create the new partition. I've used it in place of FDISK/MBR for a few years now. Would there be that much difference?
ASKER
FDISK/MBR removed the D: "false" partition (showed it with FDISK/STATUS immediately following), but then took forever to boot to 95 (LOTS of HD access). Tried to explore, still locking up. Rebooted to safe mode and sure enough, D: is back! This is frustrating! I will try to FDISK/MBR after deleting and rebuilding partition, reinstall, then repost here. I will do that tonight. Any other ideas in the meantime?
ASKER
No such luck. Still finds the phantom D: drive. I'll up the points a bit. Any other ideas?
ASKER
No such luck. Still finds the phantom D: drive. I'll up the points a bit. Any other ideas?
Was a 3rd-party HD manager ever used on this drive?
Are any other IDE devices installed?
Are you sure of your HD jumpers? (I think Maxtor uses the same jumper configuration for 'Single' and 'Master',but you should confirm this)
"I will try to FDISK/MBR after deleting and rebuilding partition" - try it after deleting,but BEFORE rebuilding;with a reboot between each step.
Are any other IDE devices installed?
Are you sure of your HD jumpers? (I think Maxtor uses the same jumper configuration for 'Single' and 'Master',but you should confirm this)
"I will try to FDISK/MBR after deleting and rebuilding partition" - try it after deleting,but BEFORE rebuilding;with a reboot between each step.
ASKER
I don't believe a 3rd-party HD mgr was ever used. There is an Acer CD as the slave drive. Nothing on 2nd controller (turned it off in BIOS). Jumpers are right. Already did FDISK/MBR AND reboot between each step.
Did FDISK/Delete Partition, reboot, FDISK/Rebuild partition, reboot, FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), reboot, FORMAT C:, FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), LOAD 95, locked up, rebooted to safe mode (two drives), rebooted to startup diskette, FDISK/STATUS (two drives), FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), rebooted to normal mode, system locked up, cussed, kicked the dog, threw the HDD against the wall, etc., etc. (Just kidding about the threw HDD against the wall step...)
The worst part about all this is that I've done lot's of business with this client and the machine was working before I got it. Client just wanted a clean install to load his ShopKey software on (he runs an auto shop), and to add a laser printer (okidata). Don't know what I've done with it. Thanx for sticking with it. (BTW, just kidding about the kicked the dog step, too)
Did FDISK/Delete Partition, reboot, FDISK/Rebuild partition, reboot, FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), reboot, FORMAT C:, FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), LOAD 95, locked up, rebooted to safe mode (two drives), rebooted to startup diskette, FDISK/STATUS (two drives), FDISK/MBR, FDISK/STATUS (one drive), rebooted to normal mode, system locked up, cussed, kicked the dog, threw the HDD against the wall, etc., etc. (Just kidding about the threw HDD against the wall step...)
The worst part about all this is that I've done lot's of business with this client and the machine was working before I got it. Client just wanted a clean install to load his ShopKey software on (he runs an auto shop), and to add a laser printer (okidata). Don't know what I've done with it. Thanx for sticking with it. (BTW, just kidding about the kicked the dog step, too)
Start REGEDIT.EXE OPEN THE REGISTRY.
GO TO:
HKEY_CURRENT_ USERS_SOFTWARE_MICROSOFT_W
CURRENT VERSION_POLICIES_EXPLORER
Highlight EXPLORER and look for a KEY in the Right Panel that
reads: NoDriveTypeAuto
The value to the right of NoDriveTypeAuto should be:
95 00 00 00 00
if you do not have the KEY NoDriveTypeAuto, add it.
If the value is not 95 00 00 00 00 ADD this value to
NoDriveTypeAuto.
If you have an extra Key that just reads:NoDrive
The values to the right of NoDrive should be: 00 00 00 00 00
This NoDriveTypeAuto and NoDrive are the KEYS that tell
EXPLORER how many drives to show, when explorer is
opened.
GO TO:
HKEY_CURRENT_ USERS_SOFTWARE_MICROSOFT_W
CURRENT VERSION_POLICIES_EXPLORER
Highlight EXPLORER and look for a KEY in the Right Panel that
reads: NoDriveTypeAuto
The value to the right of NoDriveTypeAuto should be:
95 00 00 00 00
if you do not have the KEY NoDriveTypeAuto, add it.
If the value is not 95 00 00 00 00 ADD this value to
NoDriveTypeAuto.
If you have an extra Key that just reads:NoDrive
The values to the right of NoDrive should be: 00 00 00 00 00
This NoDriveTypeAuto and NoDrive are the KEYS that tell
EXPLORER how many drives to show, when explorer is
opened.
One more tip, since this is an ASUS VX97 board, go into
CMOS SETUP AND SET ALL DRIVES TO AUTO.
DO NOT LEAVE ANY SET TO: USER, NORMAL, LBA, ETC.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL 4 ARE SET TO AUTO.
CMOS SETUP AND SET ALL DRIVES TO AUTO.
DO NOT LEAVE ANY SET TO: USER, NORMAL, LBA, ETC.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL 4 ARE SET TO AUTO.
ASKER
The registry entry was a neat answer, but it's NoDriveTypeAutoRun and it was set to 95 00 00 00 (three sets of double zeroes). I added a 4th (just in case) and rebooted, but no luck. I checked my 98 machine and it was also 95 00 00 00. The CMOS settings are also all set to AUTO (on primary). Secondary controller is disabled. My wife has suggested that I try a different HDD in this system to isolate the problem to HDD or other system issue. I'll try that next (gotta keep the boss happy!). Any other comments/suggestions are welcomed!
Go back and change that NoDriveTypeAutoRun
to:
NoDriveTypeAuto
That RUN is not on any of my WIN95 computers that are
working well.
The Registry Entry for Win95 OSR2 is:
NoDriveTypeAuto 95 00 00 00
This Run is NOT there on any of my machines,
but some have an extra key of:
NoDrive 00 00 00 00
to:
NoDriveTypeAuto
That RUN is not on any of my WIN95 computers that are
working well.
The Registry Entry for Win95 OSR2 is:
NoDriveTypeAuto 95 00 00 00
This Run is NOT there on any of my machines,
but some have an extra key of:
NoDrive 00 00 00 00
ASKER
Went back and tried it with NoDriveAuto, then changed it to NoDrive, then tried it with both. Still no luck. Can't understand why a clean install from a 95B CD I KNOW is good looks different than yours, Satwa. I admire your tenacity, and taking the time to help. Thanx. I'll bet there is ONE thing somewhere doing this. Oh well, back to my wife's suggestion...
I'll keep trying. I have an ASUS VX97 board in storage.
I will take it out and hook up an 810MB hard disk to it.
I have an old 810MB Hard disk that came off an old IBM
PC350, so I'll use that.
When I finish testing tomorrow, I will post here and let you know the results.
I once had a Compaq LTE Elite Notebook that showed an
extra D: and an extra E: drive, and I finally got rid of them
by going into CONTROL PANEL, selecting SYSTEM, and then
PERFORMANCE, and then FILE SYSTEM, and changed
DESTOP COMPUTER to MOBILE and DOCKING, shut down and
re-booted and the 2 phantom drives disappeared, but
about 6 months back another person on EE had the same problem with a COMPAQ LTE ELITE and my suggestion did
NOT work for him. The last time I checked he still had not
solved the problem, but had quit using the NOTEBOOK.
I will take it out and hook up an 810MB hard disk to it.
I have an old 810MB Hard disk that came off an old IBM
PC350, so I'll use that.
When I finish testing tomorrow, I will post here and let you know the results.
I once had a Compaq LTE Elite Notebook that showed an
extra D: and an extra E: drive, and I finally got rid of them
by going into CONTROL PANEL, selecting SYSTEM, and then
PERFORMANCE, and then FILE SYSTEM, and changed
DESTOP COMPUTER to MOBILE and DOCKING, shut down and
re-booted and the 2 phantom drives disappeared, but
about 6 months back another person on EE had the same problem with a COMPAQ LTE ELITE and my suggestion did
NOT work for him. The last time I checked he still had not
solved the problem, but had quit using the NOTEBOOK.
ASKER
Well, it looks like I got the problem fixed. I installed a 320MB Conner HDD with the EXACT same results (95 explorer functions lock, and two drives in safe mode)! My wife was on the right track after all. I couldn't get into the Asus site the other night when I started all this to see if I had the most current BIOS rev, so I connected tonight. The release notes didn't mention anything to do with the HDD, but one of the FAQ's mentioned fixing an 8GB+ problem, so since I WAS a version behind, I flashed the BIOS. Voila, I boot into windows, and use explorer no sweat! One drive. I guess I ought to award the points to my wife (who BTW isn't a tech, just a very common sense back-woods type). I'm not sure if the Flash did it, or if after flashing and loading setup defaults changed the setting I needed changed to fix the problem, but it's there. Thanx to Satwa and MATTCEI. I'm going to give 25 points to Satwa (if I can figure out how to do it without giving a lower grade) simply for the effort, and I know that he put forth quite a bit of effort on another problem I had, so I owe him. Thanx again, WHEW!!!
ASKER
Satwa, is there a way to award points LESS than the question offered? Should I delete this question, and post a fake question for 25 points? I would hate to eliminate the threads here just in case someone else in the future runs into a problem such as this...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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jmfairchild - excuse us while we exercise our good manners.
As for the thread,you could incorporate the key parts of this one in the fake question.
satwa - thanks,but you put more effort into this.If anybody gets any points it should be you.
As for the thread,you could incorporate the key parts of this one in the fake question.
satwa - thanks,but you put more effort into this.If anybody gets any points it should be you.
ASKER
Satwa, originally, the secondary IDE was enabled, I disabled it since I have the HD and the CD on the primary master/slave. I DID notice that after the flash, and loading setup defaults the secondary controller became enabled, but I turned it off knowing it wasn't needed. So currently, it's (the secondary controller) disabled and the system is working...
As for the good manners, I appreciate the manners AND the effort. I've been on E-E for awhile (though inactive for a few years) so I've actually got plenty of points to give away, I'll attempt to give BOTH of you points while trying to maintain the question's threads. Thanx again.
As for the good manners, I appreciate the manners AND the effort. I've been on E-E for awhile (though inactive for a few years) so I've actually got plenty of points to give away, I'll attempt to give BOTH of you points while trying to maintain the question's threads. Thanx again.
ASKER
Edited text of question.
ASKER
Sorry, couldn't figure a clean way to do this, but DID want to maintain the integrity of the threads, so it looks like Satwa will get the points, and double thanx to MATTCEI for the (though unrewarded) sportsmanship and help. I STILL think this site is a great idea!
ASKER
I actually answered the question above myself (flashed the BIOS). Used Satwa as correct answer to maintain question and threads for future "searchers".
This just goes to show that NO 2 of these ASUS VX97 boards.
perform the same way. On this one that I tested, I get a
ghost drive in explorer, if I disable the secondary IDE
controller, and you do not.
This is exactly what happened with the ghost drive business
on the COMPAQ LTE ELITE.
I only wish that I had some method to determone exactly
what makes WINDOWS see these extra drives, that would be repeatable on every test.
This is twice for me, that different things have caused this
on different computers with WIN 95.
This time it was resolved by your flashing the bios, and
on my TEST VX97 board by enabling the secondary IDE
Controller, but I am greatly puzzled as to WHY??
If I am ever able to stumble across a tried and true method
that will correct this everytime. I will post it for evceryone to see.
Anyway thanks for the points.
perform the same way. On this one that I tested, I get a
ghost drive in explorer, if I disable the secondary IDE
controller, and you do not.
This is exactly what happened with the ghost drive business
on the COMPAQ LTE ELITE.
I only wish that I had some method to determone exactly
what makes WINDOWS see these extra drives, that would be repeatable on every test.
This is twice for me, that different things have caused this
on different computers with WIN 95.
This time it was resolved by your flashing the bios, and
on my TEST VX97 board by enabling the secondary IDE
Controller, but I am greatly puzzled as to WHY??
If I am ever able to stumble across a tried and true method
that will correct this everytime. I will post it for evceryone to see.
Anyway thanks for the points.