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zoobieFlag for United States of America

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New HD, no OS disc

I've just bought a new Maxtor 60gb Ultra series HD that came with it's own cable and disc. I want to use it as my master with an my 2.4gb HD as backup. One problem...I bought this computer used and have no OS disc. I went through this before and know that bootable OS's can't be copied to other HD's...I tried 10 times and there's always a critical file or two missing that prevents it from starting.

My box is old and can't handle XP and I don't want to go buy an operating system that's 5 years old...I bought the new HD because I'm building a new box this winter.

Maybe someone out there could send me an old win98se disc or something...

How do I do this? I remember trying Ghost and a handful of other copying software...None worked. Ugh...

Thanks
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Adrian Dobrota
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You can make a boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/

... and kronostm is right, ghost and powerquest image will clone you disk for you.
Q> e: New HD, no OS disc

Answer: Get one.

There are all too many configuration issues, repair issues, drivers, applications, upgrades, ...
You simply have to have one if you want your system to stay up for long, especially if you ever want to connect to internet for mail, web, or anything.
btw, the OS could also cost much less than ghost, pmq, and other 3rd party hoopla
> Maybe someone out there could send me an old

That's called eBay I think, not EE
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ASKER

I tried 'em all...PowerquestDrive, Ghost, 2 or 3 more...none worked. I forget exactly just what file it couldn't copy...because it was 12 months ago.

What would happen if I installed my new HD as a slave, downloaded win98se from a filesharing network on it, then installed it as master...Wudda ya think?
If a recent version of ghost didn't work, there's something wrong with your file system or the drive itself.
I can't condone obtaining software without paying for it... have you considered Linux (or Lindows Light)? They're free, better IMHO and you'll expand your knowledge significantly.
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Dunno which version of Ghost it was...'bout a year ago.

The thing is, I DID pay for my computer and the OS installed. But since it was my first box, I didn't know any better at the time to ask for the discs.

I'm also finding it incredible that no used versions of win98se are lying around. I'm sure tons of people have this old OS just sitting in their top drawer. I've tried eBay...but the few there are new. I'm thinking flea markets or garage sales now...

I think I'd like to know the procedure to at least get up and running with the new HD...

Any more ideas?

Thanks
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PHOENIX

The drive should have came with a MaxBlast floppy which would have formatte your drive and then copied everything from the old one to the new drive so you could use it as the master. If you did not get MaxBlast go to the Maxtor site and download it.
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ASKER

Yes...The MaxBlast3 cd came with the new HD...Guess I should try that first...but I had to disable the cd drive because of my backup slave HD already in there...Maybe that's what the extra cable is for...Dunno
Install your new drive as a slave and FDISK and FORMAT <Driveletter> /S     This will put the O/S on the boot sector of the slave (new) drive.  Then copy the entire old drive to the new drive EXCEPT Command.com and Io.sys, you will also have to copy the Windows folder separately because the WIN386.SWP file is always open.  Then make a boot disk on a floppy and copy FDISK.EXE on to it.  Re-boot to the floppy after you get the copy done and the drives swapped and run Fdisk to make the new master drive's partition active.
I use this one:

Xclone
http://www.topqualityfreeware.com/dfu.shtml

Slave new HD to old HD as said above, then run Xclone from a DOS  prompt in windows:

xclone c: d:    It will copy everything but the swapfile ( which windows will recreate later ),
then make the new drive master and you are done. This is a freeware program and I use it to clone my HD before I do something new and/or stupid with my computer ( about every 2 or 3 weeks )      ; )    Don't forget to Fdisk and Format the new HD first.
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ASKER

Umm...I just found out that my box is so old, It'll need a seperate ATA card to convert 100 to ATA133 making this all academic...Guess I'll just have to wait for my new box this winter...No sense buying something that will come with my new comp.
Thanks all...It's just a plain shame...
PS - I know some people reformat their HD every month because they screw up. When I first heard about that, I freaked out because at the time, I had no backup. Ha ha!
PSS - WIN386.SWP was the file that gave me probs last year...just remembered. Windows never created these later because it never booted...
HAHAHA ....that's the file used as swap/virtual memory. Of course the access to this file is locked.
anyway....now it doesn't matter anymore, but the location af the file can be changed to another drive or the virtual memory disabled
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For 50 points, exactly how would I do it? Maybe I'll copy win98se to my backup HD.
HA!
you don't need to, windows will recreate it when it starts
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ASKER

Well, my slave HD never booted by itself as a master...so I just stuck win95b on it directly just in case the master completely failed. Dunno if things have changed in a year...but, like I said, I had tried just about everything on the market at the time...XXCopy, PartitionMagic,..XSynchron...Ahh yes...It's all coming back to me now...ugh.
you'd have to set the partition to "active" to boot in addition have a system on it
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ASKER

I think I did...
which is different from knowing you did...

;-)
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ASKER

No really...I think I did...Of course, it's been a year...I learned some simple DOS by using XXCopy, too.

 }:^)
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ASKER

...but they all said the same thing...that it couldn't copy a file or three. I believe I even asked in here and nobody knew any solution. Now that I know my HD requires a newer ATA133 system or whatever (hell...i dunno...I write code), I shall be running WinXP in a few months...HA!
<< For 50 points, exactly how would I do it? >> Do what? Get rid of swap file?
Go to device manager -> advanced proprieties and there you'll find a checkbox to disable Virtual memory. Window$ will strongly recomand not to.
Give this piece of software a try, is a trial but will let you do what you want with the features that work in it
http://download.com.com/3000-2248-5042278.html?tag=lst-0-3
You DO NOT NEED an ATA-133 controller. If you have an ATA-100 controller already it is fine, the drive iwll work on ATA-100 with no problems. One problem you might be having is that you maybe using these programs in windows. Make sure you create the appropriate boot disks to boot into Drive copy/image or Ghost. Also make sure the copy of Ghost or Drive copy/image is new enough to recognize and use a 60 GB hard drive.
Fer Christ's sake....  All the guy wants is a BOOT DISK!  Where is all this going?  If, like he says, he's going to be running XP in a couple of months, let's just hope he buys a new motherboard and can do an OEM install on his 60GB and then that's the end of it.
Of course, not knowing how to make his own boot disk puts the whole questiion in doubt.  Just in case, My Computer | Rt mouse on A: drive | LFT mouse on FORMAT | put a check mark in Copy System Files | LFT mouse on OK.  Don't forget to put a floppy in the drive.
like i said in the second post

You can make a boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/
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ASKER

Umm...I have a boot disc...I read in the HD directions that if I had trubblez, I needed an ATA card. Maybe I'll try it again...
Oh, this is fun....NOT!

PS - Should I split the points 15 ways? Ha ha!
I could sure use the 3 points.
The problem is now; Will your motherboard recognize the 60Gb at full capacity.  If not ditch it and get a new one, XP will probably not install on an older motherboard or one with an outdated BIOS.
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I already know the answer to that one...and it's "no". It only recognizes 8gb max...Like I said, I'm getting a new box in a few months...Just thought I'd try my new HD...I already have another old HD I'm using for backup...

I've decided I'll just wait...I really don't wanna open the box again just to have the same thing happen...I'm tellin' you guys...This box is OLD...not just 1998 old...but like 1992...No foolin'...P1 on a 586...

Yes...It's painful.
As long as points are not refunded. Alot of Experts took alot of time to answer this question.
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ASKER

Umm...I believe I stated my box was too old to understand anything and therefore impossible to use any information posted in this thread. The q may have been answered...but if the user can't use it, what good is it?
Regardless, the information posted aided you in determining this and coming to your own conclusions.
I agree with chaddupuis, zoobie should not have point rewarded. I know i only posted 1 response but i looked for about 30mins trying to find an alternative to software he had already used.

Why should we waste our time looking for solutions for ppl if they are then gonna have the question deleted and think they can just get there points back?
The 2 questions were answered in the 1st 2 posts
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ASKER

To be honest, I didn't USE anything in this thread...My box wouldn't allow it.
I did find some useful info in disabling my virtual drive to copy an otherwise uncopiable file...but I knew the rest.

Walker hit a homer! Walker hit a homer!
But you tried tehm and they led you to develop your own solution. Without us you would have spent considerably more time doing this. That is what we are here for.
It's only 50 points, donate it to Kids without Klues
No kidding.
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ASKER

I didn't use anything in this thread to determine that my old box wouldn't run the new HD.

I shall keep my points and you shall suffer....Ha ha!
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ASKER

I agree with zoobie...He didn't use anything in this thread. He couldn't have. His HD just won't plain run on his old computer!
OK, let him have his points, looks like he is having some kind of mental health problems in any case some kinda split personality. If he dont gety them he would probably only sit in the corner and cry.

I doubt that any1 that did post any help will be jumping to help him again.

Jim
I still beleive that the things he tried to do in these posts LED him to figure out that the computer would not see his hard drive.
I still beleive that the things he tried to do in these posts LED him to figure out that the computer would not see his hard drive.
His post contained nothing about the hard drive bring recognized, he wanted a boot disk and help moving the operating system
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ASKER

...and I'm the Pope.

No...really...I went thru all this a year ago and tried most of the programs as stated in the thread above.

Now, I shall take all posters points, too. }:^)

Guys...I'm just kidding ya. It's called a joke...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I think I'm going to give the points to kronostm as he actually posted something I could use...

Comments?
I like how you tried to save face, if this was the case you would have done so in the beginning. Don't expect my help anymore in the future.
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ASKER

My face is beyond saving...

Good Lard...I just noticed I had 3 open q's and thought I'd ask for my points back...Jeez
I guess I struck a nerve...heh heh.

Uh oh...Guess what?
Looks like I'll be needing my 50 points back after all...heh heh...Just kidding. };^)

Well, I've stated my case and shall award points to kronostm...

...but I'm doing so under duress. The stress is killing me. I may have to check in to the hospital tomorrow.

I just question awarding anybody anything if I didn't really use it...

Oh, the horror....the horror....









Again, your sarcasm isn't helping you at all.

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Didn't deserve them
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ASKER

Actually, it was his second post I liked...:^)