Help me with 2K install before I shoot myself!

New install errors HELP!!
I have an old Dell P3 machine from a friend, following an unsuccessful windows update attempt, machine now wont boot!, it has been decided to install W2K.


I performed the following actions:

1. installed temp hard disk (without removing the old disk) set it to boot from this hdd and installed a fresh install of win2k.

2. restarted into this OS and copied all the files across I need from the Millenium install

3 changed boot order to the now blanked original hdd and installed new win2k install (without removing the temp hdd)

4. copied all the saved files from the temp hdd back to the original and removed the temp hdd

5. On reboot I get an instruction to insert the floppy boot disk. If I add the temp hdd back it boots from the reinstalled original hdd fine.

I assume that there is a boot instruction on the temp hdd somewhere, I have been into disk management and made the original hdd "active", what else can I do? or do I need to reinstall yet again with only one hdd in the machine? Really dont want to do that because of the time to reinstall apps all over again


hope someone can offer me some good news...

Sounds like you've confused it..

Have a look for the boot.ini file and let us know what it says?

Funnily enough that was my next target, I have run FIXBOOT and FIXMBR from console with no success, the BOOTCFG was next on the list after a CHKDSK /r completes.

If I havent pot this file then I assume I can just create one? :confused:

ah i think i know whats wrong

with your hdd (non-temp) in, go to biod and make your cd drive top of the list displacing the fdd in boot order.... put the win2k disc in that drive before hand and install! yipee!

i had similar problems with an install of win2k

problem is no boot.ini file or netldr etc, tried copying from the temp hdd to main but no joy (wasnt expecting it to work tbh) so reload coming up.

I suggest you format and start again, I think you confused it as Stoo said :D .

Well done

yea a fresh format works wonders... but it still may ask for a floppy...

reinstall hasnt helped, fresh format with only the original HDD in but wont boot after install inspection shows no boot.ini :confused: looks like duff hdd

doubt it, if it installed the other files. imo never install windows whilst u have another os/same os on a different drive/partition. ive tryed it once with win98 and it ened up putting 6mb on the target drive and linked to the other hdd in the registry :(

Only using one HDD, removed partition with existing install, reformatted to NTFS, reinstalled w2k and same error. Chkdsk finds/repairs errors and fixboot/fixmbr doesnt help.

I can only imagine it is a physical problem with the disc......

Lemming,
depending on what make that Dell HD is, you'd better download from the manufacturer a low level disc check and run it.
Maxtor have their PowerMax Diagnostics program, IBM have Disc Doctor, etc.

Have a look on the website and give it a try. It'll ask for a floppy and create a bootable checking program, so you can certify for sure if that HD is on its way out. I'd recommend your friend doesn't power up the pc unnecessarily, 'cos if the HD is on its way out, just having it powered up may damage more sectors if it's a physical problem.

Hope this helps
Token

tried using "fdisk /mbr" ?