STARTUP PROBLEMS!

[mranzau226]

I just recently added a 2nd hard drive to my computer.
I now have a 2GB Caviar 32500 on my C: drive and a 2GB Caviar 22500 on my D: drive. My D: drive is partitioned so it is d and E. When my computer works it seems a little slow, but is old so I can get over that. My problem is this and it happens every day I turn my computer on for the first time.

When I start my computer it seems to go all the way to the windows98 startup screen, then when it should be going to the desktop it stops and only shows a cursor. When I turn it off and back on I am able to get in with safe mode, than after not really doing anything I restart it and it starts up, but then it says the display is wrong and it doesn't register my d drive, so than I restart again and it seems to work again. This happens every new day and is quite annoying since the previous day once AI get it started it always seem to restart correctly. I have used the troubleshooter in win98 but I have not been able to figure out the problem, especially since the problem keeps changing. I have been using msconfig, but I really am not sure if what I am doing is even making a diference.

I spend nearly half of my day trying to figure this out, but I am no computer goddess so I have no luck. Maybe someone out there has some glimmer of hope for me?[FONT=century gothic]

[wallie_x]

A little more info please about your system. It could just be a BIOS issue. If the 2nd HD's parameters are not set correctly in the BIOS it could cause some issues. Also, did you set the jumpers correctly to master for the primary boot drive and slave for the 2nd HD? If that doesn't work you might try setting both to cable select.
To get it to work better you may need to update 'flash' the BIOS (but lets not
More info about make, CPU, mobo etc would be most helpful.
Good Luck, Wallie_x

[mranzau226]

I have a Compaq deskpro with 32MB Ram. I believe I have the jumpers set correctly, it took quite some time for me to figure those out. I believe I have 2 jumpers set on each drive, is that what cable select is? Anyhow, I am a little slow on computer terms, so please elaborate, what is mobo? And what other info do you need? Thanks, Mary

If you're getting to Windows, sounds like the jumpers are okay.

One way to check is in the BIOS. When your PC first powers on, you should see a screen that says to push F1 or F2 or DEL to go into the BIOS. You should then be able to see if your new HDD (hard drive) is being recognized.

Although, when you talk about your display being messed up, and other things going wrong, it could be a corrput registry that's causing that.

Have you tried just unplugging the new drive to see if it goes back to the way it was before?

Your mobo is your motherboard btw.

[mranzau226]

I have pretty much made a new computer here cause my secondary drive is the original c: drive and vice versa. I have combined 2 of my computers into one(call me Frankenstein) and like the good doctor I am having problems with my creation.
Once I get into windows I don't have any trouble, it is just all the other crud I have to go through to get there that is driving me a little nuts.
where do I find motherboard info...I don't have my computer lit any longer so I am working blind.
how would i fix a corrupt registry?

Originally posted by mranzau226
my secondary drive is the original c: drive and vice versa

So, if I understand correctly . . .

Your original "C:" drive is now your "D:" and "E:" and you have a new "C:" ?

[mranzau226]

Yeah, although I wouldn't call it new, it was the D drive in my other computer, I formatted and repartitioned it.

And you reinstalled 98 to this new/old "C:" ?

To make sure we're all on the same page . . .

"C:" -> Was your old "D:" from another PC, you partitioned, formatted, installed 98

"D:" and "E:" -> Was your old "C:", you partitioned and formatted

[mranzau226]

Yep, that's what I did. Is there hope for me do you think?

You could try a reinstall of 98. Just run the setup again and it should clean itself up. You won't lose any data as long as you don't format. You WILL have to reinstall any programs and such.

If it were me, I'd just start from scratch and format "C:" again and reinstall everything. But then, I've installed so many OS's it's not a big deal to me.

Before you do though, you could download all your drivers and stuff to your "D:" or "E:" so you have them right there handy after you install.