Text 5546, 123 rader
Skriven 2005-03-22 09:10:00 av MARTIN ATKINS (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JAMES BRADLEY
Ärende: FAT scramble/image butcu
================================
-=> JAMES BRADLEY wrote to MARTIN ATKINS <=-

<much cut>

JB> I'm losing you here. The data to be burned to CD must first reside on
JB> the primary Linux partition? 

I have suggested no such thing. You have not sufficiently described
your set up. What i am doing is trying understand what disks, 
partitions and operating systems you have on your errant machine.

With out this information it is difficult for me to give you advice
on how i would go about trying to recover it.

JB> You wouldn't *have* to ISO it would you?
JB> I'm pretty sure I've seen you on TECH, but if *you* want to move this
JB> there...

Yes i think this is the way to go. Start the thread afresh and 
comprehensively describe you current disks and operating systems
you have installed. Then what went wrong and what you are trying to do 
to fix it. For instance i didn't know you where trying to install
using an ISO nor do i know where you are trying to install it from.

I was under the impression your main goal was to recover the first
partition on you master disk. I'm flying blind here James. ;)

MA> If it is a windows setup then can't you just reformat and
MA> install the system again? Or maybe install over the top
MA> of what you have and see if that fixes it.

JB> How I've been trying. When 98's scandisk suggested I should run the
JB> Windows version to fix the problem, and Setup wouldn't run until I do

Did you try running scandisk from DOS?

JB> so... Just yesterday, I tried to diskdruid hda, but it seems to be
JB> timing out. 

That probably is the result of your suspected hardware problem but
it is not likely to be the result of a scrambled MBR.

JB> hdb, I don't feel like tearing up too much until I get a
JB> chance to back up those other partitions. The trouble as I see it, is
JB> Windows doesn't want to install until I run the Windows version of
JB> scandisk. Go to jail. Do not collect $100.

James i have no intention of going to jail. Your problem as i understand 
things is with the first partition on hda.

MA> If it's Linux and you attempt to make it root you could end up
MA> with a scrambled system.

JB> NOW you tell me! <L>

It would only be problem _depending_ on the way you had installed Linux
but since you are trying to install Win you needn't worry about it. 

MA> IMHO before you do anything you should post in the tech echo
MA> exactly what you are trying to do and the current disk
MA> configuration.

JB> I just might have to. Shoot, I might just have a botched controller.
JB> <Scratching head>

I could be a bad connection. I have one on the machine i'm using
and it is a PITA. It will work for weeks before going on the blink.

MA> Done wrongly you could end up having to reinstall all the
MA> operating systems and would probably loss data. Back up all
MA> your important data.

JB> Ya, ya... Backups are for the unadventurous. <L like a maniac>

If you have a working Linux on the same machine then backing up
an entire disk can be (depending on the disk size) a very swift 
operation.  

JB> Indeed! I can feel another grey hair comin' on.

Remember we do this for fun. ;)

JB> I'm going to pull out the W98 tonight, to see if I can obliterate the
JB> "unexpectedly long filename" (...Or some-such.) that is keeping setup
JB> from setting up. This just smells like an endless loop.

What long file name? Is this yet another piece of information we don't 
have? :-} 

JB> I just worked on it a bit, and at least 98 started to install this
JB> time, until:

JB> Generic installer Error
JB> Message SU99405
JB> UpdateInis=Processing error
JB> (0x195)

JB> Capitalization is as accurate as I can assume. 

Doesn't ring any bells with me.

JB> The "Update" might be
JB> followed w/a lower case "l" though. Jimminy! This pig is going to fly
JB> *through* the friggin' window soon! Next I'll try to install W'98 to
JB> IDE-1. I wasn't able to install to C:\W, as that contained a desktop
JB> directory, so I tried C:\WA, when the above reported.

Forget windows for the time being. Your first priority is to recover
the first partition on your master disk or to see if we have a problem
with IDE 0. There is something you can do that won't stress you out
to much. Make a bootable DOS floppy with FDISK and SYS on it.

After that we can move along and see if we can't grab this disk by the 
balls.

Above all don't get angry. Angry people make mistakes. We can move
to tech now take a deep breath and start again from scratch. :-}

 
L8r. :)
 
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