Uncreative Labs

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

PROBLEM: writing errors to last partition
I am using windows 98 se and fat 32
My p4 mb supports ata 100/133.
I use the newer fdisk for win 98
the drive is a data drive- not bootable.
--------------------------
1) I purchased a new ws 160gb eide drive.
I partitioned it using fdisk to 4-40gb partitions
I had errors writing to the last partition.
2) I requested a rma replacement
I used the wd software and transferred all data
I repartitioned to 5 32gb ( wd partitioning sw)
I transferred all date to the old drive
I returned the NEW drive

3) Norton disk doctor reporte an EXTENDED parition error.
Old drive with wd partitioning and 3-32 gb partitions
It would not permit me to always / usually write to the drive.
Another program said disk manager was present but not active.

4)Last week I borrowed another identical wd 160gb drive.
I laboriously fdisk formatted it using the updated fdisk.
NDD reported there was an extended partition error.

WHAT DO I DO? both wd software and fdisk both create partitions that NDD reports as errors.
I have a copy of "super fdisk" on cd.

I first tried creating a single 169gb partition.
it gave screwy nunbers so I quit and re-fdisked.

I do occaisionally run w 2000. would using that to parition and format the drive work better.?
I would really like to stays with fat 32.

I am intending to purchase a larger drive. a 5000gb
How will I handle that?

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:02 am

While technically possible, FAT32 and Windows 98 do not play well with huge hard disks like the 100+ gig. I had no end of troubles with a 120 gig drive and WIndows 98. As soon as I upgraded to Server 2003 (got it from my university's MSDN program), the problems went away completely. Your best bet is to finally upgrade to Windows 2000 completely.

Your next best bet is to invest in something called Network Attached Storage. They'll run some OS (probably a version of Linux) that can handle the large drive and not mess up. All Windows would have to know is that it's writing to a network drive.

Take a look at various places online for NAS. They have some where it's drive+NAS for a little more than what the drive would be alone. If you're still on dial-up, all you need is a crossover cable to allow one computer to talk to the NAS device. Be sure to get a NAS device that supports gigabit ethernet, even if your computer doesn't. It gives you the option to upgrade later if you get a chance.

FWIW, I have a NAS device in a RAID 6 setup. I can access it from any Windows computer, and usually use it on my computer DVR. At gigabit speeds, video playback is as good as the local hard drive. I can lose 2 disks out of 5 before I lose data. One of these days, RAID of some form will be in every computer. Hard disks are too big and too cheap to have one in a computer any longer.

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

I agree that w 98 has " issues" with larger hd.
I bought my wife a 120g maxtor
and needed a promise ata 133 tx2 card to even run it.
I fdisked 2-60 gb. d:=59gb formatted c=25gb formatted.. after seting it up as 40-40-40 it was
fine on an old mb for 3 years. the second 120 worked properly as well. Later with w 2000 I never noticed a problem.

I asked for suggestions and since it is the extended partition and the last partition that always has the problem. It was suggested that I make the last partiion less than 32 gb. then create a 6th snall 2gb partition and let it have problems, don't use it at all!

Ndd when I let it run and run saw the error and seemed to correct it. Now that the copy process is finished, I will re-test to see.

I tried 3 fdisking schemes the wd program- a form of disk manager
the advanced fdisk from me
Sfdisk super fdisk- in a cd,
and NDD saw a similar error.

I now have the files copied to the borrowed 160gb
I may use w 2000 to create partitions on the OLD drive, Before I copy tham back.
True w 98 is an antique but I am used to it.

Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 261 Location: WisConSin

I had run a 200gb hard drive under Windows 9x for years without any issues.

The main trouble is not Windows 9x which generally is pretty dumb to the drive its run on.

The mainboard, even a P4 does not necessarily deal with the 160gb hd correctly, even if the proper name and size come up. Many systems prior to 2005 had a 128gb HARDWARE limit that could not be bypassed with DOS software.

In fact depending on your system you may not even get it to run under XP above 128gb.

The trouble was with the actual interface hardware as unlike previous changes with IDE some bits and chips physically changed moving to Fat48 hard drives.

Software can't fix it. And ATA133 means nothing in regard to Fat48, some do it others won't

Cheers
Ryan

Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 261 Location: WisConSin

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=78592

Worth a look

http://www.mdgx.com/web.htm#9SU

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

on the borrowed drive, it came upo with the extended partition error
when fdisked with super fdisk cd (sfdisk)
norton disk doctor anfter several minutes seemed to clear the error.
wd told me ( voice) no email recponse)
that using their software I should write zeros to the drive first. possibly any fdisking scheme will then work?
I have a promise ata133tx2 controller. Promise says the manual was old, but the card should support up to 300 gb.
I am considering getting a bigger drive, but a 500 gb is $60.00
My wife is running under w2k 1-20gn 2 120 gn 1-320gb and 2 cd. no ptoblems ( cheaper ecs mb)

I am considering switching to w 2000 and fdisking formatting with w2000 ( still fat 32)
I DISLIKE BEING LOCKED OUT OF A NTFS PARTITION WHEN THE DRIVE FAILS)
yes I know it wastes space.

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

I followed WD's suggestion with their cd
and wrote zeros to the drive.
I tried to fdisk several ways, but finmally there was a dos like fdisk
on the hiren boot cd that I used,.
plugged in the w2000 drive, and used it to dormat the drive.
then LOOKED withnorton disk doctor to see if there was an extended partition error
this time no errors
so I am ready to spend another several hours copying back all the files from the borrowed 160gb drive.

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

the extended partition error
is a chipset deficiency.
true 98 and even w 2000 has some limitations
but even when the system has ata 133 capability ON THE motherboard
that does not mean it will SEE over
128/137 gb
( largest drive sold is 120gb)
this happened when my son researched why his gateway laptop would not see beyone 128gb.
he now has a 120gb and the 320 is in a usb case .

Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 488 Location: pennsylvanai

IF the mb has the intel 865 chipset it does it natively
there is a "sort of" way for the intel 860 chipset to do it. the 48lba adreesing is required.
best to use a P4 with a socket 775
cpu. But those will likely have SATA
controllers and then the e-ide limits are not an issue.
the promise ata 133tx2 card and silicon image and Via pased cards ( the Via cards are often eide & sata gets away from this
BUT sata drives are less expensive. and seemingly the way to go.

I solved MY problem with the ide 160
and my wife solved her problem with her ide 320 by using the drive on a promise controller. Promise said : 300g is ok/ possibly up to ide 500gb
since som,e of the scrapped boards
have sata ports . this means the OLD p4 notrthwood chips are obsolete.
( socket 478) there are Prescott core chips that fit. But I suspect the faster FSB will not be recognized, only the doubling of the on chip cache.
"call this: adventures with scrapyard/garbage picked motherboards" It is amazing what people thropw away. we found a athlon with a flakey mb
in our neighbor;'s trash. changingn to a similar "scrapyard mb".
we just saved the case ram and cpu
from thje neighbor's trash.