I think this computer is about to explode!?...

[mersyone]

kay, so I've come to the conclusion that I DON'T know what the f&@% in doing. I told my friend I would help him restore his old Gateway computer as it was pretty messed up.
It was SO MESSED UP I couldn't even burn a backup of the original system/device drivers, etc. So during my attempt to restore, I did that "WDCLEAR" application from MS-DOS (you know, the one that writes zeros to the HD), rebooted,...BUT,...when I attempted to install Windows XP, I get a bluescreen error and it will not continue.

Oh yeah, btw; the original configuration was WINDOWS 98 and
I am trying to install Windows XP.

It's an old Gateway Select K7-650 w/ AMD Athlon processor...
the *original configuration:
http://support.gateway.com/support/srt/docs.asp?sn=0017944581

I did download some drivers from the Gateway and AMD website but it seems I'm still missing an important element.

The Hard Drive itself is estremely loud; soundz like it'z about to "croak!" I feel like the whole thing is about to blow-up!
I think it's corrupt. I can't find the HD volume anywhere in MS-DOS, It was a 20gb, but now it's saying there is only 8gb (apprx).

Can someone help me out! ANYONE!...
(how am I gonna explain this one to my friend)

 

[Apokalipse]

try and find a DOS boot disk with FDISK.EXE
and delete the partition on the drive.
then try installing Windows, formatting the drive to NTFS

 

[mersyone]

i did, although;...which MS-DOS version should I be using. I formatted one with my winxp laptop, but it didn't have any fdisk options.

I even downloaded FDISK.exe and manually put that on a floppy as well but when I tried to partition it, I didn't have the option to format to NTFS.

QUESTION,...when you run the WDCLEAR through your HD, I know it writes nothing but 0's so does that mean it's pure RAW DATA foramat???

 

[Nitestick]

fdisk will not format to ntfs. download a boot *.iso partition utility like the trial of BootIt NG, boot up into it, delete the partitions and repartition and reformat.

 

[pandahater]

You can buy a quick install cd off of Ebay and make things easier.. will cost you about 9 bucks.. The blue screen from what i was told has to do with faulty memory correct me if im wrong anyone can other things cause the blue screen too..

 

[Nitestick]

yes other things can cause the blue screen.

 

[EricB]

use powermax in my signature to wipe it clean