Question Windows ME PC Can’t format HDD

[crasher046832]

I recently got a Gateway g6-450 for repair. I tried to repair the hard drive as there was tons of corrupt files but it has taken days so far. I have no choice but to format the hard drive but I don’t know a good software to format the hard drive and reinstall Windows 98 (Original OS) I can’t boot into the OS. After the POST I get 2 choices and it’s to either boot into Windows XP (I get a file error) or boot into Windows 95 which puts me into a command prompt but none of the commands work (eg. format c:, scandisk.exe /all) I’m trying to repair the hard drive without buying a new one. I don’t know if I have to type the commands in caps as I’ve been doing this in lower case.
Specs:
Intel Pentium 2 @450 Mhz
Unknown GPU
2x 40.0 gb hard drives

 

[COLGeek]

If you can initiate the Windows install process, you have the option to delete all existing partitions during the installation process.

Another option is to use a live Linux CD and use an app like Gparted to erase the HDD and format as desired....then install Windows.

https://gparted.org/

Why ME? That was a terrible OS, even in its day. Sounds like a great system to put a lite version of Linux on.

 

[TerryLaze]

I tried to repair the hard drive as there was tons of corrupt files but it has taken days so far.

Check connections, ide and power cables, if the mobo has different ide ports try the other ones, if you have a different system with ide try the disk there as well.

Whenever operations take way too long the most probable thing is that the hard drive has had it and is on its way out but sometimes it's just a bad connection or a broken ide controller.

Even if you get a new disk you have to make sure it's small enough for the bios to be able to recognize it. Win 95 systems can easily have a 1Gb limit.

 

[crasher046832]

If you can initiate the Windows install process, you have the option to delete all existing partitions during the installation process.

Another option is to use a live Linux CD and use an app like Gparted to erase the HDD and format as desired....then install Windows.

https://gparted.org/

Why ME? That was a terrible OS, even in its day. Sounds like a great system to put a lite version of Linux on.

Well you can blame the previous owner for installing Windows ME on this pc. Are you sure it will run a lite Linux just on 128mb ram and a 450MHz processor?
Edit: This is a retro system from 1998 btw

 

[crasher046832]

Check connections, ide and power cables, if the mobo has different ide ports try the other ones, if you have a different system with ide try the disk there as well.

Whenever operations take way too long the most probable thing is that the hard drive has had it and is on its way out but sometimes it's just a bad connection or a broken ide controller.

Even if you get a new disk you have to make sure it's small enough for the bios to be able to recognize it. Win 95 systems can easily have a 1Gb limit.

Ok. I’m away from the pc right now but I’ll give it a shot.

 

[COLGeek]

Well you can blame the previous owner for installing Windows ME on this pc. Are you sure it will run a lite Linux just on 128mb ram and a 450MHz processor?
Edit: This is a retro system from 1998 btw

Yep. Pick one from here:

16 Best Lightweight Linux Distributions for Older Computers

Don’t throw your old computer just yet. Use a lightweight Linux distro and revive that decades-old system.

itsfoss.com

 

[crasher046832]

Sorry for the long wait, everyone. But I have checked all connections from drives to mobo and they all look fine. @COLGeek Thank you for the response and the link. I will see if i can find burnable cd and try to install linux on it.
Thanks!

 

[crasher046832]

ive run into 2 problems now. I burned Linux q4OS install onto a cd-rw disk. but when i put it into the Gateway, It boots, and then i get stuck on a screen that says
"SOLINUX 6.04 20190226 ETCD Copyright 1994-2015 H. Peter Anvin et al"
I also cant install a live version of linux because the cd rw disk is too small. only about 640Mb.

 

[SkyNetRising]

the hard drive as there was tons of corrupt files but it has taken days so far.
I’m trying to repair the hard drive without buying a new one.

If the drive is dead/damaged, then there's no point in trying to install anything on it.

Diagnose drive first. Connect it to a working desktop pc. Use HDtune health to diagnose it.
Post screenshot (upload to imgur.com and post link).

 

[crasher046832]

If the drive is dead/damaged, then there's no point in trying to install anything on it.

Diagnose drive first. Connect it to a working desktop pc. Use HDtune health to diagnose it.
Post screenshot (upload to imgur.com and post link).

This is an IDE Hard drive. And I don’t have any other pc that supports IDE. Unless if there is a sata to IDE adapter then I will test it.

 

[crasher046832]

ive run into 2 problems now. I burned Linux q4OS install onto a cd-rw disk. but when i put it into the Gateway, It boots, and then i get stuck on a screen that says
"SOLINUX 6.04 20190226 ETCD Copyright 1994-2015 H. Peter Anvin et al"
I also cant install a live version of linux because the cd rw disk is too small. only about 640Mb.

I removed the q4OS and replaced it with TinyCore Linux. I was able to make some changes and format the hard drive. And this might be a sign that the hard drive is gone for good. When I try to install Windows 98 I get an error saying “Fault in MSDOS” (Random code) if there is any fix to it, let me know. If not, I’ll just get a new hard drive

 

[COLGeek]

What filesystem did you use when you formatted the HDD with Tinycore?

 

[SkyNetRising]

This is an IDE Hard drive. And I don’t have any other pc that supports IDE. Unless if there is a sata to IDE adapter then I will test it.

PCIE IDE adapter then.

 

[crasher046832]

What filesystem did you use when you formatted the HDD with Tinycore?

i did not format the Hard Drive with TinyCore. i replaced the CMOS battery and was able to format the Hard Drive with the windows 98 installation disk. it didn't tell me what file system it used (i assume FAT32). I'm going to see if i can edit the config.sys file on the installation disk if it has said file because I've been looking on different forums when i install windows 98 it gives me a ms dos extension error. and people keep saying that it is memory managers that are messing with the installation.