Hi-

Just trying to work this problem periodically after wiping Grub after the HDD and now trying to boot to a flash card with MS-DOS installed.

Since I'm unable to a damn thing after the invalid system disk error comes up, I'm not sure where to go from here without going out and buying a new HDD. The HDD seems to spin without any fatal sounds which would suggest that it's beyond repair.

I configured the boot properties to scan to the flash drive, but still receive the same infernal error.

Better for me to work with DOS as I know it much better than Grub.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

I know it's an unlikely scenario, but I would first check if the Power Supply Unit (PSU) is giving the correct voltages to the hardware (if you can get your hands on any multimeter). The reason to check the PSU is because if it's giving wrong voltages, it could damage more hardware, before you realize that it's the PSU's fault.
Then I'd check all the hardware connections (not only the HDD itself, but everything inside the case; cables, extension cards, etc.). Then, if all is checked and should be working, I'd run some test to check the HDD, and RAM memory.

Never occurred to check the PSU, and I have a couple of multimeter. I'll have a go at that before checking other things. Think I'll also check all the hardware connections to the MB.

And to correct the original post, I had an updated BIOS configuration on the flash drive - a bit different from the wondrous MS-DOS: so elegant in it's scope and refinery. ;-)

To help you a little:
The ATX 2.2 specifications are in the PDF doc here: http://www.formfactors.org/developer...s%5Catx2_2.pdf
All the connectors are described on page 20., and the appropriate voltages are on page 22.

If you need BTX 1.0 form factor specifications, it's here: http://www.formfactors.org/developer...X_Spec_1_0.pdf
And the pages u would need are 27. through 29.

But the voltage tolerances for both are the same.

Unlikely it is a PSU problem. I've missed something here "after wiping Grub after the HDD"
Why did you wipe grub? Were you having hard drive problems?

I would say that for some reason the PC does not like your flash card and is trying to boot from the hard drive. Since you wiped out grub the disk does not have a boot loader and therefore displays the "invalid system disk error"

What tool did you use to build the flash card so it will boot?

I have been working on a similar problem with a mini-itx board trying to get it to boot a USB flash disk.

Thanks in abundance. It's much appreciated. I first did a cursory analysis of the PSU: no dents; no shaking parts inside, etc. Didn't get around to the multimeter test, but I'll use these .pdfs for reference.

Greatfull with much thanks.

Stephen

Hi, MichaelK:

Yeah, thanks, man. I realized I wiped out the boot loader when I made the stupid mistake of wiping grub off the HDD. So, your reference to the 'invalid system disk' makes perfect sense.

Again, foolishly, I didn't think about the boot loader. Hence, even setting up boot properties in an out-of-date BIOS wouldn't take care of the problem unless I could assign commands. I was just hoping that BIOS would pick it up and I would be able to flash BIOS to upgrade.

Sometime it recognizes the IDE Master, and other times not. Kuser is right - Best to check from the ground up at this point and go through the process of elimination.

I should have everything up and running by Sunday, as I have a lot of repair work to do. I'm also going to invest a lot of time in learning grub.
I like it now, and it has a lot of interesting features.

I'm going to set-up a dual boot with Knoppix. Better yet, I may just install the full Linux version and run windows for my Dad via wine.

Thanks for your helpful input.

Cheers,

Stephen

P.S.- I'll look into your board issue shortly. I have to get to a local LUG shortly.