LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Laptop and Netbook
User Name
Password
Linux - Laptop and Netbook Having a problem installing or configuring Linux on your laptop? Need help running Linux on your netbook? This forum is for you. This forum is for any topics relating to Linux and either traditional laptops or netbooks (such as the Asus EEE PC, Everex CloudBook or MSI Wind).

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 08-08-2004, 02:00 PM   #1
Dillius
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Georgia
Distribution: Debian Etch
Posts: 99

Rep: Reputation: 15
Compaq Presario 900... messed up badly


I have been running a dual install of mandrake 9.2 and Windows 200 on my laptop, and recently have been having a large number of Physical Memory Dump errors, crashing the computer. Recently, it damaged my registry and I found myself completely unable to run windows. In trying to fix it... with my limited memory on using Mandrake (Hadn't messed with it in a while) I went into 'drakxconf' and accidently, apparently, whiped out the entire drive. Now the only thing I am able to access is my BIOS and Lilo. Any attempt to load Linux or Windows fails.

Now, the problem is I am unable to recover in any way that I have tried so far. I can not format, having tried a boot disk from Windows 95 and 98 jsut to simply format the drive. It won't let me format. I have tried using the Windows XP Home recovery disk taht was the original operating system and came with the laptop... I has a write error and crashes. I am at a loss on what to do.

My goal is simply to whipe out the entire computer, and start from scratch. Restoring Linux to it is a low priority at first, as I can come back later to do that on my own. I would simply like to be able to recover the drive and reload it's basic Windows XP Home back on it. Any ideas?

Dylan
 
Old 08-08-2004, 10:15 PM   #2
Reefcrazed
Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Distribution: Debian Stretch
Posts: 144

Rep: Reputation: 15
Just be carefull on that laptop, had alot of problems with the 700 and 900 series at my last job, which was a warranty repair center for HP/Compaq. Not saying your has problems, but they are inherent in that model.
 
Old 08-10-2004, 02:28 PM   #3
Dillius
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Georgia
Distribution: Debian Etch
Posts: 99

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Well... I've been able to format most of the drive and install windows 2000... but I am still having a few problems.

There is a small 8mb piece of unpartitioned space i can not do anything with, which i believe contains the lilo boot informatoin. whenever i try to start up the computer, i have an error that says "Invalid Partition Table". Is there any way to get rid of this 8mb area of space, or is it not what is causing the error?
 
Old 08-10-2004, 08:04 PM   #4
Reefcrazed
Member
 
Registered: May 2004
Distribution: Debian Stretch
Posts: 144

Rep: Reputation: 15
Sounds like you need to run dos Fdisk and check to see what it is, reformatting is not enough.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Compaq Presario 900 US Model arst05 Linux - Laptop and Netbook 2 05-17-2006 09:40 PM
Touchpad unusable on a compaq presario 900, DSL 0.9.2. khurdp Linux - Laptop and Netbook 0 01-30-2005 12:25 PM
Mandrake 9.1 on a Presario 900 Prydian Linux - Laptop and Netbook 4 08-14-2003 06:47 AM
Suse Linux 8.1 installation on Compaq Presario 900 with AMD Athlon XP board debloxie Linux - Laptop and Netbook 1 07-27-2003 05:18 PM
Suse Linux 8.1 installation on Compaq Presario 900 with AMD Athlon XP board debloxie Linux - Laptop and Netbook 2 07-24-2003 09:31 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Laptop and Netbook

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:09 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration