windows 98 failure

[mwsales4]

I have a presario 5209 running Windows 98. I turned it on and got "Non system disc error" as if there were a floppy left in the drive, but there was no floppy and I could not escape from the screen or get Windows to run. Suspecting a hard drive failure, i used the Compaq Restore disk and got the error message "Quick restore cannot continue- error code PQCFG-001.What to do next?

[b1kra]

hi mwsales4

Dosen't sound good, not sure you can get the machine started since the restore failed. Can you boot from a windows start up disk?

If so, you could search for the C:\drive to rule out a faulty hdd.

Do a cd c:\ from the c:\windows prompt. then do a dir/w

and see if you are able to see the directory of c: (Good)

Then just three finger salute out and remove the floppy before boot up can proceed.

Post back the results and perhaps someone will be able to assist you further

[Alfons]

You can see if the HD is recognized by watching the POST dialogue. If it tells your that you don't have a Primary Master then non of the DOS commands like CD or DIR are going to do anything because DOS cannot see anything that the BIOS can't. You can try to do an autodetect in BIOS, after you've checked all the cables and other common sense stuff.

[redstone]

If the BIOS doesn't recognize the hdd after checking all cabling you can try this as a last resort. Remember to try everything else 1st.
Pull the hdd out and whack it on a hard surface. Put it back in and boot the computer. If it works, copy the contents to a new drive. Remember, this is a last resort effort. I would be looking for a new hdd.

Red

[weatherman]

No do not hit the hard drive hard on a table, this could do much more damage to the hard drive. It may be time for a new hard drive.

Good Luck

PC Doctor

[zipulrich]

Sorry, weatherman, redstone's right.

It'll do more damage to the table than the drive. :D

[enat66]

But if the thwack decalibrates the hard drive hand the hard drive could destroy itself.

[weatherman]

Originally posted by zipulrich
Sorry, weatherman, redstone's right.

It'll do more damage to the table than the drive. :D

I don't think so.