"disk D is not formatted. would you like to format it now?"

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:02

I was stupid.

When loading windows 2000 I had a blue screen and it said that it failed to load some driver that had something to do with the CD.

I shrugged, and pressed reset without noting the driver's name.

Now I can't access my CD-ROM at all.

For every disc, be it retail or not, it says "the disk is not formatted" after it makes screeching noises for 3 minutes.

What do I do?

The microsofot knowledge base is BTW the least helpful thing ever.

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:05

Well this information lets us know that you have only one HD. That alone should make you feel ashamed.
And you use win 2000 and then wonder why stuff doesn't work? I hope you didn't pay for it.

Try installing your cd-rom again. Check all the cables inside are ok.

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:10

Is it a CD-ROM - or is it a CD-RW/CD-R/DVD player?

The first 2 often show up as CD-ROMs but aren't - same as the latter unless you have a fairly modern mobo.

The point being, Windows should at least let you use the drive as a CD-ROM...

Anyway, I'd be tempted to remove the drive from the hardware profile and then reboot - Windows should realise it has an extra drive and patch in a low level driver the next time it starts...

HOWEVER, FIRST I suggest you try and download an IDE driver from the mobo manufacturer - that way you've got a driver without having to load one from CD (because the CD drive don't work - get it?)

Any other thoughts folks?

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:10

Pekka? how does that show anything about my HD??

win 2000 works perfectly.. (except this. which i suspect ahs to do with the fact i was tinkering around with stuff and utils )

Ecthy · June 25, 2003, 18:12

cd-rom is always last letter

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:14

Siro, well was I right?

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:15

It's a regular toshiba CD-ROM and it doesn't read anything anymore.

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:18

Pekka - I have one 40GB drive, and 2 partitions. 1 is 7.5 GB NTFS and that is where the system and program files are.

The other is 33GB for my sh*t.

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:19

I was right, yessss! What did I win?

Try installing it again, and if it doesn't work, there must be toshiba support pages where are FAQ or troubleshooting questions and answers, so maybe you can find your answer there?

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
It's a regular toshiba CD-ROM and it doesn't read anything anymore.

Well then, there is a chance that the motor has finally died and your CD-ROM is no more... Drives do die sometimes.

So it might not be Windows that is the problem.

Try borrowing a CD-ROM and see if it works without changing anything else. If it does, you know you need a new CD-ROM...

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:23

The point is: I don't think the problem is with the files supplied by Toshiba, but rather Windows' own CD-ROM handling files... but I don't know which one is wrong, nor can I do a system file restore, since I can't access my Win2000 CD

Thue · June 25, 2003, 18:26

If it was me then I would find a linux rescue disk and try if it worked from there. If it doesn't then it can't be a windows error and you can conclude the drive is dead.

I recommend
-tomsrtbt single floppy boot disk http://www.toms.net/rb/
-knoppix CDROM boot disk http://www.knoppix.org/

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:29

Or maybe... Power down. Then when your machine powers up, press DEL to enter the BIOS.

Change "First boot device" to CD-ROM.

Then see if it will boot off the Windows 2000 disk - if it can't, you almost certainly have a faulty drive.

If it can, I suggest you don't reinstall 2000 again (abort the reinstall, reboot, press DEL and change the BIOS settings again).

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:33

Siro, what you must now do is to format your OS. Then boot it with your win2000 cd. If it still doesn't work, then you know it's with the drive, not OS.

No, don't do that

.

edit: Cruddy provided a better way.

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:35

Cruddy - That's the problem.

It doesn't boot off the Win 2000 disk. (My HD is the 3rd booting device)

BUT that isn't an indicator since I know that the Win 2000 disk I have, has some bad sectors.

So I need a non-damaged bootable CD :/

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:37

OK then. What you have to do is make a boot floppy with the Oak Ridge CD-ROM driver on it. That will let you boot up DOS and start the CD-ROM from there.

This is easier said then done - I'm off to google some tutorials for you. You might try looking yourself...

Edan · June 25, 2003, 18:38

Most likely a driver problem, but you could check and see if the cable from the drive to the controller is loose at all.

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:38

check out www.bootdisk.com

I bet you can burn bootdisk. Oh wait.. it wasn't working.. damn it.

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 18:43

thank you people *hug*

Pekka · June 25, 2003, 18:44

What was the problem? Don't tell me it was the cable being loose?

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:45

Well, for Win 98 the procedure is to go My Computer > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Startup Disk > Create Disk...

Doubt if 2000 is the same - but the Startup disk is definitely what you need.

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 18:46

Hooray! Happy Siro.

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 19:10

I didn't say I solved it.

Only that I appriciate your effort

Sirotnikov · June 25, 2003, 19:12

I'm not sure the win2k bootdisk can access the CD.

Skanky Burns · June 25, 2003, 20:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Pekka - I have one 40GB drive, and 2 partitions. 1 is 7.5 GB NTFS and that is where the system and program files are.

The other is 33GB for my sh*t.

Wouldn't one of your partitions be the d: then?
And your cd be e:

Cruddy · June 25, 2003, 20:54

That's a valid point Skanky. Siro's been silent for a couple of hours now - either his PC his down, he's been ordered to bed, or it's worked and he's off somewhere else.

Best hopes Siro.