Installed Win2K Pro, dual booting Linux, and I was trying to to set up a
floppy for BIOS flash. It seems the machine will not boot into DOS from
a floppy or CDROM as long as the HDD is connected. It reads a few tracks
from the floppy, then the HDD access LED flashes, and the FDD just quits
doing anything. OTOH, it will boot up from the Win2K boot floppies.

I suppose this is a Win2K "feature", as using a different HDD with
ME/Linux installed will allow booting DOS from the FDD/CDROM.

Of course I can flash the BIOS w/o a HDD, so this is mostly to satisfy
my curiosity.

Thanks,
Larry

Try another floppy? www.bootdisk.com

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Larry" wrote:
| Installed Win2K Pro, dual booting Linux, and I was trying to to set up a
| floppy for BIOS flash. It seems the machine will not boot into DOS from
| a floppy or CDROM as long as the HDD is connected. It reads a few tracks
| from the floppy, then the HDD access LED flashes, and the FDD just quits
| doing anything. OTOH, it will boot up from the Win2K boot floppies.
|
| I suppose this is a Win2K "feature", as using a different HDD with
| ME/Linux installed will allow booting DOS from the FDD/CDROM.
|
| Of course I can flash the BIOS w/o a HDD, so this is mostly to satisfy
| my curiosity.
|
| Thanks,
| Larry

Dave Patrick wrote:
> Try another floppy? www.bootdisk.com
>
Dave--

Did that. Win98SE bootable disk, MaxBlast bootable disk, etc., makes no
difference.

While the HDD with Win2K is attached to the computer, no floppy disk
(not even subbing a different floppy drive) will boot, except disk 1 of
the Win2K boot floppy disk set. Neither will a CD boot in DOS, such as
Partition Magic CD, ASUS utilities, etc.

Removing the hard drive or subbing one with, for instance, ME--voila, it
will boot from the floppy or CD.

Thanks,
Larry

This has to be a hardware issue since the fixed disks and or the contents on
them is not in the picture if the first boot device is bootable and contains
an operating system.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Larry" wrote:
| Dave--
|
| Did that. Win98SE bootable disk, MaxBlast bootable disk, etc., makes no
| difference.
|
| While the HDD with Win2K is attached to the computer, no floppy disk
| (not even subbing a different floppy drive) will boot, except disk 1 of
| the Win2K boot floppy disk set. Neither will a CD boot in DOS, such as
| Partition Magic CD, ASUS utilities, etc.
|
| Removing the hard drive or subbing one with, for instance, ME--voila, it
| will boot from the floppy or CD.
|
| Thanks,
| Larry

Dave Patrick wrote:
> This has to be a hardware issue since the fixed disks and or the contents on
> them is not in the picture if the first boot device is bootable and contains
> an operating system.
>
Sounds reasonable. Haven't had this motherboard long enough to
experience all its quirks.

The HD access LED flashes briefly during FD boot, then the FD quits
reading and the system just sits there doing nothing. I just built this
machine last week and was trying out different software configurations
when I came across this anomaly.

Maybe the BIOS flash will fix it...

Thanks for your input.

Regards,
Larry

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Larry" wrote:
| Sounds reasonable. Haven't had this motherboard long enough to
| experience all its quirks.
|
| The HD access LED flashes briefly during FD boot, then the FD quits
| reading and the system just sits there doing nothing. I just built this
| machine last week and was trying out different software configurations
| when I came across this anomaly.
|
| Maybe the BIOS flash will fix it...
|
| Thanks for your input.
|
| Regards,
| Larry

Dave Patrick wrote:
> You're welcome.
>
Dave,

Just for the record... I flashed the latest BIOS and now the computer
will boot from a floppy with the Win2K HDD attached. All is well.

Thanks again.
Larry

Interesting. Thanks for letting us know.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Larry" wrote:
| Dave,
|
| Just for the record... I flashed the latest BIOS and now the computer
| will boot from a floppy with the Win2K HDD attached. All is well.
|
| Thanks again.
| Larry

Problem continues after all... it was late, I must have had the other
(non-Win2K install) hdd attached. Still won't boot to DOS. I'm beginning
to think it relates to the specific hdd (Maxtor 120GB) but don't have
another hd with Win2K to swap out yet. Still investigating, since I
would like to image this hd with Ghost.

Thanks,
Larry