-=> WAYNE CHIRNSIDE wrote to MARTIN ATKINS <=-

-> For the time being ATAPI is the least of your problems. You said
-> some where that you have a ram based setup. Can't you make a Linux
-> boot floppy and fdisk from that? I mean of course after you have
-> moved the H/D to the /dev/hda position.

WC> Interesting idea but the motherboard BIOS won't see over 32 Gig.
WC> I already have a Tom's rootboot disk made up.

You said the original BIOS couldn't see beyond 8 gig. 32 looks closer 
to the mark. How much more mis-information do we have about this
celeron 433?

WC> In any case the Knoppix release already gives me that capability
WC> from ram drive but no longer sees the drive after the Windows
WC> installation attempt.

In order to run knoppix you need i think ATAPI. Get rid of all problems
between the BIOS and the master disk. If you don't put this H/D
master on the /dev/hda then put it master /dev/hdc. But why would
you want do that? The master is the first disk the bios sees and if that 
is screwed so is the rest of your system.

-> -> If it can see only 8gig then
-> -> so be it. Give the entire disk over to Windows after you have destroyed
-> -> all partitions. Then split it in half using "fips"
and Linux the rest.

-> WC> Yeah, had I run FIPS even in it's -t option I could use restorrb
-> WC> and rewrite the MBR.

-> Oh well we all make mistakes. That is some times how we have to learn.

-> -> When or if it works then move it to /dev/hde and see if it will boot.

-> -> By the way did it boot when you installed Linux the first time?

WC> On the previous drive a 6.4 Gig everything went fine, dual boot
WC> Linux - Win 98.

Win 98 and 95 will at least see 8 gig but 98 will almost certanly see 
32bit and so you may get probably 32gig or 64. 

WC> It's that one lousy Gig over 64 that caused Windows defective fdisk to
WC> scramble the drive.

Over 64 gig becomes portions of the next cylinders so above 64 is 128
so the next boundery is 128 gig or there abouts. ;)

-> WC> Oh absolutely, Linux saw the drive perfectly and fdisk -l
-> WC> listed all partitions as I'd allocated them.
-> WC> Then came Windows :-(

-> You probably would have been better off with a direct lightning
-> strike. :)

WC> Feels about like that.

Your gonna have to back peddle if you want to recover from this 
one. :(

-> -> If that works then you can fdisk using Linux to get the larger size.

-> WC> I don't think anything will work now as neither Linux fdisk -l
-> WC> or fdisk /dev/hde works failing to see a hard drive.
-> WC> This after Windows installation attempt.

-> Just thinking something won't work doesn't mean it won't. After
-> all what ever you try now can hardly do much more damage.

-> -> If you want to make the Linux partition larger then it shouldn't
-> -> be a
-> -> problem. You should also be able to use some space for another
-> -> Windows
-> -> partition. Don't forget once you have grabbed the lower portion of the
-> -> disk (notional 1024) cylinders you can do as you please with the rest.

-> WC> Nope, no more Windows for me thank you.

-> I always have a small Win on my machines encase Linux has trouble with
-> new hardware. If the manufacturer is being a pain in the arse and not
-> releasing information, you can at least find out what the interrupt and
-> io addresses are. Also my bank uses MS Java. :(

WC> My bank uses software compatible with Mozilla running in this
WC> ramdisk Linux.

I viewed the document and there is no place non MS java is catered 
for. It's a sore point with me. Why would anyone in there right mind
rely on MS for security?

If your problem was originaly ATAPI why not put it master on /dev/hde
and drop the new H/D disk to /dev/hda? You did say that /dev/hde was 
bootable. ;)
  
-> I think you must put that disk IDE 0 master even though you must be
-> getting fed up with the whole thing by now.

WC> I am fed up and will wait until next month to purchase a BIOS'ed I/O
WC> card that supports ATAPI without drivers.

The hard disk is or should be priority. 

WC> I've little stamina in my present state of health and have to
WC> work on the computer laying down turning it as neccessary
WC> on the wheeled cart on which it sits.

I'm by no means old but i do know what it is like to have health 
problems. :(

-> If you do then let me know
-> what you can see. What have got to lose? Maybe if that doesn't work
-> we throw our hats into the Linux echo and see what we get.

WC> Well I'm not going to make the trip to Comp USA for an I/O
WC> card alone to only find it doesn't work, instead I'll buy the card
WC> AND a hard drive.

What about you don't do either until you find out for sure if the H/D
you have is stuffed. 

WC> I'll see about the 65 Gig drive after that.

Put it on /dev/hda or blow another disk out of the water. :)

L8r. ;)
  
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