DD> IM>> I've got a utility here that I wrote for DOS which will blast
DD> IM>> the entire MBR off the drive. Send me your E-Mail address.
DD>
DD> Can ya send it to _ME_ as well. I'm the one Andy is trying to help.

On its way. I nearly missed this -- it was addressed to Andy. [:)


DD> The two drives currently in that machine in question are Segate
DD> 4.3GB and a Western Digital 2.5GB.

Be _very_ careful! If you clear the wrong MBR then you're SNAFU'd. I'll 
also send you another two utilities to save and restore your MBR's in 
case you accidentally do the wrong one.


DD> The Seagate drive is the one that
DD> poses the greatest problem as it refuses to allow Bootmanager to be
DD> installed, and will allow OS/2's FDISK to delete partitions, but not
DD> create any.

According to Andy's report, FDisk _isn't_ deleting the partitions. 
According to him, when you reboot the FAT32 partition is still there. 
So, is is still there when you reboot?


DD> AR>>> He said he started out by deleting _ALL_ WIN98 stuff, then
DD> AR>>> running Seagate's Low Level Format.
DD>
DD> IM>> I haven't used the latest incarnation of SGATFMT*; does it have
DD> IM>> a "non-destructive format" option that was used?
DD>
DD> The Seagate format utility I used was destructive. There were at
DD> least two warnings I had to acknowlege before it would actually
DD> start the process, which with the 10.3GB drive, took almost 12
DD> hours!

Really! Gee, I'd like to get my hands on this drive for an afternoon.


DD> AR>>> In typical M$ user fashion he repeats those last steps 1/2 a
DD> AR>>> dozen times until he become frustrated and blames OS/2, then
DD> AR>>> re-installs Win98.
DD>
DD> Correction.... I didn't _blame_ OS/2, I simply stated it wouldn't
DD> load on my system.

What!? [8o You mean Andy is colouring his report of your problem which 
his own preconceptions/assumptions!? I'm shocked! [;*)


DD> Since I've successfully loaded OS/2 on other
DD> machines I had, there obviously has to be something else causing the
DD> problem. The question is what!

Andy reported that FDisk was not removing the FAT32 partition. You're 
the one running the software, does FDisk say that the partition is still 
there or not? How much free space is it reporting?


DD> IM>> Sounds like he's in Micro$oft's target market.
DD>
DD> AR>>> Personally I'm getting very tired of hearing him complain
DD> AR>>> about OS/2 not installing and how wonderful the M$
DD> AR>>> installation is.
DD>
DD> Not how wonderful MS is just the fact that is does install easier
DD> that OS/2 does, even on a "perfect" system.

What?! [8o You mean Andy is colouring his report of your situation!? I'm 
shocked! [;*) Andy seems to be a very knowledgable fellow, but he seems 
to take it very personal if you aren't running the same hardware and 
software in exactly the way that he is.

There is no such thing as a "perfect" system. In my experience Windows 
9x installs very well on an "acceptable" system. (That's "acceptable" 
from the point of view of the average, non-technical consumer. No 
offense intended.) It even installs very well on a fairly low-quality 
system. OS/2 does not seem to install very well on many "acceptable" 
systems, but does install very well on a system of higher quality.


DD> That I do... I've always appreciated your friendship, help and
DD> advice. I think you know that as well.

You're a very easy-going fellow, Dave! If a friend of mine had used me 
in public the way he did you, he wouldn't be my friend for very long. 
OTOH, if it doesn't bother you then you have a very complementary 
relationship.


DD> IM>> Once he _does_ get it installed, who do you think he's going to
DD> IM>> call whenever he has a problem with his OS/2 system? [:)
DD>
DD> Obviously, I'll call Andy, 

What are friends for? [:)


DD> The reason for wanting to install OS/2 is simple.... The BBS System
DD> I'm using simply isn't up to the task I want to do with a BBS.
DD> AdeptXBBS however, is.

Who told you that? Andy!? Have you actually _seen_ Adept running? If 
not, I think you should get yourself over to Andy's and have him give 
you a demonstration, if he hasn't already.

I'm using Adept. So far, if I had to describe it in one word that word 
would be "fantastic", but that doesn't mean that it's ideal for you.

JOOC, what BBS are you using now and what are the shortcomings?


DD> Maybe for you guys it is easy. However, my knowledge of hard drive
DD> geometry is about equal to my knowledge of rocket science.  I can
DD> install 'em, format 'em, do simple diagnostics, etc. but that's it.

[:D Well, you're more knowledgable and experienced than the average!! 
[;) The utility makes it easy.


DD> That's one of the reasons why the frustration level rose so high.
DD> Unless I'm not doing something properly, I've followed _all_ the
DD> suggestions and instructions provided.

You may not be doing anything wrong at all. You may just have a weird 
problem. Try the utility.


DD> Dave Davidson                        dad50@primary.net
DD>                                      dad500@aol.com

Uh... I'll use your "primary.net" address.

Take care and TTYL.

---
 þþ Tough break, farm boy.                        

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