Hi all. On my 40 Gig HD I have Dynamic Disk Overlay installed, I do not know how I got this, possibly a careless click when setting up my HD originally.
Anyway, I have since discovered that some programs do not support DDO on the HD. I encountered one such program and it relates to a 'Restore" type program.
As I result I want to remove it.
A search on the Western Digital web site said that if I download their tool 'Data Lifeguard Ver 11.0 for DOS' and followed their instruction labelled Answer ID 1103 this function can be removed.
I followed the instruction to the letter, but when it came to actually clicking on the function to perform the removal, I found that the button was 'grayed out' and not functional.
I tried every thing to get it to work but could not. I know that I still have DDO installed as when the PC boots up and still in the DOS screen, a blue banner is displayed to advise that the DDO has been installed.
So the problem still exists.
The problem of the 'grayed out' button is now subject to an email(response I hope) from Western Digital as to why.
A Ghosting of the HD and then a FDISK and Format then a re-ghost does not work as it looks like the DDO is also re-installed with other data.
Watch this space for further development!
Regards
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Hi Janset, I think you've got all the situation about right.
The careless click etc. The DDO is almost surely not needed on a P4 mobo. Those overlays were used in the mid 1990s when HDs became available that exceeded the capacity of BIOS to address them.
Since you've already done Ghost & format [and it didn't help] you are apparently backed up and ready for a clean start.
The batch below will wipe the DDO and everything else from the FIRST HD. Be careful.
As posted the batch won't DO anything. To enable it, you need to 'un-comment' the last line by removing the double colon.
::== nukeHD1.bat
@echo off > nuke1.decho This will NUKE the hard drive partition on the first hard drive
echo.
echo If this is not what you want to do, STOP NOW!
pause
echo.>> nuke1.d echo f 200 L200 0
>> nuke1.d echo a 100
>> nuke1.d echo mov ax,301
>> nuke1.d echo mov bx,200
>> nuke1.d echo mov cx,1
>> nuke1.d echo mov dx,0080
>> nuke1.d echo int 13
>> nuke1.d echo int 3
>> nuke1.d echo.
>> nuke1.d echo d 100 LF
>> nuke1.d echo g=100
>> nuke1.d echo q::debug < nuke1.d
:: DONE
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
Hi Mechanix2Go. I have to confess that I do not know how to use batch files to achieve a desired result.
I suspect however, should I know how to use your work, then that would in fact have the same effect as either re-formatting or writing zeros onto the HD.
I would still retain my problem in that, when I re-Ghost with the backup, the DDO would be replaced again as has already happened.
I am hoping that (If and) when Western Digital get back to me explaining how to overcome the 'greyed out button' problem, then I will be able to do the removal of the DDO "only" leaving the existing file systems and data in tack.
That is my ultimate goal.
As you may have guessed, I am resisting a complete re-install if at all possible.
Regards
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Hi Janset, If WD shows the way to nix the DDO and keep the data, it's a slick trick I's like very much to learn.
For future reference, the way to use the script is to boot on a DOS floppy. Many available here:
www.bootdisk.com
Most any version will do; the simpler, the better. The only file required is debug.exe; and, of course, the script.
FYI, the DDO is in the very first 512 bytes [200 hex] of the drive. That's where the partition table and MBR live.
When a drive with DDO boots, the DDO code is loaded and functions as a "BIOS extender" providing large drive access to older BIOS.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
Hi Mechanix2Go. I guessed that the DDO was in the beginning somewhere as the 'blue banner' advising that it has loaded appears whilst still in the DOS mode of booting, but I did not know how far in.
I should really experiment on my 5 gig 'suicide' drive (ME OS) with your batch file as it would definitely be a learning curve.
How would I go about applying your batch file using, say, a Win 98 SE boot disk?
Do I insert it at the A: prompt after I eventually get there by what ever means?
I am aware of the www.boot-disk.com site as I have prowled there before just to have a look see.
If Western Digital does come up with the 'Magic Bullet', rest assured I will post the result here. They have not got back to me as yet. If I do not hear from then next week, I will update my request.
It was my original intention to post this as an information posting, but your contribution is an unexpected bonus. ;-)
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
"Do I insert it at the A: prompt after I eventually get there by what ever means?" Yes, but you need to be booted on a DOS floppy; NOT in a "DOS" session in windows.
Let us know.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
Hi Mechanix2Go Thanks for that. As I said, I will not rush into this as I am loathed to have a complete re-install of all programs updates and the like if I can possibly avoid it.
I got a response from Western Digital, but would you believe it was a "are you satisfied with the service we have given you, blah blah".
I replied that I was not as they did not answer my question on how to overcome the greyed out button relating to the removal of the DDO.
Now lets wait and see (again) as to what the response will be this time.
Regards
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Great "response" from WD. LOL
If you have the time and energy, use your suicide drive and try the script at a DOS session WITHIN Me. I'm very curios to see how it acts. And have no suicide drive of my own.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
http://www.computing.net/dos/wwwboard/forum/14600.html was earlier discussion here about these utils.
Also be aware that when you do manage to remove it... you have no access to the contents of the drive afterwards... So wise to backup/copy all data etc. to suitable media beforehand and to check the copies are valid/accessible etc. before going any further thereafter...?
Hi guys. Good news....All fixed, with all data still intact (too the best of my knowledge anyway).
Summary of end play:
It looks like the problem may have resolved it's self. I clicked on and printed their advice which referred to another supplied answer, No 1206 (which merely tells you what buttons to push and is a no brainer).
I then proceeded as per (no brainer)instructions. However, when it came to following the instructions, this time I found that the only button grayed out was No 3..."Convert Drive Format", (which they said I should click on,) but this time I found that the "Remove Dynamic Overlay" was NOT grayed out!I clicked on the latter and presto, I was advised that the overlay had been removed.
I re-booted without the Data Lifeguard disk inserted, and during the boot-up the Pc bought up 2 self diagnostics/repair screens after which Windows booted correctly.
I made several test re-boots and at no time was the DDO banner displayed, so it looks like the problem may now be resolved.
It also appears that the installed programs may NOT have been corrupted in this case other than my sound effects not playing when functions are applied, but that is a small price to pay. I think I may have to re-path these sound effects to the events again or possibly re-install new drivers.
Like I said a small price.
The only thing different that I did this time that I know was that I left my slave drive connected instead of removing it (as I had done before).
My slave does not have DDO, it is simply a formated FAT32 200 Gig HD.
Thanks guys for your assistance.Regards
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Thanks for letting us know.
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
Mechanix2Go Just a question.
In your batch file (for my later experimentation), the very first entry before' nukeHD1.bat....' there are a couple of horizontal dashes and what looks like a couple of periods before the lower horizontal line, are they requires?
Also in your list with all those >>nuke1.d echo....etc. do I need to enter also all those >>
>>
>> etc.Regards
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Hi Janset, What I usually do is put in top and bottom "cut lines", like this:
::== the batch starts after this line
here's the script
:: DONEYou can leave in the cut lines or leave them out. They have no function in the script. They are equivalent to:
REM == the batch starts after this line
here's the script
REM DONEMy purpose is to make clear which part of a post is the script.
You need to get all the lines between the cut lines EXACTLY as posted.
The blank below this line is crucial:
>> nuke1.d echo q
You can get a fresh copy Here
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
Good for you Janset: My experience was with whatever WD were using in the early 90s. It was pain to remove..., and it did leave the drive in question inaccessible (it was the main/boot-drive) but as it was no great event to rebuild (data was safe elsewhere) I didn't lose any sleep...
Another attempt with the util and another drive at a later date left me with a drive I cannot for the life of me reconfigure/reformat... It appears to fail in sector(1)...?
A very bright lady at WD support site did help me remove the util from the drive - successfully - but it will just not reformat... As it's more of a museum piece these days (something around 350-600Megs capacity...!) it doesn't really bug me; but it would be nice to know why the drive will not reformat, following the removal of the DDO. Fdisk /mbr was involved in the routine from the lady at WD - can't recall if anything else was. The disks I had did include the un-install option/sequence too.
Said lady did strongly advise a backup etc. of all the usual critical stuff - first - before removing the DDO... I guess she was aware of the possible problems some appear to have had...
With the above in mind, you can see why I advocate a backup etc. first, and the caveat that you may not retain access to drive...? Fortunately you didn't have that problem... (Just noticed that the "may" was missing in my initial post: "...you have no access to the contents..." Must proof read more carefully before posting...)
Will keep the contents of this post safe; may come in useful one day - if only in an historical setting...?
And thanks to M2 for his invaluable input...
Hi guys. Just a little update on "no sound" after removing the DDO.
I HAD THE VOLUME TURNED DOWN, didn't I!!! Doh!
Is this what they call a Senior moment?
trvlr,
I had a similar problem once of not having the disk recognised, I can not remember as to how that came about, but one of the things that I do remember was that I tried out Western Digital as well as Seagate disk tools and with one of them I re- wrote the entire disk with Zeros. It was a WD HD.
From there I think I did a Fdisk and then a reformat to FAT32 and got every thing back again. However I must say I can not be sure if that is what I did as it was a long time ago and it was a 'one off'.
As to a back up when playing around with DDO I was not worried as I had Ghosted a back up.
Regard
Thinking hurts my head that's why I live in West Australia
Hi trvlr, It's not obvious what went wrong with that 350MB ish HD.
If sector 1 is bad, you'd have little to lose witha LLF.
I used to carry a boot disk, probably DOS 5. with a minimalist Novell 3.11 and use the Novell LLF on drives up to about 120MB.
I don't have it now. There was a whole foot locker full of floppies that didn't make the leap to hyperspace.
LOL
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.M2
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