Hi. I like working with computers but have limited knowledge of their true inner workings. Upon returning to my computer, I found that it could only start once I inserted the bootdisk in drive A. I figured a virus from Kazaa must have killed Windows, so I decided to format. It didn't work... "Parameter format not correct - C". I found out I need to re-partition (or something to do with partitions) my hard disk and learned of FDISK. Upon typing FDISK and entering, I receive, "No fixed disks present." I don't understand what to do, I would greatly appreciate some help. Thank you.

Go to http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/39833.html The links in response 1 discuss everything you need to do to prepare your machine for Me. Post back if you have problems. Skip

Boot from a boot disk and go back into FDISK. Choose Option 1 - Create Partition. Choose Option 1 - Create a Primary DOS Partition. This will then begin counting up your drive space and partitioning your hard drive. It will then ask if you wish to use teh maximum available space for this drive. Just press enter and it will count up again and automatically partition the whole drive. You are then prompted to re-start your computer. Re-start you computer and again boot from your boot disk. This time, at the A:\> prompt type in: format c: <enter> A message will appear warning that all data will be lost. Press "Y" and then Enter. Your hard drive will now format. Finally, boot from your boot disk once again and choose the option to boot with CDROM Support. Once you arrive at the A:> prompt, insert your Windows ME CD and type in: e:setup <enter> (For your info, when booting from a boot disk:- A:= Floppy, B:= not used, C:= Hard Drive, D:= MS RAM (virtual)Drive & E:= CDROM Drive, hence E:setup) Hope this helps Simon

When I type, "FDISK", it doesn't give me any options, it just says, "No fixed disks present." "format c:" doesn't work, either. It says, "Parameter format not correct - c". Same thing with, "a:format c:" It won't let me run Setup telling me I need to partition my drive... but FDISK won't give me the options to partition. I appreciate the quick response.

Ah. In that case, and from your original post (sorry - should have read it more closely the first time !! lol)......... It sounds to my as though your hard drive is faulty. My guess is that when you came back to your PC and re-booted it, it came up with a message along the lines of "Invalid system disk. Replace and press any key when ready" ? Also, have you been aware of your PC freezing up from time to time recently ? If so, that could have been like a warning sign of the failure which I suspect has now occured. If it is a faulty hard drive then the only solution is to replace it I'm afraid. Regards S

Also.... Before we write the drive off completely.... Check to make sure that all the cables are tightly connected to both the drive and to the motherboard. And check that the power cable into the drive is actually powering the hard drive.

And, get into bios and find out if your hard drive is recognized. If your machine is old (you gave no details) hard drive parameters my need to be entered manually. In other words, if your bios does not see a hard drive, fdisk won't see it either. Skip