Whew!!! I'm back-- with more problems...

Hey All,
I haven't been online for 3 weeks! Since I initially printed out some of the posts, I used them, and thank you. However, now I have a whole 'nother set of problems...

Update:
Since I got to the point that I could not get online at all, and I had Partition Magic & Drive Image by PowerQuest in a zip file, I tried to use them because I could not get back online to download the Acronis suggested. However, I couldn't even use Drive Magic successfully (perhaps due to all the errors on my PC?Or because this was my first time using it?) so now when I reboot, I am stuck with ANOTHER error:
!...
Err 5: Error finding V.Floppy.sys
Err 8: Fake floppy could not be found
Press any key to boot active partition.

Of course, it WILL boot if I press a key, but this is troublesome. (And information that may apply to my PRIMARY problem, below.) I could probably find the answer at the Powerquest site,
but as I mentioned before, this is not my main problem. Eventually, with great effort, my PC took my restore disks, but I fear I have fried my primary HD. A phone technician told me to convert my file system to NTFS after I upgraded to Windows XP Pro, back in January. Now, through Maxwell's dilligent record- keeping, I am finding that this PC is only compatible with Windows ME. http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=bph06162
(WHY didn't the Windows XP tool, or the store where I purchased this PC TELL ME I could not upgrade OS??
Argh!!! )

Primary Problem:
Ok, I can deal with using only Windows Millenium until I get a new PC, but now the HD is only showing 1.99 Gig of space! This makes most tasks, such as system restore, installing printer software, opening mail in Outlook Express, totally impossible! (Originally, it was a 38.1Gig HD.) Would this be because I converted to NTFS? Is there any way possible to get the extra 36 Gig back??? Also, I cannot get the backup of my HD on my USB HD that I made resorting to the Windows XP Pro backup utility. (NTFS also.) I still have a month's warranty with Best Buy, but when I upgraded RAM they told me that my warranty is only valid with the settings, RAM, hardware, etc., that originally came with my computer. Please, any advice will be appreciated. Thanks to everyone for their patience and shared knowledge...

Gina

Specs:
*HP Pavilion XL754
* Windows ME now (after using restore disks)
* Intel Pentium 3 Processor 857 MHZ
*256 mb RAM
*Maxtor 34098H4 HD
*Mitsumi CR-4804TE & LG CD-Rom drives
*ADSL connection

 

first off, if your PC is not compatable with XP, go to the store or place you bought XP, shove it in their face for a refund, and complain to the manager for even more, thats VERY unnacceptable for all your troubles all to find out the idiot their told you wrong.

 

if you're seeing only 1.99 gig's then the drive is probably formated in FAT16 not FAT32 which has a 2gig barrier. You'll need to use the drive converter in ME to convert to fat32 and then you'll need to use Partition Magic or some partition manager to "extend" the current partition into the unpartitioned space.

 

Thanks for the replies!

S0mE0nEsMiNd: The retailer I bought the XP Pro CD from had no clue that my PC was not compatible. It was Best Buy, the store where I purchased my PC, that could have saved these headaches... but then again, if you read through the posts in this thread, you will see that they actually told me that their records showed I purchased a 9871 model instead of an XL754! So their phone techs told me I should have no problem upgrading to the XP Pro, when I had only 64 mb. RAM! (Wha???) Another phone tech told me that I should change my file system to NTSF & walked me through the process! Then, they told me that they were not liable for the extra RAM added to the PC, when I actually took the tower in and let them insert the memory boards! So, I'm wary of phone techs and retailers. As my LAST result, I WILL walk into their store and throw a tantrum in front of a manager, but I doubt it will do any good... They will say they are not liable... yada, yada, yada. I have gotten better advice from this forum than I have from the Best Buy technical support I paid out the nose to get for 3 years. (My apologies to any fellow geeks who may work for Best Buy as I have also, on rare occasions, received quality support from them.) Thanks, though, for seeing the injustice. I actually paid $1500 for this piece of crap! It helps to have someone get angry WITH me...

Kodo: If your theory is correct, would my machine read my USB D drive, which is 80 Gig, not 38.2, as BEING 38.2? (Screenshot below) The extra 42 Gigs were probably NTSF, since I mirrored my HD through Windows XP. Also, where is the drive converter in ME? I have already right clicked the C drive & clicked on "Format." I get a message that reads "Windows cannot format this drive because it contains files in use by Windows." So, could you elaborate? I apologize for my lack of knowledge. I do own Partition Magic & Drive Image but have never really used them...

Thank you!

Gina

PS: By the way, the drive format on C reads FAT & my external USB D drive, FAT32.

 

If the additional space was formatted in NTFS then I would dare say that is your reason. Load up Partition Magic and delete that extended non-dos partition (as it should say something like that) and then convert your primary partition to FAT32 (if it's not already ) then use the slider to drag the partitions size to the end of the drive. You'll see what I'm talking bout when you load up Partition Magic.

You can tell if your drive is formatted in FAT, FAT32, NTFS by right clicking on the drive icon and looking for the spot that says FILE SYSTEM at the top (3rd one down from the top).

 

Kodo-- We're on at the same time

Kodo:

I just added a PS to my message, probably at the same time you were posting. The drive format on C reads FAT & my external USB D drive, FAT32. Should I still do as you said?

If I delete an extended non- DOS partition, should I back up first? Also, with the USB HD, do I unplug it first? (Or am I being paranoid?? LOL!)

Thanks for the help!

Gina

 

remove the USB drive when doing this to reduce drive letter confusion.

If it says FAT then it's on the 2gig limit. if you have a non-dos partition (NTFS) then ME can't read it and you can't back it up any way so just blow it away with a smile

 

Argh!!!

Ok, I am going to try to have as much patience with myself as YOU have with me. I put all my programs on my USB drive (except Windows.) Do I need to reinstall Partition Magic on my C drive?

Thanks!!!
Gina

 

yes, Install it on C:

 

Kodo!

Hmmm.... What do you think??

 

Kodo:

What I meant by the snapshot is, I didn't LOSE anything that I cannot get back by purchasing a laptop, which I plan to do in the next 2 weeks or so-- right?

Thanks,
Gina

BTW, I still need to install Partition magic on C drive, right?

 

Ok, thanks! If you want to comment on the screenshot, I'll leave it & remove it in an hour or two.

Thanks again!


Gina

 

Right click on the c drive and choose convert to: FAT32.. then run that task.. when that is done then you can extend that c drive into the unallocated space to the right.

 

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/docume...XGR3UOSQ?reg=na&cc=us&docName=bph06783&lc=en&

 

Excellent catch Thunder!

 

Hi Gina,

I have sent you a detailed reply by e-mail.

With regard to Windows XP capability, I quote from my e-mail:

Problem 3) Windows XP

What I was trying to say is that a basic install of Windows XP may not be compatible with your computer since you will need Windows XP compatible drivers (see update software and drivers on http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/product.jhtml?reg=&cc=us&lc=en&pagetype=hppavilion25705).

However, HP have this page to advise on whether your HP is upgradable: http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/docume...Id=hppavilion25705&docName=bph06720&cat=setup and you can see that your PC (an XL7 series) with ME as a base install is upgradable. BUT, in HP's own words: "Upgrading to Windows XP is not recommended for all PCs, especially where the base platform has not been tested and qualified for use with Windows XP. In such situations, the upgrade experience may not be very satisfying and could diminish the functionality of the PC. Under these circumstances, a new PC with Windows XP pre-installed is the preferable choice". Also, the PC must satisfy the minimum hardware requirements of (again quoted from HP):
128 MB of RAM memory
1.5 GB of free space on the hard disk drive
600 MHz microprocessor
Windows Millennium Edition (Me) operating system preinstalled
System qualified as a Windows XP Ready PC
Internet access (strongly recommended)
NOTE: Microsoft's specified minimum system requirements may differ.

The upgrade guidelines are: http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/docume...XGRMEOSQ?reg=na&cc=us&docName=bph06783&lc=en& (link from the above page for XL7 - ME).

 

maxwell.. the link was already posted above

 

Sorry... I guess I wasn't very clear...

Thanks to everyone for the replies...

Actually, right now I really don't care what OS this 'puter uses, I just want to get my HD space back, on my C & D drives. (I can worry about XP issues later, right? I think I'll just be safe and order the "ME to XP upgrade CD" offered, but I'll speak with someone at HP first-- not Best Buy-- to be sure my PC is upgradeable.)

I am in the middle of installing PowerQuest Partition Magic, but first I wanted to come back here and print what Kodo told me about using it, as my experience is limited. I had to free up some space on my whopping 1.99 mb. of HD to install Partition Magic, the instructions, plus a "memory- guzzling" printer so I could print all this up. Keep your fingers crossed-- I'm a novice (DUH...) Hopefully I can gain a little over 37 Gigs on my C drive using Partition Magic, right? (See screen shot above.)

I'll post again to let everyone know how this comes out; I can always be emailed through my profile as well.

Thanks to everyone kind enough to help!

Gina

 

Maxwell....

I didn't get an email....

 

Re: Maxwell....

Yup, you did cos I got your reply, which I'm reading right now.

 

Thank You....

Thank you Maxwell, Kodo, Thunder, Brian C., Raider, Major Attitude, and everyone I may have forgotten! I haven't had any time to stay online but I FINALLY, with all your help, got the problem nixed! I never could've done it without this board.

Thanks again,
Gina



PS: I tried to remove all those screenshots, but it is too late.