> On 8/13/2003 7:50 PM +0000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > I am hoping this is the proper place to ask. I was using a 486
> > Zenith with MS-DOS 3.3 until it stopped working today. When I
> > turned it on, the only thing that came on the screen was the
> > error message "This is not a bootable partition". Pressing F2
> > does nothing. Any suggestions anyone?
So far, everyone has provided good info that is applicable to
this problem. But I'm surprised that no one mentioned a just-
as-common cause (on an older machine) as a failed drive: a dead
CMOS RAM battery, which provides the BIOS with info about the
type of hard drive installed... or even if there is one installed.
You'll have to obtain the "Type number" from the hard disk label
first, but many later drives required the "USER-specified" data
of platters, sectors, and heads contained in the drive (which isn't
often listed on the drive label).
Once in CMOS setup (the normal BIOS-entry means, though it can be
done
from a floppy program, or even the debug program, if you know what
you're doing) you enter the disk data, and the C: drive should be
recognized. (Check with a dos "C:" command.) If none shows, check
Fdisk for a bootable partition.
Assuming it is there, try "Fdisk /MBR" to rewrite the master boot
record. (Can't hurt, even if the existing MBR is already good.)
Then, remove the floppy, and warm reboot (using CTRL-ALT-DEL or a
"reboot" switch, if the machine has one) and see if it reboots from
the Hard disk.
Last step (maybe): write down the CMOS info for all of the specs on
the machine, shut down, and turn off the power. Wait five minutes
or more before turning it on again.
If the hard disk won't boot ("not a bootable partition"), you've
probably got a dead CMOS battery. Replace it with ANY battery
that will supply greater than 3.6v up to about 5.2v. (Trust me on
this) - and it should be good for a few more years. Of course,
you'll have to enter the CMOS data again, but only one more time.
Older CMOS batteries can run up to 7 volts - and are very expensive -
IF you can find a replacement. An exact replacement is NOT
necessary.
The easy way: check the CMOS battery with a voltmeter. Less than
3 volts is bad. Above that, it should work - though you might want
to replace it, anyway, if its nominal voltage is supposed to be
higher.
- John T.
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