Removing fan from socket 7 (Pentium 1)

[Computer_Commando]

These Disks have 1.0MB written on them. Windows XP only offers me one choice under capacity: 3,5", 1.44MB, 512Bytes per sector

Is there testing software for avaible for other hardware as well?

I'm in Win2k, now, it offers 2 choices.  I'll boot to XP and see.

There is lots of testing software, search Google.

[Raptor]

I am aware of testing software such as Sisoft Sandra, etc - but is there testing software that is capable of being ran without having an Operating System installed?

[Computer_Commando]

I am aware of testing software such as Sisoft Sandra, etc - but is there testing software that is capable of being ran without having an Operating System installed?

I'm in XP, now.  It offers no choice of capacity! The pulldown is there, but only one choice.  It's good to have Multiple OS's!

http://www.uwec.edu/help/WinXP/exp-disk.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floppy_disk

The manufacturer's testing software creates a boot disk; HD can be unformatted with no OS.

Western Digital tools:  http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp#diagutils

Look for:  Data Lifeguard v11.0 for DOS
The DOS version is required if installing a hard drive in a new system without existing operating system support.

If I must purchase a drive, I only use Western Digital.  Most reliable, good support, still around after all these years!

Maxtor/Quantum Powermax
http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/menuitem.0824c7a6b4e96a26d99844a791346068/?&epi_menuID=0824c7a6b4e96a26d99844a791346068&epi_baseMenuID=976d37cd478c5826433f226075b46068&channelpath=/en_us/Support&epi_menuItemID=0824c7a6b4e96a26d99844a791346068

[Computer_Commando]

These Disks have 1.0MB written on them. Windows XP only offers me one choice under capacity: 3,5", 1.44MB, 512Bytes per sector
...

This was bothering me, figured out how to do it.
Microsoft has a support page about this, but doesn't tell you how to do it.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q302/1/13.ASP&NoWebContent=1

From the command prompt:
format a: /t:80 /n:9

[Raptor]

The links are much obliged.

Will 720KB floppies suffice as bootdisks and diagonstic disks?

The format command seems to have worked like a charm. Could you tell me what these parameters mean?

This Data Lifeguard Diagnostics - DLGDIAG for Windows seems to be for EIDE, USB and Firewire. Would it work for IDE as well?

[Computer_Commando]

The links are much obliged.

(1) Will 720KB floppies suffice as bootdisks and diagonstic disks?

(2) The format command seems to have worked like a charm. Could you tell me what these parameters mean?

(3) This Data Lifeguard Diagnostics - DLGDIAG for Windows seems to be for EIDE, USB and Firewire. Would it work for IDE as well?

(1) No.  Download file creates boot floppy in same manner as http://www.bootdisk.com

(2) At command prompt type:  format /?

(3)  EIDE is Extended IDE (as in ATA66, ATA100, ATA133), consider it the same.

[Raptor]

From the command prompt:
format a: /t:80 /n:9

(2) The format command seems to have worked like a charm. Could you tell me what these parameters mean?  

What I meant was: What do the parameters  /t:80 /n:9 mean?

I did as you said, and I formatted the disk only to find out that I require 1.44MB floppies..

[Computer_Commando]

What I meant was: What do the parameters  /t:80 /n:9 mean?
...

Follow my instructions in Reply#35 and it will tell you what they mean.
t=tracks
n=sectors

[Raptor]

Follow my instructions in Reply#35 and it will tell you what they mean.
t=tracks
n=sectors

Thanks, I learnt more about Tracks and Sectors today, thanks to these older BIOS.

If a hard drive is MANUALLY configured (User) with the settings provided by Computerhope.com and it still shows 'hard disk failure' does that mean it's the hard drive that's malfunctioning or should I only use the AUTO function in the BIOS?

[Computer_Commando]

...If a hard drive is MANUALLY configured (User) with the settings provided by Computerhope.com and it still shows 'hard disk failure' does that mean it's the hard drive that's malfunctioning or should I only use the AUTO function in the BIOS?

Choose whatever drive number (1-47) gives full capacity.  You may have to try every one.  You must determine what the drive is, by researching the make and model number.  Some drives may never show or use full capacity.  I had a Pentium-60, Master was 450MB, Slave was 500MB.  I tried every setting in BIOS and 500MB was never recognized as more than 250MB.  I formatted it as 250MB and used it with no problem as the "D" drive.