I don’t ever recall running into issues like this before
while formatting a drive…
I scanned all the floppies and scanned the drive that has the DOS Files on it in preparation to install '98SE…
I did this using the XP hard drive…
on the computer…
…
BUT…
Of course…
I don’t want the xp portion of this computer to have anything to do with the '98SE build/installation…
The scan says all is O.K.
and clean…
The only hardware-and-drive that’s connected to the Main Board as the '98SE install is attempted is the drive that is prepared for the install and the Boot floppy and the DVD Rom with the '98SE Disk in it…
I’ve closed Panda Antivirus in the XP Mode before I installed the Floppy Boot Disk, as well…
Time-wise…
this is a very expensive build…
I think I’ve been working on this issue for over a week now…
Well, it was June 29th that I first posted this issue…
Bill…
FORMATTING A DRIVE - once a drive has been used in a PC AS a BOOT DRIVE, then it cannot be formatted correctly EVER AGAIN (unlass the formatting is don on another PC where the drive is not the boot ( C: drive) -
REASON - WINDOWS claims a portion of the hard drive for otself (it is here that all the incriminating evidence is held) OK SO FAR - WINDOWS HIDES THIS SECTION - it will never show up in any scan and is totally impervious to the formatter - THE FORMATTER WILL NEVER OVERWRITE THIS SECTION -
IF it containd information on previous OS - IF this drive is again the boot drive (c:) windows will go straight to this section and try to start things from there - this will always lead to failure of the NEW OS if the NEW OS is not the original -
take out the formatted drive and put it one letter up from c to d and put a drive that has NEVER been a boot drive in the c slot - now you can format the (new) C drive and re-install your OS -
Dr J
Hi Doc. J:
Thanks for the reply…
I found this Page … Start Over
They discuss many of the things that happen when trying to rebuild a boot drive… including viruses and all…
I believe this is what you are referring to…
I don’t recall this this particular drive has ever been used as a Boot Drive…
But
I can’t be sure…
Let me say…
At this point I will treat this project with the most respect, now that I’m past the point-of-no-return…
What a learning curve…
Bill…
[EDIT]
I have a Maxtor Utility that writes 0"s to the drive to wipe it clean… However, I believe it only works on Maxtor drives… This WDClean Utility writes 0’s to any brand of drive… I have just Browsed this drive with WDClean and it shows that the drive is clean-and-O.K. BUT… I’m gonna start and wipe this drive using the utility and start from the beginning…
I have to take something “Positive Away” from all this… I’m learning how to navigate in DOS… AND… AND… Maybe, one day I’ll learn to keep my ideas to myself and learn to keep my hands off of Computers-and-all…
It looks like I could be the rest of the morning writing 0’s to this drive… The writing utility is at 11%
Next…
I will open the DOS floppy and re-format the drive again…
I have unplugged all the drives from the Main Board…
Only drive connected is the W/D Drive that I want to use as the '98SE Boot Drive…
Steady-as-it-Goes…
Bill…
I’m here to report that that I have a working '98SE Drive on this Dual Boot P-4 machine…
There is lots of work to bring it up to a configuring standard for tracking Audio…
I have the drivers loaded for all the hardware
Modem Audio Matrox G-550 Graphics Card and all appears normal-and-fine at this point-in-time.
I have n-Track v4.2.1…
v5.1.1…
But NO v6.0 beta build…
A POP-UP screen appears saying that the installer expects to see a later version of Operating System…
The install needs to close…
Bill…
Congrats Bill! If nothing else, you are a persistent rascal! 
I’d have probably lost my cool, pounded the thing to bits with a VERY large hammer and gone out and bought a new one. The wife would have gotten over it sooner or later… maybe… and if she didn’t? I have been in the DOG HOUSE most of my adult life so what’s new?!? 
D
Next you should see a message that says "You really should join the 21st Century."
You never answered my question Bill.
No One wants to play with me…
It's all in my book, "How To Get A New Computer."
I have never had anything on a disk worth saving, or needed more storage enough to go through all this. Like I said, my head hurts and it's not even my problem.
My first question when I see folks going through this is usually, "Just why are you putting yourself through all this?"
Hi Poppa Willis:
I have not yet formatted the drive-in-question..
OR..
the drive I entend to use as the re-built drive that I'll use to be the '98SE drive for this Studio P-4 machine..
Today, I found this Maxtor 40 gig. drive that was At-One-Time the '98SE Drive for this machine..
However, it runs so hot, that after an hour of spinning up, you can't keep your fingers on it for more than a few seconds..I have no idea why it runs so hot..
But, it booted to '98SE after I followed Doc J's advice and scanned it for viruses and Trojans and malware and all..
on the P-111 with the Panda Anti-Virus Utility..
On the Boot sector was three Virus files..
I believe that the '98SE Floppy Boot Disk is what it is pointing to..
and not allowing the intended drive to format..
My next step will be to remove the XP Drive and replace it with a W/D 80 gig. drive to format for the '98SE Drive for this dual boot machine..
That 40 gig. W/D drive is just not worth all the work I put into it to have just 40 gigs. of storage for use in this machine..
Am I skirting around your question..?
Yep..
I'm not done working on this project yet..
This machine has caused me lots of grief-and-heartache..
It appears I haven't endured quite enough..
yet.. I'm not above IT..
These computers can mentally hurt you..
and reduce you to Humble PIE..
I know there's a song in there somewhere..
I have yet to address why n-Track v6 will not install on the '98SE Operating System..
I am sure Flavio is still suportting n-Track and it's use on '98SE.. I may have to write Flavio, and ask him the Big Question.
I don't have a spell checker on this P-4-XP machine..
So, you'll have to tolerate my reply to you with bad spelling..
Tomorrow, is another day..
Steady-as-it-goes..
Bill..
[EDIT]
I can see it.. The Twenty First Century is in sight.. I can see light coming from that direction..
Hi Gents:
I’ve all but given up in my quest to format this drive for this p-4 machine…
I have concentrated my energy today on repairing the original '98SE drive that was on this machine…
I began by removing viruses and scanning the drive using the p-111 machine…
It boots to the '98SE Desk now, anyway…
It’s about 90% right at this point in time…
I’m learning how to repair registry errors by googling the Internet for fixes…
I have n-Track v4 b2099 working…
However, I have an issue installing v5.1.1 b 2313… AND v6 has a similar issue…
The installer is not operating correctly.
It produces a close exception during the un-install/re-install procedure…
Does anyone of you have any suggestions as to whay might be a resolve to this issue?
I believe the fault may be with the '98SE Boot Drive and some missing-or-misplaced .DLLs, in the Windows Installer v3 utility…
The XP Boot Drive works and installs n-Track’s three versions just fine…
I have a print screen of the close exception…
but it’s too late for me to post the image showing the error… The long-and-the-short of it is…
The drive letter of the source-and-destination of the n-Track install is not correct and I have no control over the assignment of the drive letter… for b2313…
It should be the “C” Drive…
not the “F” drive…
The “F” drive is a DVD device…
AND…
As Well, the pop-up screen says there is not enough space to install the application…
That goes without saying…
It’s not a hard drive…
Bill…