My pc has two hard drives connected - one on each IDE channel, with the CD-ROM as the primary slave. Previously, both drives have worked fine, but the newer, larger one has decided to take a holiday for some reason...or has it?

After removing the partition, formatting and installing Win2K, these were the results:

1) Install crashed and had to start over
2) Install 'worked' but trying to press the 'start' button did nothing, and it just remained 'pushed in' with no result. Trying to open 'My Computer' revealed nothing except an error message.
3) Same as 2.
4) This time the start button and 'My Computer' worked, but the 'launcher' controls were empty and Internet Explorer wasn't present! (This should be a default, of course).

Could this be a faulty hard drive, copy of Win2K, IDE controller fault or motherboard failure of some kind? Yes, I will test this hard drive on another system but in the meantime, opinions please!

For what it's worth, here is the procedure I have always used:
PARTITION DRIVES
Insert Windows 98 startup disc into floppy.
Turn computer on.
Select boot device…floppy.
Start computer without Cdrom support.
A:/>fdisk
Enable large disc support? YES
Fdisk options, select 1
Type of partition, select 1 primary
Max size? YES
Press escape when finished checking drive integrity.
Reboot computer or if adding another drive select option 5 and repeat steps above, selecting drive #2.

FORMAT DRIVES
Leave Windows 98 startup disc in floppy drive.
Turn computer on.
Start computer without Cdrom support.
A:/>format c:
Proceed? YES
A:/>format d: (if two drives)
Volume label? ENTER for none
Reboot computer.

INSTALL OPERATING SYSTEM
Boot from cdrom.
Welcome to setup hit ENTER.
License agreement, hit F8.
Press ENTER to install on selected partition (drive C)
Select…format the partition using the NTFS file system.
To format the drive…press F.
***long waiting period with an auto-reboot***
Allow Windows to run the server setup.
At Regional settings…NEXT
Enter name/organization
Enter 25 character weird Windows code.
Licensing mode…per server 5 concurrent connections
Computer name…whatever desired and password…whatever desired.
Windows 2000 components…double click Internet Information Services and select FTP
Windows 2000 components…check terminal services
Click NEXT
Check date and time and click NEXT
Terminal services setup…remote administration mode and click NEXT
***very long wait***
When finished, remove cdrom and click FINISH.
After reboot, press CTL/ALT/DEL to begin.

ALi, VIA, AMD, and Intel are the major players in motherboard chipset manufacturers. Depending on who the chipset maker is, you will need additional drivers, for example, motherboard with VIA chipset on them require the 4in1 drivers to be installed for windows to work properly and also realize full potential in system performance.
Also is the OS the only change to this computer, no processor or motherboard upgrades?

Providing that your CD-ROM is bootable you can FDisk your hard drives and reboot using the CD-ROM, if not you need to go into the Bootdisk directory located on the CD-ROM and run makeboot.exe (this will require 4 diskettes) once booted into the Windows Installer select the disk that you want the OS to go on (it can actually be either one) format the partition (reccommend NTFS) and let windows complete the installation customizing as needed. If there is a windows component that you will not need (such as IIS) do not install it for 2 primary reasons,1 will elimate any potential security problems in those components, and 2 save you disk space. If you are going to be using this as a simple desktop workstation, youw will not need many of the options available.

Once you have the OS loaded, first order of business is to install any motherboard drivers such as the 4in1 drivers. From there install other drivers as needed.

First, try safe mode, when it says "Starting Windows 2000", press F8. Then select "Safe Mode". It will then continue to start-up. If all works fine it is definitely a driver or bios issue. Check with you computer manufacturer, or if you built it yourself, motherboard manufacturer, for a bios update. Check with the manufacturer for video, sound card, and modem driver updates.

Don't forget to install the latest service pack (SP2).

For a good book on PC hardware grab a copy of PC Hardware in a Nutshell by Robert and Barbara Thompson.

I really have no idea how to help you with your question...but can I just say here that this is the first time I've been on televsion?

Scott: I just tried Win98, and so far that seems to work. Also, I previously had Win2K installed on it but decided the drive was getting full so I backed it up and decided to start over. A while back it also had Win95 installed. What is IIS? Sounds great!

John: Television?!? Now I know you're trying to be deliberately cryptic.

Steven: I haven't tried the service packs yet, nor safe mode. Those are good suggestions.

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