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problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) jmead Profile | Email I am having a problem with my webplayer. I had by DOC flashed and it works ok from that, but if I take it out and boot to the command prompt I can't get it to accept or show any commands. I get to the point where the cursor is blinking, but when I try and type it doesn't show and and if I keep trying it after a while it will beep ever time I press a key. I heard someone else was having the same problem and it is just something in the BIOS I have to change, but I can't figure it out. Does anyone know how I can get it to accept keyboard input? 05-05-2001 15:16:17

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) Scyber Profile Is it flashed with win98? My guess would be that when you boot up into Command Prompt (DOS) mode their are no drivers for the IR keyboard for dos. Therefore it won't work. Just a guess. Anybody else want to take a shot? Scyber 05-07-2001 15:01:15

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) kray Profile | Email >> My guess would be that when you boot up into Command Prompt (DOS) mode their are no drivers for the IR keyboard for dos. Therefore it won't work. The IR keyboard/mouse doesn't need any specific software. On board is an IR keyboard controller (U9) which takes care of that so it seems a ps/2 keyboard and mouse is connected. >>I had by DOC flashed and it works ok from that, but if I take it out and boot to the command prompt I can't get it to accept or show any commands. Could you give us some more details please? If I read this you have pulled out your DOC?? Of course then nothing works without a harddisk. We can't see what you are doing so again details please! 05-07-2001 23:08:25

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) feydrus Profile | Email I am having the same problem described above: I have a 2gb HD I Fdisked for a single DOS partition, then did a format :f /s (it was identified as the f drive in Win98 at the time). Then I copied over the Win ME setup files, so I could attempt an install. I used the password to get into BIOS. My HD is automatically identified. I then set the HD to Primary Master. After several failed attempts to get to the command prompt, I then removed the DOC to be doubly sure. Alas, it all ends the same: a blinking cursor, but no command prompt. Interestingly enough, Ctrl-Alt-Del works to reboot the unit?!? All advice appreciated; thanks in advance! 07-18-2001 18:13:48

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) petejengkol Profile Hi... Try to disable "quick boot" and enable "show information on boot"..on bios hope it will help you.. Pete PS: have same problem in booting linux ,i guessed VGA doesn't set properly.. may be bug,,,:)... 07-18-2001 22:24:39

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) feydrus Profile | Email I have disabled "quickboot" enabled "show information on boot" and all variations possible on this screen. Actually I was able to get to the blinking cursor w/out a Hard Drive attached. So here's a more current statement of issues. 1.) HD is recognized, correctly, in BIOS; that much seems to work. 2.) HD spins up at boot time, and all files viewable if I move it to the external box for my laptop; thus I know the HD is good. I would expect the cable's good too (at least good enough to provide power?) Theory 1: The external box mentioned is by Microtech, and simply has a pcmcia interface, powersupply, case and blinking light, with which I can add a "removable hard drive" to my laptop. Using this setup I was able to fdisk and format f: /s. The only problem is that I cannot set the partition on this drive as active, at least w/fdisk. The message I get when I attempt, is that only partitions on Drive 1 can be set to 'active'. Could this be preventing my HD from booting? Theory 2: The motherboard/bios are trapped in some sort of loop and never gets to the Hard Drive? I'm pulling this out of thin air; is that even in the realm of possibility? 07-19-2001 05:15:39

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) kray Profile | Email I would go for theory 1. Or the drive hasn't got the right 'bootable' flag. or the drive CHS isn't compatible with the webplayer. Have you played with the 'large disk' and 'OS' settings? You need to have LBA enabled correctly. 07-19-2001 10:26:26

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) feydrus Profile | Email Yup, I've played w/OS and Large disk settings. I've also played w/LBA settings per your suggestions in another string. I don't know what you mean by 'bootable flag' or CHS compatibility, but I'm willing to try anything. I also have 2 other laptop drives. I will start experimenting with them next. Thanks for all the help thus far, everybody. BTW Kray, your site's awesome and great source of information/inspiration! 07-19-2001 15:27:18

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) kray Profile | Email >> I don't know what you mean by 'bootable flag' or CHS compatibility, but I'm willing to try anything. The first is known as 'active' in fdisk for dos/windows. If it isn't set, I don't think the disk will boot since a format /s will write the startup files to the disk, but doesn't write the mbr (main boot record) correctly because that will only happen with the master drive afaik. The latter is Cylinders/Heads/Sectors, which is the geometry of the disk. My experience is it's important to have set it right on the machine where you fdisked the drive. For instance: When I connected the drive for the wp on my laptop and let it autorecognize, fdisk and format it doens't work correctly with the wp. When I did the same on my wp, the drive is still recognized on my laptop. I was happy when it worked, but I forgot to right down the details, so I can't really say what the difference is and I don't want to open up my laptop again. The only conclusion I can make out of this and the many postings about the issue is that the BIOS of the webplayer isn't 100% compatible with the ones we are used to work with. You say that the disk is being recognized, what is the exact message? Also when you go in to the setup, what is the found CHS geometry? Also other options on that page can be useful to know. >> BTW Kray, your site's awesome and great source of information/inspiration! Thx. I haven't got the time to play with the wp for a while now :( I hope to be able to update the site in the near future again. K-Ray -- The Journals 07-20-2001 01:01:43

RE:problem with command prompt (modified 0 times) feydrus Profile | Email Woohoo! Found my problem. Forgive me if this sounds elementary, but I'm learning all of this for the first time... Indeed as Kray confirmed for me, I had to set the partition to "active" in order to get it to boot. Since I didn't want to crack my current laptop (a Sony Vaio Superslim) I had to wait until I could get a laptop HD adapter. Then I physically installed it as the first drive in my old-as-spit desktop, used fdisk to set the partition as 'active' and I am installing WinME as we speak. Thanks all for the advice and support. For anyone who is interested, I'll update after the install is complete. 07-27-2001 07:10:06

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