KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q77426: Setup /F on Machines Without a Formatted Hard Disk

Article: Q77426
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

One common cause of the Setup error message

  An error occurred while reading or writing to Drive C:

when running Setup with the /F switch is that the system's hard disk is
partitioned but not formatted.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If the system's hard disk is formatted and partitioned, Setup /F will work
correctly. If the hard disk on the system is not partitioned, Setup /F will also
work.

However, if the hard disk is partitioned but not formatted, Setup /F will report
the "An error occurred while reading or writing to drive C:" error message. You
then have the option to "Try operation again" or "Fail the operation." In most
cases, if you fail the operation several times in a row, it will setup to floppy
disks anyway. If not, you must either format the hard disk or remove the
partitions.


Additional query words: 5.00

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS500
Version           : MS-DOS:5.0

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.