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From: tom@vrdxhq.UUCP (Tom Welsh)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Compaq Deskpro 8086
Keywords: Won't Boot From Hard Disk.
Message-ID: <10183@vrdxhq.UUCP>
Date: 22 Sep 88 22:16:56 GMT
Organization: Verdix Corporation, Chantilly,  VA
Lines: 21

I have a problem.

I have a Compaq Deskpro, 8086-based, with a 20 MB hard disk.  A couple of
months ago I reformatted the entire disk in order to go from MS-DOS 2.11
to PC-DOS 3.3.  Since that time, the machine will NOT boot from the 
hard disk.  It will boot fine from my 3.3 PCDOS floppy.  After booting,
the entire hard disk is available and works perfectly fine.  I have
tried reissuing the sys c: command and I even tried (using the
debugger) copying the boot record from a IBM AT runing 3.3 and writing
it to the boot record of my Compaq hard disk.  Nothing.  It makes
no sense to me -- the contents of the hard disk boot record are almost
identical to the floppy (except for obviuous things like sector count, etc.)
NOthing.  If I try to boot off the hard disk, it just hangs, forever --
stick a 3.3 floppy in -- CTRL-ALT-DEL and everything is fine, including
hard disk access.

I'm certainly not dead in the water -- but I consider it a major nuisance. 

Any ideas, anyone?