How to resolve error message: DOS/4G error?

computer will not boot to windows.

1st error message: DOS/4G Error

2nd error message: file allocation table bad, drive %1

From what I have researched I think my hard drive is either going or is gone.

Is there any utilities that will help me pull some data (about 6MB ) from the drive or fix it?

This question was answered on March 9, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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DOS/4G Error

Maybe your DOS/4G software is corrupted

You could try replacing it http://www.sonicspot.com/dos4gw/dos4gw.html

File allocation table bad, drive %1

Step 1: Obtain a Boot Disk

Obtain a boot disk for your PC (you may be able to make one on another PC) The boot disk needs to contain the command, fdisk.com (just in case you end up needing to redo the drive) Insert the boot disk firmly into the floppy drive and press the reset or power on button on your PC

Step 2: Obtain a Virus Scanner

Locate, if possible, a disk-based virus scanner that you can run from a floppy disk Many commercial and shareware virus scanning utilities have this, and sometimes you can download this to a floppy from another PC hooked to the net, and take it to the problem PC If you're able to boot the PC from the boot disk, run the virus scanner to make sure a virus hasn't hit your file allocation table (FAT)

Step 3: Obtain, Run Disk Utility

Locate a disk utility program that can run from a floppy drive (or a CD-ROM drive, if your boot disk contains a driver for your CD-ROM drive), specifically rated for your version of Windows and that says it attempts to fix file allocation table (FAT) errors Run the utility exactly as recommended

Step 4: Try Again to Boot

Try again to boot the drive If it won't boot normally (not from boot disk), reinsert the boot disk and boot again Then, from the DOS Command prompt, type: FDISK Recreate your active DOS partition, if necessary (this will lose data; third-party partition utilities such as Partition Magic may not lose your data, so look at getting something like that)

Step 5: Format the Drive

If you used FDISK rather than a non-destructive utility, you may need to format the drive To do so, from the DOS command prompt type: FORMAT C: /s Assuming the drive is your C drive and you want it to boot

Step 6: Contact Manufacturer

If the problem continues, contact your hard drive manufacturer to ask for suggestions

About the author

Posted by Student of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on March 9, 2004

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