computer problem

[tw]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

how do you format a drive the computer can't see?

Of course the computer was seeing it. The disk size (320 mb?) and other information from the drive was reported. In the thread, you had only started. Hardly did anything to fix it. Did not load and execute any diagnostics. Have no idea yet what the system can and cannot see.

Clearly, your CD-Rom loaded programs. Therefore the Recovery Console, comprehensive hardware diagnostics, and other repair functions were available and could be executed. I will never understand why so many give up when so may useful options exist and were not attempted. Formatting a disk is the fool's option.

Disassembling the machine all but guarantees you will not fix it. Numerous options were provided from one who never loses a computer - who even fixed computers declared by the Geek Squad as unfixable. But I cannot help when, well, there is a long list of detailed reason why I posted what I did. And received only "quitter's replies" rather than information necessary for the solution.