Can not format

  • Thread starter Thread starter PC398
  • Start date Start date
P

PC398

Need help please. Running Windows XP Pro, I want to format my Hard drive, I
try to boot from my CD, will not boot. So go to install, get message, can
not install you have a later version on your system than on the disc. This
must be because I have kept the updates current from when XP was first
installed. Is there anyway I can format? Thanks for any suggestions
 
PC398 said:
Need help please. Running Windows XP Pro, I want to format my Hard
drive, I try to boot from my CD, will not boot. So go to install, get
message, can not install you have a later version on your system than
on the disc. This must be because I have kept the updates current from
when XP was first
installed. Is there anyway I can format? Thanks for any suggestions
Click to expand...

You are apparently trying to do a Repair Install from within Windows
with an earlier version of the operating system. You would need to use
a slipstreamed CD instead. This will not format your drive, however.

How to slipstream sp2 into XP
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
http://www.windows-help.net/windowsxp/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

However, what does "try to boot from my CD, will not boot" actually
mean? Are you sure you have your computer set to boot from the CD
drive? The boot order is set in the BIOS. Perhaps addressing why you
cannot boot from your original CD would be better. If you want help
with that, please post back with a better description of your computer
and what you are doing. Include the exact text of any error messages.

Malke
 
PC398 said:
Hi, yes I have been into BIOS and set to boot first from CD Rom, when I
Click to expand...


If booting from the CD brings you into Windows itself then you do not have
an install CD. The install CD runs the setup.exe program, not Windows. You
have an image of the drive on the CD and what you are booting. You'll need
to find your install CD for Windows. If you do have the Windows install CD
in the drive, it is bootable. Apparently the *order* of the boot devices in
your BIOS is not correct. During the boot, you will probably see a message
saying to hit a key if you want to boot from the CD-ROM drive. If you don't
then booting from the CD is skipped and you end up booting Windows from your
hard drive. You will need to watch your bootup messages to see when you hit
a key to boot instead from the CD-ROM drive. If you get to the Windows menu
screen, you have already started Windows and are too late to boot from the
CD-ROM drive.

The install CD (when it runs setup.exe) will give you the option of
deleting, creating, and formatting the partitions. You could also use any
bootable floppy that loads some version of DOS and includes a compatible
version of FORMAT. See www.bootdisk.com for images of MS-DOS bootable
floppies that you can download to create a bootable MS-DOS floppy to run
FORMAT.
 
Hi, I have my CD Rom set for first boot. I also have the original CD from
Microsoft, but it does not boot. As I said I get a black screen that says
click any key to boot, I do this, but it then goes to Windows. I have no
other CD, this was supplied by Microsoft and is my Install CD. So now I do
not know what else to try, thanks for your help.
 
With the Windows XP CD in the drive, reboot.
Look for a message "Press a key to boot to CD-ROM".
The message will only be briefly on the screen and you must press a key
quickly.
If you still do not see the message, reboot and immediately start pressing a
key each second.
 
I have done what you suggested, but I still get the same response, goes into
Windows. Thanks for your suggestion.
 
Pretty strange... Try it with a W98 boot diskette or this:

MS Windows XP System setup disk
Allows you to boot from a single floppy disk, partition
and format the drive and then begin the XP installation
from CD.

The download and information page is here:
http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files010.shtml

See Note 1 on that page for more information.

MAKE SURE THAT THE CDROM DRIVE IS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE DISKETTE BOOT
BEFORE YOU PROCEED!

John
 
My computer has an entry for CD-ROM in the BIOS, but also has a sub-menu for
which CD-ROM, since I have two CD-ROMs (a DVD Burner and a CD Burner.)

HTH

MD
 
Hi, I tried what you said, got one floppy, then tried to boot from it, it
started, then it paused so you could take note of the different drive
letters that are on the disk, then said to continue, but nothing happened
after that. I have just borrowed an XP Pro/SP2 Bootable disc. But on boot up
I still get click any key to boot, and it goes straight into Windows. I have
just realised that my drive letters have been changed, why and when I don't
know, my D drive is E, and my E drive isF, could this be the reason I am
having problems? if so, how do I change back to my normal drive letters?
 
Is that XP Pro/SP2 disk a GENUINE Microsoft Windows XP Pro disk or is
that one of those "homemade" copy "jobbies"? I don't know why or how
your drive letters got changed but that has little or no effect when in
a DOS or NT setup environment, these drive letters are somewhat
arbitrary, the active partition only having an effect and being labeled
as C by windows, the rest hardly matters. I think there is something
wrong with that XP CD or you have something not set right in the BIOS.
How old is that pc? Surely the god you don't have drive overlay
software in there? Or something like GoBack? I can guarantee you that
with a W98 boot disk and delpart.exe your partitions and XP would go
poof! in less than 10 seconds! But if the XP CD is not bootable or if
the XP setup program is unaccessible you are going to be up the
proverbial creek. Get a W98 boot disk with CDROM support and try to
launch the XP setup from that, see what happens.

John
 
I have even tried them, downloaded onto 6 floppies, it does the first one,
asks for second, then does not go any further, I have a big problem here
somewhere. I have even downloaded Win 98 Boot disk and delpart.exe, but
that does not work. Thanks for your help. Re; Genuine Mic Windows XP Pro/SP2
disc, is a copy from a friend to see if boot works!! My own XP Disc is
Genuine.
 
Delpart can't delete the partitions? Yes indeed there is something
fishy going on here, I have never, ever seen delpart not being able to
remove any type of partitions on any disk! Try this other maniacal
application: Zap.exe by IBM. We used to use it in the old days to get
rid of boot sector or CIH virus.

The IBM Wipe and Zap Utilities Page
http://www.digitalissues.co.uk/html/os/misc/ibm-wipe-zap.html

Another(?) guaranteed* way to zap everything on your drive! If that
doesn't work I'm out of ideas, other than a drive diagnostic utility
from the drive manufacturer.

John

* Exclusive 30/30 guarantee, 30 seconds or 30 feet from the doorstep,
whichever comes first.
 
Seems like u have tried a lot. If u have a valid copy of Windows, give a call
to MS cos there might be something that all of us are missing here. I guess
MS offers 2 free supports. The number is 1-800-936-5700
 
If you currently have a USB keyboard you might want to try connecting a ps/2
keyboard. There is a possibility that a USB keyboard is not being recognized
soon enough and even though you are pressing a key when prompted the USB
keyboard is not responding. If that happens then the boot sequence will pass
to the next device.

If that doesn't help then look in your motherboard manual (or BIOS settings)
for a setting called Rapid Boot or Quick Boot. Sometimes this can interfere
with booting a CD-Rom. Also ensure you unplug any USB storage type devices
which could include cameras, printers with card readers, card readers,
etc. --

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp
 
Thanks to all concerned, in the end, I had tried everything that was given
to me, I took it into a store and got them to format, have set up all again
now, and everything running fine. Thanks again

Harry Ohrn said:
If you currently have a USB keyboard you might want to try connecting a
ps/2 keyboard. There is a possibility that a USB keyboard is not being
recognized soon enough and even though you are pressing a key when
prompted the USB keyboard is not responding. If that happens then the boot
sequence will pass to the next device.

If that doesn't help then look in your motherboard manual (or BIOS
settings) for a setting called Rapid Boot or Quick Boot. Sometimes this
can interfere with booting a CD-Rom. Also ensure you unplug any USB
storage type devices which could include cameras, printers with card
readers, card readers, etc. --

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


PC398 said:
Need help please. Running Windows XP Pro, I want to format my Hard drive,
I try to boot from my CD, will not boot. So go to install, get message,
can not install you have a later version on your system than on the disc.
This must be because I have kept the updates current from when XP was
first installed. Is there anyway I can format? Thanks for any
suggestions
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
PC398 said:
Hi, I have my CD Rom set for first boot. I also have the original CD
from Microsoft, but it does not boot. As I said I get a black screen that
says click any key to boot, I do this, but it then goes to Windows. I have
no other CD, this was supplied by Microsoft and is my Install CD. So now I
do not know what else to try, thanks for your help.
Click to expand...


If you are using a USB-connected keyboard then it may not work. Your
motherboard must support *directly* the USB keyboard and mouse BEFORE the
operating system loads. If your motherboard's BIOS does not support
USB-connected keyboards and mice then those devices will NOT be supported
until the USB controller driver is loaded, and by then you have already
started the operating system so it is too late to boot from the CD-ROM
device. Move the USB-connected keyboard to a PS/2 port which the BIOS
supports, or go into your BIOS and make sure it is configured to enable USB
keyboard and mouse support.
 
Back
Top