Format before installing XP Home

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken Maughan
  • Start date Start date
K

Ken Maughan

Hi,
I have new computer and have made a primary partition and formatted
hard-drive but am still unable to load on the OS. I used "format c:" when
formatting. Should I have used the extension "/s" also to load system files
on the partition.?

TIA
Ken
 
I would suggest starting over from scratch and perform the installation
of Windows XP correctly:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi,
| I have new computer and have made a primary partition and formatted
| hard-drive but am still unable to load on the OS. I used "format c:" when
| formatting. Should I have used the extension "/s" also to load system files
| on the partition.?
|
| TIA
| Ken
 
Hi,
Thanks for replying so quickly.
I've done all you've mentioned. The win xp cd loads all drivers etc and then
gets to the part where is says "Set-up is starting windows" and then hangs
for ages.
Should I download the floppies and try those?

Ken
 
Windows XP Does Not Respond at "Setup Is Starting Windows XP" Message
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310760&Product=winxp

Use the BIOS setup program to select the "non-Plug and Play operating system" option.
This advice may seem counterintuitive-after all, Windows XP is indeed a Plug and Play
operating system. However, this setting was intended for use with earlier Windows versions,
and if it's set incorrectly it can prevent the Windows XP boot loader from accessing devices
at startup. Additionally, disable any Power Management features in the BIOS. Windows XP
will install its own Power Management program.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi,
| Thanks for replying so quickly.
| I've done all you've mentioned. The win xp cd loads all drivers etc and then
| gets to the part where is says "Set-up is starting windows" and then hangs
| for ages.
| Should I download the floppies and try those?
|
| Ken
 
Ken said:
I have new computer and have made a primary partition and formatted
hard-drive but am still unable to load on the OS. I used "format c:" when
formatting. Should I have used the extension "/s" also to load system files
on the partition.?
Click to expand...

No. You do not normally make the partition in advance anyway. You set
the BIOS to boot from CD before H Disk, then boot the XP CD and enter
Setup Windows. It will come up with a suggestion where.. Either accept
that, or hit ESC, delete the partition and make a new one to be
formatted next. I would do that so as to get the preferred NTFS file
system
 
The only problem is, that after formatting drive and booting up from win xp
cd, it loads all drivers etc then gets to the "starting windows" screen then
freezes.

Ken
 
Greetings --

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered
the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of
the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
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