Format C:

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I have a computer with Windows XP Pro. There is a fair bit of junk on the
hard disk. I want to take the following steps:

1) Reformat the hard drive (NTFS)

2) Load a licenced copy of Windows 2000 Pro

3) Immediately upgrade this with a new copy of Windows XP professional
Upgrade that I have just purchased.

I am blocked at the first step... cannot Format C:

The disk is 80 GB. Drive C: is shown as 25 GB with 50 GB unallocated space.

I have followed the "Help" instructions but it doesn't seem to work.

How do I proceed from here ?

Thank you
 
Peter4446 said:
I have a computer with Windows XP Pro. There is a fair bit of junk on
the
hard disk. I want to take the following steps:

1) Reformat the hard drive (NTFS)

2) Load a licenced copy of Windows 2000 Pro

3) Immediately upgrade this with a new copy of Windows XP
professional Upgrade that I have just purchased.

I am blocked at the first step... cannot Format C:

The disk is 80 GB. Drive C: is shown as 25 GB with 50 GB unallocated
space.

I have followed the "Help" instructions but it doesn't seem to work.

How do I proceed from here ?

Thank you
Click to expand...

You do not need to install Win2k first. During the XP install you'll be
asked to put your qualifying media (the Win2k installation cd) into the
drive.

Boot with the XP cd. You may need to set your computer to boot from the
cd drive - you do this from within the BIOS setup. Once you've properly
booted with the XP cd, take the install. Delete all partitions and
create a new one for XP. Understand that this will wipe everything so
you will have previously backed up your data. Now install XP on the
newly-created partition. Put in the Win2k cd as required and follow the
installation instructions.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

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

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

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

:

| I have a computer with Windows XP Pro. There is a fair bit of junk on the
| hard disk. I want to take the following steps:
|
| 1) Reformat the hard drive (NTFS)
|
| 2) Load a licenced copy of Windows 2000 Pro
|
| 3) Immediately upgrade this with a new copy of Windows XP professional
| Upgrade that I have just purchased.
|
| I am blocked at the first step... cannot Format C:
|
| The disk is 80 GB. Drive C: is shown as 25 GB with 50 GB unallocated space.
|
| I have followed the "Help" instructions but it doesn't seem to work.
|
| How do I proceed from here ?
|
| Thank you
 
Peter4446 said:
I have a computer with Windows XP Pro. There is a fair bit of junk
on the hard disk. I want to take the following steps:

1) Reformat the hard drive (NTFS)

2) Load a licenced copy of Windows 2000 Pro

3) Immediately upgrade this with a new copy of Windows XP
professional Upgrade that I have just purchased.

I am blocked at the first step... cannot Format C:

The disk is 80 GB. Drive C: is shown as 25 GB with 50 GB unallocated
space.

I have followed the "Help" instructions but it doesn't seem to work.

How do I proceed from here ?

Thank you
Click to expand...

You cannot format a partition from within the partition, which is what you
are trying to do!

Set your BIOS to boot from CD. Insert the W2K disk in the CD Rom drive and
boot. During the setup process you will be given the opportunity to format
the C: drive.

HTH
 
Thanks to you all for your comments. Please note that my new Windows XP
Pro disk is an "Upgrade" version, not the full product. I have been told
that I cannot just install this from the CD. Hence, my plan to first install
my full Version of W 2000 pro, then upgrade to XP pro with the new copy.
However, if I can do it directly that would be a good short cut

Peter
 
Peter4446 said:
Thanks to you all for your comments. Please note that my new
Windows XP
Pro disk is an "Upgrade" version, not the full product. I have been
told
that I cannot just install this from the CD. Hence, my plan to first
install my full Version of W 2000 pro, then upgrade to XP pro with the
new copy. However, if I can do it directly that would be a good short
cut
Click to expand...
I don't know who told you that you couldn't do a clean install with a
retail upgrade version of XP, but they were incorrect. Enjoy your XP.

Malke
 
Peter4446 said:
Thanks to you all for your comments. Please note that my new
Windows XP Pro disk is an "Upgrade" version, not the full product.
I have been told that I cannot just install this from the CD. Hence,
my plan to first install my full Version of W 2000 pro, then upgrade
to XP pro with the new copy. However, if I can do it directly that
would be a good short cut
Click to expand...


Peter, you've been told incorrectly. It doesn't matter that it's an Upgrade
version.The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous
qualifying version's installation CD, not to have it installed. When setup
doesn't find a previous qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to
insert its CD as proof of ownership. Just insert the Windows 2000 CD, and
follow the prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite
legitimately.
 
I have tried advice above... I am able to install XP Pro, but it will not
allow me at any stage (during setup or after) to Format C: Nor will it
allow me to expand the current partition on C: (25 GB Basic NTFS) to the full
80 GB. (The rest is unallocated space).

I need to reformat this hard disk to get rid of all the old rubbish.
Help says "Cannot reformat system partition or boot partition" but this is
exactly what I want to reformat, including the unallocated space. Will then
reload XP.

I tried to install W2000 to format, but W XP disabled W 2000 install. If
necessary I will uninstall W XP and then try to format C:

Any advice would be appreciated.

Peter
 
Thanks to you all for your comments. Please note that my new Windows XP
Pro disk is an "Upgrade" version, not the full product. I have been told
that I cannot just install this from the CD. Hence, my plan to first install
my full Version of W 2000 pro, then upgrade to XP pro with the new copy.
However, if I can do it directly that would be a good short cut

Peter
Click to expand...

Let us repeat: You do NOT need to install Windows 2000 in order to do
a clean install. Just boot using the XP upgrade disc, and direct the
installer to partition and format your C: drive as NTFS.

It is ALSO not necessary to UPGRADE to XP after installing Windows
2000, but you can do it, if you choose, from within the XP installer.
In either case, if the XP installer tells you that it cannot find a
qualifying product, just insert your Windows 2000 install disc, and
point the installer to it. The XP installer will examine the disc, to
see if it is legitimate, and if it finds that it is, it will tell you
to replace the Windows 2000 disc with the XP installation disc. After
that, the XP installation will continue normally.

Personally, I do NOT advise you to upgrade Windows 2000 to XP (tho it
is better than upgrading Windows 9x). I always prefer "clean"
installs over upgrades. Make sure you search for and obtain XP
drivers for all your devices, such as motherboards, monitors, mice and
keyboards, external drives, modems, scanners, etc. If you cannot find
an XP driver for a device, you might try a Windows 2000 driver. If
you cannot find that, you might as well sell the device you have no XP
driver for, or toss it in the trash bin , since it will be completely
unusable with XP. Also make sure you physically unplug any external
devices (except your keyboard, mouse, or monitor) before you begin the
install.

DonaldDonald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread
so that conversations may be kept in order
=======================================================
 
You must "boot from the Windows XP CD" in order to get
the option to format the drive. Follow the instructions:

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.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

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 all 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/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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

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

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

:

| I have tried advice above... I am able to install XP Pro, but it will not
| allow me at any stage (during setup or after) to Format C: Nor will it
| allow me to expand the current partition on C: (25 GB Basic NTFS) to the full
| 80 GB. (The rest is unallocated space).
|
| I need to reformat this hard disk to get rid of all the old rubbish.
| Help says "Cannot reformat system partition or boot partition" but this is
| exactly what I want to reformat, including the unallocated space. Will then
| reload XP.
|
| I tried to install W2000 to format, but W XP disabled W 2000 install. If
| necessary I will uninstall W XP and then try to format C:
|
| Any advice would be appreciated.
|
| Peter
 
Peter4446 said:
I have tried advice above... I am able to install XP Pro, but it will
not allow me at any stage (during setup or after) to Format C:
Click to expand...


Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if necessary to
accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean installation (delete the
existing partition by pressing "D" when prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

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

Nor
will it allow me to expand the current partition on C: (25 GB Basic
NTFS) to the full 80 GB. (The rest is unallocated space).
Click to expand...


No, you can not do that.

I need to reformat this hard disk to get rid of all the old rubbish.
Help says "Cannot reformat system partition or boot partition" but
this is exactly what I want to reformat, including the unallocated
space. Will then reload XP.
Click to expand...


That sounds like you're trying to install from within Windows. You can't do
that. It would leave Windows without a leg to stand on. You have to boot
from the Windows CD, as I said above.
 
Thank you all for the advice. Its now working... have deleted unwanted
partition and am in process of formating C: !! Previously I started with CD
in drive and it seemed to boot from that (but apparently not). This time I
changed the BIOS to boot from CD.... and as a result, Setup worked properly.
Thanks again guys, great help.

Peter


Carey Frisch said:
You must "boot from the Windows XP CD" in order to get
the option to format the drive. Follow the instructions:

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.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

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 all 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/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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

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

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

:

| I have tried advice above... I am able to install XP Pro, but it will not
| allow me at any stage (during setup or after) to Format C: Nor will it
| allow me to expand the current partition on C: (25 GB Basic NTFS) to the full
| 80 GB. (The rest is unallocated space).
|
| I need to reformat this hard disk to get rid of all the old rubbish.
| Help says "Cannot reformat system partition or boot partition" but this is
| exactly what I want to reformat, including the unallocated space. Will then
| reload XP.
|
| I tried to install W2000 to format, but W XP disabled W 2000 install. If
| necessary I will uninstall W XP and then try to format C:
|
| Any advice would be appreciated.
|
| Peter
Click to expand...
 
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