Format Harddrives

  • Thread starter Thread starter cristian_Ducere
  • Start date Start date
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cristian_Ducere

Hi.

I have a problem. I need to format and re install XP .
Now If I start the install program it can format and
install the OS. But I have 2 HD and I wanna format them
both (in case I have a virus or something)

so how do I go about to format both the HD and then
install xp?

(I have the msBlast stupid worm and I cant seem to get
rid of it, it got to me befor I had the chance to do
windows update)
 
cristian_Ducere said:
Hi.

I have a problem. I need to format and re install XP .
Now If I start the install program it can format and
install the OS. But I have 2 HD and I wanna format them
both (in case I have a virus or something)

so how do I go about to format both the HD and then
install xp?

(I have the msBlast stupid worm and I cant seem to get
rid of it, it got to me befor I had the chance to do
windows update)
Click to expand...

Right Click on My Computer and select Manage. Then under Storage select
Disk Management. Disk Management will allow you to format partitions on
your second hard drive and non-primary partitions on your first hard drive.
Then when you boot with your Windows XP CD, you can format your primary
partition on your first drive and reinstall Windows.

Don
 
You can also go ahead and install XP. After XP is install go to MY COMPUTER
and right click on each of the virtual HDs and select format.
Good Luck
 
Since you have 2 hard drives, it MAY be possible to correct your problem
without reformating both drives. it depends on how far the Worm has spread.

On my system I found the worm is capable of infecting your PC virtually as
soon as you connect to the internet, even with Antivirus software running.

It also depends on data you may want to keep.

My problem started showing up with errors about HIVE file SAM, these are
stored in folder Windows\system32\config.

I resolved my proble by installing a new copy of windows to the second
drive.
Reboot to Safe made.
Disconnect from the internet
Run Virusscan on all files and clean the system.
Copy your C:\documents and Settings\ folder and subdirectories to your
second hard disk (particulary important if you have emails you need keep,
especially if things do not work out and you need to format the disk)
Then reboot to Setup CD and Install to original Boot disk as Upgrade (this
will ensure your current settings are retained) Note, if the install fails
because of registry error or Hive file, boot to second copy of Windows and
delete the SAM (or file reported on BSOD as being corrupt) files from
C:\windows\system32\config
after installation:
make sure internet firewall is active, connect to internet and install all
MS Critical updates
Hopefully this will save you having to reinstall everything (some things may
have lost their registration settings and may need re-registring or
installing but not as many as completely reformatted system)

If you do not want to have two copies of windows:
After you have got things working you move what you want from the second
hard drive before reformatting it, then move them back.
To stop Boot sequence asking which copy of Windows you want to use, Edit
C:\boot.ini in notepad and delete the line that refers to Windows on the
second hard drive (caution is required here to make sure the correct things
are changed)

I have done this on my system and everything is now fine.
HTH
Birderman
 
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