formatting a 2nd HD with NTFS in XP sp1

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This is all I wanted to do, as my previous 160G slave was failing. I
couldn't remember how. Went on line and found some instructions. Put in XP
CD and went to setup, chose 2nd HD, and went to create a first partition of
80G. This was taking a long time so I left the room. When I returned,
Windows was setting up.

Seeing no way to stop, I continued with the result that all my programs were
wiped out. Only a single icon, recycle bin remains. When I checked the 2nd
drive it lists as only 80g. I never had the chance to create more
partitions. All I wanted to do was replace a HD, and now it'll take a week
to restore things.

Trying to find help on the web with a search as in the subject, all I got
was formatting FAT32 or FAT16, with other than XP. I can't understand why it
has become so hard to find how to do this simple thing.
 
If I read this correctly all you wanted to do was format a second
hard drive using NTFS. You could do that from
MyComputer or Disk Management. You don't need the WinXP CD to format
a second drive.
 
robirdman said:
This is all I wanted to do, as my previous 160G slave was failing. I
couldn't remember how. Went on line and found some instructions. Put
in XP
CD and went to setup, chose 2nd HD, and went to create a first
partition of
80G. This was taking a long time so I left the room. When I
returned,
Windows was setting up.

Seeing no way to stop, I continued with the result that all my programs
were
wiped out. Only a single icon, recycle bin remains. When I checked
the 2nd
drive it lists as only 80g. I never had the chance to create more
partitions. All I wanted to do was replace a HD, and now it'll take a
week
to restore things.

Trying to find help on the web with a search as in the subject, all I
got
was formatting FAT32 or FAT16, with other than XP. I can't understand
why it
has become so hard to find how to do this simple thing.
Click to expand...

The process you did was actually for installing a fresh copy of XP.
Sorry you had to find out the hard way. Since you already had XP
installed, you actually use Disk Management. Here is the Microsoft
article for Disk Management:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/
 
Thanks. I originally started out here by right clicking my computer and
going to manage. Why I couldn't figure it out, I don't know. But now my
small C drive is not the boot drive, as previously. The larger one is. What
do I need to change back before creating more partitions on the larger drive.
 
Thanks. I originally started out here by right clicking my computer and
going to manage. Why I couldn't figure it out, I don't know. But now my
small C drive is not the boot drive, as previously. The larger one is. What
do I need to change back before creating more partitions on the larger drive.
 
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

robirdman said:
Thanks. I originally started out here by right clicking my computer and
going to manage. Why I couldn't figure it out, I don't know. But now my
small C drive is not the boot drive, as previously. The larger one is.
What
do I need to change back before creating more partitions on the larger
drive.
Click to expand...


Give us some more information,
Do you see the folders with your information?
Post back with as much information as you can, we may be able to salvage
your data and maybe your original configuration.
Don't change anything and keep your computer use to a minimum until you post
back.

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
By searching the C drive folders more carefully, I see that all my programs
are still listed under programs, and that other folders that had my files are
present also. Trying to run some programs though gave the message that a file
was missing or that the program needed reinstalling. Adobe Acrobat Reader
did open though.
 
Michael said:
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://tinyurl.com/2awkd

"robirdman" (e-mail address removed) wrote in message
Thanks. I originally started out here by right clicking my computer
and
going to manage. Why I couldn't figure it out, I don't know. But now
my
small C drive is not the boot drive, as previously. The larger one
is.
What
do I need to change back before creating more partitions on the
larger
drive.

:


robirdman Wrote:
This is all I wanted to do, as my previous 160G slave was failing.
I
couldn't remember how. Went on line and found some instructions.
Put
in XP
CD and went to setup, chose 2nd HD, and went to create a first
partition of
80G. This was taking a long time so I left the room. When I
returned,
Windows was setting up.

Seeing no way to stop, I continued with the result that all my
programs
were
wiped out. Only a single icon, recycle bin remains. When I checked
the 2nd
drive it lists as only 80g. I never had the chance to create more
partitions. All I wanted to do was replace a HD, and now it'll take
a
week
to restore things.

Trying to find help on the web with a search as in the subject, all
I
got
was formatting FAT32 or FAT16, with other than XP. I can't
understand
why it
has become so hard to find how to do this simple thing.



Give us some more information,
Do you see the folders with your information?
Post back with as much information as you can, we may be able to
salvage
your data and maybe your original configuration.
Don't change anything and keep your computer use to a minimum until you
post
back.

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://tinyurl.com/2awkd
Click to expand...

Would it be possible that it is now configured somewhat as dual boot?
Probably not to that extent but he did install XP on the 2nd hard
drive, and not his original drive. Maybe he can check his boot.ini.
 
Its almost 12 hours since I was requested to do nothing further till hearing.
I'd much appreciate further advice. If I finally get back to where I was I
still have to copy the contents of the failing 160G drive to the new one, and
I am already over a week without being able to do anything useful. Thanks
much for any more advice.
 
I disconnected the new drive and found that the original C drive will no
longer boot the computer.
 
Still no further help after asking me not to use the computer till hearing
back. It looks like I'll just have to assume that attempts to return things
to how they were is hopeless and I must reinstall windows on the C drive with
the other disk detached and then wipe the latter clean to start from scratch.
 
I have found that if I ignore the message about a missing boot file, and
press enter, the system comes to a point where there is a choice of 2
Windows. Choosing the latter resulted in my original windows with all the
program icons present and working. How do I get rid of the first Windows
that needs the 2nd drive?
 
You would need to remove the entry from the boot.ini file and make the
original installation the default boot os. then you can reformat your new
drive through your old windows installation properly.

You can find the boot.ini options in "msconfig", just type it in the run
dialog box.

Just be careful when you start editing the file.
 
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