Formatting hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Margaret
  • Start date Start date
M

Margaret

I have windows xp.I was having problems and decided the
only solution was to reinstall windows. When I did I
ended up with windows xp on both drives. I re-formated
the second drive(D) but when my computer boots up I am
given a choice of two, although one of them doesn't work.
Does anyone know if there is a way to format both C and D
drives so that I can start again from scratch. I have
tried everthing I can think of to Format both my drives
but I am unable to format C drive where main operating
system is. please help
 
You cannot format a drive you are currently in.

Boot with the XP CD and follow the instructions.....

When the screen displays the message Press Any Key to Boot from CD... press
a key, any key, the spacebar will do just fine.

Let it book from the XP CD....

Ignore the F2 for the Recover Console.

Go thru the F8 to accept the EULA.

When Windows looks for and finds itself on the drive it will ask what you
want to do.

Choose delete the partition. (it will probably ask if you're sure as all
data on the drive will be lost).

Providing you are sure and you've backed up what you want. say Yes.

Then because you have stuff on the other drive as well, you may choose the
delete the partition on the other drive and clean that one out as well.

Then create a new partition and choose to install XP on the c:\ drive.

It will get on with the installation and at the end you should have XP on
the c:\ drive and nothing on the d:\ drive. We'll deal with that in a
minute.

BEFORE you do this, go to the Windows Update site and use the Windows
Catalog option to download Critical Updates 810565 amd 811630. Burn these
to a CD. You'll NEED to install these BEFORE you come back
online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So after installing XP - even before coming back online to activate it,
install those two critical updates.

Then go online and activate it.

Now right click on My Computer and select Manage. On the following screen,
select Disk Management. The d:\ drive should appear on the right hand side
of the screen. Clicking on it will enable you to recreate an new partition
and format that drive too.

Cari
www.coribright.com
 
I have windows xp.I was having problems and decided the
only solution was to reinstall windows. When I did I
ended up with windows xp on both drives. I re-formated
the second drive(D) but when my computer boots up I am
given a choice of two, although one of them doesn't work.
Does anyone know if there is a way to format both C and D
drives so that I can start again from scratch. I have
tried everthing I can think of to Format both my drives
but I am unable to format C drive where main operating
system is. please help
Click to expand...

You need to edit your C:\BOOT.INI to rid it of the phantom drive in your boot
menu. First you need to set its attributes so you can see it and edit it.
 
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