Partitions -- Starting All Over with the Story

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim McKinley
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim McKinley

Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled software
with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore Windows to the
factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in 2008. I had a
computer built. I had the HD from the Compac copied to the new 160 GB HD in
the new computer. There is still a C: and D: drive from the way Compac had
it divided. The D: is just a small partition and has what I believe to be
files that would be used if I had to use the Compac factory disk to restore.
At this point I am not sure the Compac restore disk would still work on the
new computer. == Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files on
the HD and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows XP,
format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C: is
NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my new
Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be set to go.
Does that sound like a solid plan?

Thanks,
--

Jim
*******************************************
Baseball is the Only Game Where
the Defense Controls the Ball
*******************************************
 
Jim said:
Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled
software
with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore Windows to the
factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in 2008. I had a
computer built. I had the HD from the Compac copied to the new 160 GB HD
in
the new computer. There is still a C: and D: drive from the way Compac
had
it divided. The D: is just a small partition and has what I believe to be
files that would be used if I had to use the Compac factory disk to
restore. At this point I am not sure the Compac restore disk would still
work on the
new computer. == Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files
on the HD and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows
XP, format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C:
is
NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my new
Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be set to go.
Does that sound like a solid plan?
Click to expand...

During installation of the retail version of XP you will buy, delete all the
partitions and create one new one formatted NTFS. Install XP on that.

Malke
 
Jim said:
Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled
software with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore
Windows to the factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in
2008. I had a computer built.
Click to expand...

Jim, in the future, please don't start a new thread! I already asked you
pertinent questions; you should have responded there!

That being said...

When you had this computer built, did you purchase an OS? It sounds like
you didn't, but I want to make sure.
I had the HD from the Compac copied
to the new 160 GB HD in the new computer.
Click to expand...

I doubt that would work. The hardware surely is significantly different.
Additionally, the license is non-transferrable, so it's not a legit
installation.
There is still a C: and D:
drive from the way Compac had it divided. The D: is just a small
partition and has what I believe to be files that would be used if I
had to use the Compac factory disk to restore. At this point I am not
sure the Compac restore disk would still work on the new computer.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it wouldn't.
== Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files on the HD
and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows XP,
format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C:
is NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my
new Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be
set to go. Does that sound like a solid plan?
Click to expand...

I'm actually very surprised that everything works fine.

Your plan to perform a clean install does sound solid. Here's one place
you may purchase XP:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

Here are some sites with complete installation instructions:

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

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/sp2sp3installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

I would definitely delete both partitions; the FAT32 one is useless.
 
Daave said:
Jim, in the future, please don't start a new thread! I already asked you
pertinent questions; you should have responded there!

That being said...

When you had this computer built, did you purchase an OS? It sounds like
you didn't, but I want to make sure.


I doubt that would work. The hardware surely is significantly different.
Additionally, the license is non-transferrable, so it's not a legit
installation.


I'm sure it wouldn't.


I'm actually very surprised that everything works fine.

Your plan to perform a clean install does sound solid. Here's one place
you may purchase XP:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

Here are some sites with complete installation instructions:

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

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/sp2sp3installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

I would definitely delete both partitions; the FAT32 one is useless.
Click to expand...

One more question. When I install XP, will it give me the option to delete
all partitions?
 
Jim McKinley said:
One more question. When I install XP, will it give me the option to
delete all partitions?
Click to expand...

I don't believe there is an option to delete all partitions all at once,
so you would need to delete them one at a time. When you get to this
screen

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/images/Image6.gif

use the arrow keys to select a partition (many people prefer starting
with the drive with the higher or highest letter and work backwards
toward C:), then press D to delete it.
 
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