problems formatting

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murcury

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Hi i am trying to format my mum in laws computer after a very nasty virus (thanks to limewire) it did format the computer but when it went to do the set up it couldn't copy some of the files so i restarted the computer as directed but then it said it couldnt find the hard drive which is connected cos i checked it, does any one have any ideas cos i don't
 
Which operating system are you trying to install?

(Win XP; Win 2000; ME; Win 98; Linux)

How did you format the hard drive?

Is the hard drive seen in the Bios?
 
its windows xp, i inserted the disk and resrarted the computer pressed any key to boot from disk, deleted the original partition that had windows on then formatted what was left, which it did it went to about 33% of the set up saying that some files couldn't be copied so i cancelled the set up and restarted thats when it started saying the was no hard drive. so i took the side off checked it was connected and tried it again it said the same thing only now when i start it the only option i have is to boot from the disc
 
It's possible the Windows CD is damaged or the optical drive you're using is faulty.

Other than that, not really sure.

When the XP install gets to offering you a choice of hard disks to install to, after you've deleted original partition, is it showing the hard disk as one partition or several? Is it showing the full disk space? Is the hard disk shown as drive 'C'?

Is your hard disk the only one in the computer?

Have you set the Bios to boot from CD?

Try cleaning the install CD.
 
This probably aint it cos think you guys are right. I had this problem ealier this year after about 10 attempts I realsied it was a faulty stick of memory.

The installation kept falling over again and again. Crazy thing was that it was fine before the new installation
 
i will check the disk, when i went to format it offered me two partitions one larger one, i think was referred to as the c drive the other was very small,and the larger partition did show the full memory. there is only one hard drive installed.
no i haven't set bios to boot from cd it is now doing that automatically.
although slow the computer did work before the format it did have a malicious script on it which i quarantined while i was looking around, i wanted to try everything before formatting.
 
Opt for the larger partition, the smaller one will typically be about 8mb and contain a few reference files that don't concern you when doing a fresh install.
 
is it possible that the hard drive has burnt out, because i have checked the disk and also tried the copy i have made as a back up and niether of them work although now it does get up the set up page, then it stops and does nothing. i have taken it apart and checked that everything's connected and everything is, can you think of any thing else or should i risk buying a new one?
 
murcury said:
is it possible that the hard drive has burnt out, because i have checked the disk and also tried the copy i have made as a back up and niether of them work although now it does get up the set up page, then it stops and does nothing. i have taken it apart and checked that everything's connected and everything is, can you think of any thing else or should i risk buying a new one?
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Dunno ... what does the HD manufacturer's disk utility say?

:)
 
Try going to the manufacturers website

Look for support section and then download a utility that offers a diagnostic feature
 
how would i be able to use that with the computer being totally out of action the only thing it can do is load a disk and it cant even do that properly and i dont think my partner would like me messing with our computer putting bits in and out
 
murcury said:
how would i be able to use that with the computer being totally out of action the only thing it can do is load a disk and it cant even do that properly and i dont think my partner would like me messing with our computer putting bits in and out
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How the hell are you talking to us ???

You download the diagnostic tool to the PC you are using now ... you put the tool on a floppy, you put that floppy in the knackard computer and boot from it and run it.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about ... take it to a shop. ;)
 
oh ok, and this is my boyfriends computer i am privileged to be able to use it, i once asked to borrow his car and i have only ever asked the once. sorry if my last message seemed a bit tense i didnt mean for it to read so aggressively
 
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Why privilaged?

All sounds a bit iffy to me.

If it's your BF's get him to take it to a shop and you stop stressing about it

Because believe me it will get you stressed!
 
i live to learn and to kick his butt at computers, cos he sucks at everything electical. i like to know how to these things myself otherwise i would be pennyless
 
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