RC1 Format killed my laptop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerry
  • Start date Start date
J

Jerry

I decided to pick format from drive options since I wanted to start really
fresh. The format seemed to work fine and it came back and told me the
total and free were the same number. On the next screen it tells me that it
is copying files but before it gets beyond 0% it tells me 'Windows Setup
could not reinitialize the deployment engine. To install Windows, restart
the installation.' Restarting the installation doesn't help. I tried to
reinstall Beta 2 and got a different error message at the same point so now
that won't install either. I tried my ThinkPad XP recovery disk and when it
tried to format it told me 'Error #1826 Free space not found'. So it seems
pretty clear that the RC1 format messed up my hard drive. Does anyone have
a suggestion as to anything I can try?
 
Perhaps try :

1. Get a floppy disk with a bootable MS-DOS operating system (as version
6.2 for example)
2. Ensure that the MS-DOS fdisk program is on this floppy
3. Boot from this floppy
4. At the A/> prompt, Run =>
fdisk /mbr
5. Retry your recover disk.

Hope this helps.
jean-marie
 
ok,

I wonder if you've tryed formatting with another setup disc, like beta 2 or
ur XP recovery disc and then installing ur XP.
 
I suggest using a partition editor, I use Acronis Disk Director Suite, but
there is Partiton Magic and a few others. Anyways, you can boot up with on of
those and format the partiton. The one I use has NTFS formatting, so you can
just format it NTFS and reboot into the XP recovery. You need to be very
careful, sometimes Companies have a small partition that has all the boot
recovery stuff on it or extra tools accessable via a boot menu, for me F12
gives me several options, so don't delete that partition. Also, some
partition editors have the ability to everwrite deleted partitions with 0's
or random data to make it a secure deletion.

These do cost money, but having them around is very helpful.

The good news is that I don't think anything is wrong with your hard drive.
Just a little work, that's all. :)

Cheers.
 
I did indeed do another format using the beta 2 CD and after the format I
get to the Installing screen and get 'An error occurred while reinitializing
Setup' before I even see 0% displayed. I don't have a DOS floppy disk or a
floppy drive on the laptop.
 
I decided to pick format from drive options since I wanted to start really
fresh. The format seemed to work fine and it came back and told me the
total and free were the same number. On the next screen it tells me that it
is copying files but before it gets beyond 0% it tells me 'Windows Setup
could not reinitialize the deployment engine. To install Windows, restart
the installation.' Restarting the installation doesn't help. I tried to
reinstall Beta 2 and got a different error message at the same point so now
that won't install either. I tried my ThinkPad XP recovery disk and when it
tried to format it told me 'Error #1826 Free space not found'. So it seems
pretty clear that the RC1 format messed up my hard drive. Does anyone have
a suggestion as to anything I can try?
Click to expand...
I zero write the disk first using the disk manufactorers disk
utilities downloads from the makers website. This cleans the entire
disk so it ends up looking like a brand new empty (raw) disk, then I
put Vista on it. Had similar trouble with Vista installation in some
circumstances so I start from scratch aand if I cannot install Vista
clean on a raw drive I put XP in first then upgrade with Vista.

I would point out I use a test PC for this not a in use PC.

Anyway you can use the manufactorers zero write utility to clean your
disk then you should be able to get XP at least back on it. Assuming
you have backups? you should then be able to back your LT up to where
it was before / or put Vista in clean.

If not you are in deep trouble.

8-)

Jonah
 
Actually Partition Magic is not bootable (at least 7.0) isn't and as it
turns out it was a hard drive failure. I tried to boot a Windows XP CD and
after doing it's basic stuff it told me I had an 'unmountable hard drive'.
I contacted IBM and I'm still under warranty so I'll have a new hard drive
in hand on Tuesday. Bad luck that the RC 1 format pushed it over the edge
but good luck that it died empty so I won't have a lot of recovery as is
normal with a hard drive failure.
 
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