XP Pro reinstall?

[Peter G]

Hi, I have a Dell5100 - Windows XP Pro is really playing up. After
reinstalling from the "reinstallation CD" got from Dell but without
reformatting, then trying to use the repair routine, still got many problems
and can't install ie7 etc so have decided to reformat Drive C and do a clean
install. Bit nervous - can you help? I don't want any of the Dell stuff,
just a clean machine!

Confusing screen when I try new vXP installg from the CD - my "C" drive
appears to be split in 3 ...
-: Partition 1 (fat) 63mb
C: Partition 2 (NTFS) 149,000mb
N: Partition 3 (Fat32) 2965mb

What do I do from here - there is no N partition that I can see when I go
into my wobbly Windows - worried that it might contain something I don't
want to lose?
Should I just reformat the C drive from somewhere else?

Sorry to be a bit dim....

 

[Leonard Grey]

Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall Guide [All Dell Desktops and Portables]
http://tinyurl.com/37a6ov

 

[Peter G]

Thanks for that Leonard - I've followed carefully but original dilemma
remains. I've tried using the Dell restore system (ctrl f11 on start up) but
that doesn't work so I'm now left with a complete reformat (without Dell!)
but not sure where to reformat from when I get the "confusing" screen
below....

can you advise?

Peter Goldfield

if man were to do nothing untill he could do it perfectly, he would
do nothing at all...

Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall Guide [All Dell Desktops and Portables]
http://tinyurl.com/37a6ov

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Hi, I have a Dell5100 - Windows XP Pro is really playing up. After
reinstalling from the "reinstallation CD" got from Dell but without
reformatting, then trying to use the repair routine, still got many
problems and can't install ie7 etc so have decided to reformat Drive C
and do a clean install. Bit nervous - can you help? I don't want any of
the Dell stuff, just a clean machine!

Confusing screen when I try new vXP installg from the CD - my "C" drive
appears to be split in 3 ...
-: Partition 1 (fat) 63mb
C: Partition 2 (NTFS) 149,000mb
N: Partition 3 (Fat32) 2965mb

What do I do from here - there is no N partition that I can see when I go
into my wobbly Windows - worried that it might contain something I don't
want to lose?
Should I just reformat the C drive from somewhere else?

Sorry to be a bit dim....

 

[Leonard Grey]

Dell's method works. Contact Dell technical support and ask them to help
you. Or, if you prefer, ask your questions in the Dell Community Forum:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Thanks for that Leonard - I've followed carefully but original dilemma
remains. I've tried using the Dell restore system (ctrl f11 on start up) but
that doesn't work so I'm now left with a complete reformat (without Dell!)
but not sure where to reformat from when I get the "confusing" screen
below....

can you advise?

Peter Goldfield

if man were to do nothing untill he could do it perfectly, he would
do nothing at all...

Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall Guide [All Dell Desktops and Portables]
http://tinyurl.com/37a6ov

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Hi, I have a Dell5100 - Windows XP Pro is really playing up. After
reinstalling from the "reinstallation CD" got from Dell but without
reformatting, then trying to use the repair routine, still got many
problems and can't install ie7 etc so have decided to reformat Drive C
and do a clean install. Bit nervous - can you help? I don't want any of
the Dell stuff, just a clean machine!

Confusing screen when I try new vXP installg from the CD - my "C" drive
appears to be split in 3 ...
-: Partition 1 (fat) 63mb
C: Partition 2 (NTFS) 149,000mb
N: Partition 3 (Fat32) 2965mb

What do I do from here - there is no N partition that I can see when I go
into my wobbly Windows - worried that it might contain something I don't
want to lose?
Should I just reformat the C drive from somewhere else?

Sorry to be a bit dim....

 

[Peter G]

Thanks again Leonard - unfortunately I must have done something to inhibit
ctrl f11 - Dell would only offer expensive help - BUT, fortunately, and

in case anyone else is listening,

the article at http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html,
answered my query - all I had to do was to delete the worrying partitions to
get to the "reformat" stage I was looking for. Now merrily? reinstalling XP


very best

Dell's method works. Contact Dell technical support and ask them to help
you. Or, if you prefer, ask your questions in the Dell Community Forum:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Thanks for that Leonard - I've followed carefully but original dilemma
remains. I've tried using the Dell restore system (ctrl f11 on start up)
but that doesn't work so I'm now left with a complete reformat (without
Dell!) but not sure where to reformat from when I get the "confusing"
screen below....

can you advise?

Peter Goldfield

if man were to do nothing untill he could do it perfectly, he
would do nothing at all...

Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall Guide [All Dell Desktops and Portables]
http://tinyurl.com/37a6ov

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Peter G wrote:
Hi, I have a Dell5100 - Windows XP Pro is really playing up. After
reinstalling from the "reinstallation CD" got from Dell but without
reformatting, then trying to use the repair routine, still got many
problems and can't install ie7 etc so have decided to reformat Drive C
and do a clean install. Bit nervous - can you help? I don't want any of
the Dell stuff, just a clean machine!

Confusing screen when I try new vXP installg from the CD - my "C" drive
appears to be split in 3 ...
-: Partition 1 (fat) 63mb
C: Partition 2 (NTFS) 149,000mb
N: Partition 3 (Fat32) 2965mb

What do I do from here - there is no N partition that I can see when I
go into my wobbly Windows - worried that it might contain something I
don't want to lose?
Should I just reformat the C drive from somewhere else?

Sorry to be a bit dim....