XP wont let me FORMAT!

  • Thread starter Thread starter buntpan
  • Start date Start date
B

buntpan

i want to format my harddrive and install windows fresh,
but it wont let me. there is no way to get to a command
prompt that allows me to format c: and none of the boot
disks will allow me to format either.

i can boot up with the windows XP, choose fresh install,
but it NEVER gives me the option to format the drive
first, and when it asks me which partition i want to
install it onto (i only have the 1 partition), if i try
to delete the partition it says it cannot delete the
partition because temporary installation files are being
stored on it (i have no idea why, im using the CD).

I've tried dos boot disks but they only give me the a:\>
prompt and say i dont have any harddrives installed.

I dont understand why it wont let me format, what am i
doing wrong?
 
Try it this way.
Clean Installation
Disconnect all peripherals (camera, printer, scanner, etc)
Disconnect network/modem cable.
Go to BIOS and set CDROM as boot device before hard drive.
Insert Windows XP CD and reboot.
At "Press any key to boot to CDROM" quickly press a key and follow the
prompts for a Clean installation:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
If you are installing using Windows XP Upgrade, insert qualifying
media in Step 4b.
Delete all partitions in step 5 if you desire to erase all data on the
hard drive.
Partitioning and formatting will be done automatically.
All data will be destroyed, back-up important data first.

Enable or install firewall BEFORE connecting network cable.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673

Install ALL Critical Windows Updates:
Start/All Programs/Windows Update

After you are finished, you will need to load the appropriate drivers.

If your computer was shipped with Windows XP, these procedures may or
may not apply.
Check your manual or contact the computer manufacturer for more
details.
 
Greetings --

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered
the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of
the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
It looks to me as if some files from the previous XP
installation are still on the HD. The Windows CD you're
booting from appaerently sees those files, and thus gives
you the error about files being on the HD.

If you really don't want to get any other data off of the
hard drive, there's a utility called Killdisk that will
completely erase every last bit of data off of the hard
drive. You can then install XP right onto it as if you
were installing to a new hard drive.
Its at http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm
It runs from either a CD or a floppy.
 
at the a: prompt type c: when it changes u should be able to continue with format
Click to expand...

That won't work if the HD is formatted in NTFS. Besides, if you boot
into DOS, you'll find the XP install routine won't work.
 
NobodyMan said:
with format

That won't work if the HD is formatted in NTFS. Besides, if you boot
into DOS, you'll find the XP install routine won't work.
Click to expand...

You can install XP from DOS by navigating to the i386 folder and running
winnt.exe :-)
 
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