ERAD Caz

The old formatting drill. I'm basically brainless when it comes to formatting, but I got to the part where I was asked to choose which partition to format. And, as usual it didnt work, some error about some temporary setup files being used.

So would that mean I have to hook a second hard drive up, in order to let that one be partitioned?

Also. kinda off topic, but uhh, after assembling new computer parts, do all the drivers need to be installed for each port? I set the TCP/IP to obtain automatic IP Addresses, and everything looks likady split, and of course that doesn't wanna work too.

Any suggestions?

TekXoID

Are you sure you booted to the XP CD?

ERAD Caz

I used the XP cd and chose the reinstall option...
Do u mean changing the BIOs to boot from cd?

Dimazz

Yes to format XP you need to put the XP cd in the drive. Then either hold the appropriet key to boot from cd or set in BIOS to boot from cd. Then it will go into this blue screen, wait. Then it asks you which partiotion to format, if you have oonly one then do that one if not you will know which one you want to do. Then format it and it will let you instal XP if you need.
Hope that helps

aaronrkelly

Yeah, what he said. You cannot format and XP system drive while using XP. You must boot from the CD then what I do is delete all partitions and repartition/format and reinstall. Just some advise when you go to format choose NTFS QUICK FORMAT - its a hell a lot quicker.

ERAD Caz

im back, with MORE problems

heres what i did step by step...
insert XP cd, click install
choose new installation
get to the dos setup screen
hit D to delete the partition on my hard drive
and i get "cannot delete partition because temp setup files are being used"

i already tried a lot of different things, like setting the BIOs to boot from XP CD first, or boot from a boot floppy disk, but all fail... all methods still come down to "insert correct system disk and hit enter" or the "cannot partition" crap

the computer proves to be an advanced machine... or a machine to not work the way it should, just to burn me

hawklen

Go with the old fashion method.

Boot from a dos floppy, w/ fdisk on it.

delete partition from there, reboot with XP cd in..

You can get dos boot disk images from here http://www.daniel-hertrich.de/bootdisks/secret.shtml

just follow directions, you can do all thi in a winXP command prompt

ERAD Caz

pardon my technological stupidity... but im assuming the first link is for the windows version... and i get the rawrite to come up, but it gives me an error when i type in anyname for the first command "enter source file name"

hawklen

Quote: Originally Posted by ERAD Caz pardon my technological stupidity... but im assuming the first link is for the windows version... and i get the rawrite to come up, but it gives me an error when i type in anyname for the first command "enter source file name"

make sure the image file you downloaded is in the same directory as rawrite. Been awhile since I used it, ie. if a file name is dos.img, when it asks for a name, type that in, dos.img. Remember, thats an example.

Also, forgot, if you have a copy of Win98 lying around, you can boot off that (boot from CD, then start computer with cd-rom support, then fdisk at the prompt)

ERAD Caz

oh, cool... booting off the disk or win98 cd gets me to command script...

and even tho i take german class, i cant make left or right with these words and the fact that it changed the : and \ to something else...

using the 98 disk... i get the prompt "A:\>" so i type in "fdisk C:" and it gives me b.s.: "parameter format not correct - C:" so i try C:\ or C, same error

even when i try to switch to the hdd by adding C:\ or C: or C after "A:\>" it says false command or something

where are the good old days where formatting was simple?
know any way outta this one?

ERAD Caz

i installed 98... but o had to skip lots of install files, cause it just WOULDNT accept the CD... so now i can only start the OS in safe mode, which wont support cd drives to let me install XP

not only that, but i cant even start "setup.exe" on the XP install cd by typing it in the prompt

in need of desperate help

EstwingMan

Quote: Originally Posted by ERAD Caz using the 98 disk... i get the prompt "A:\>" so i type in "fdisk C:" and it gives me b.s.: "parameter format not correct - C:" so i try C:\ or C, same error even when i try to switch to the hdd by adding C:\ or C: or C after "A:\>" it says false command or something

At the A:\ prompt just type "fdisk" with no drive letter. Once youre in the fdisk program you can choose from there. Hope that helps.

ERAD Caz

Quote: Originally Posted by EstwingMan At the A:\ prompt just type "fdisk" with no drive letter. Once youre in the fdisk program you can choose from there. Hope that helps.

well i actually got past the formatting part... but ill keep that in mind when i have to do it again, which i think will be in a couple minutes

windows 98 was installed... but when it started up, it asked to insert the cd because it couldnt find a specific file... yea well the fake cd's already in there, so i had no other option than to "skip file", so now im basically screwed with no way to upgrade to XP

TekXoID

This is so easy you are making a fool of yourself doing it the hard way.

Reboot with your XP CD in the drive.
Select CDROM as your one and ONLY boot device in BIOS. Save settings, reboot.
Hit any key when it asks "Press any key to boot from CD".
Let it load the setup files, and when it asks to install hit enter, accept agreement, and choose C:\ to install to.

When it asks wether to format or not, select yes and proceed with a NTFS format (non-quick).
The installer will eventually ask to reboot, when it does, go in to BIOS before it tries to boot from CD again, and select HDD-0 as your one and only boot device. Save settings, reboot. Windows will then finish installaton.

ERAD Caz

Quote: Originally Posted by TekXoID This is so easy you are making a fool of yourself doing it the hard way. Reboot with your XP CD in the drive. Select CDROM as your one and ONLY boot device in BIOS. Save settings, reboot. Hit any key when it asks "Press any key to boot from CD". Let it load the setup files, and when it asks to install hit enter, accept agreement, and choose C:\ to install to. When it asks wether to format or not, select yes and proceed with a NTFS format (non-quick). The installer will eventually ask to reboot, when it does, go in to BIOS before it tries to boot from CD again, and select HDD-0 as your one and only boot device. Save settings, reboot. Windows will then finish installaton.

my Asus BIOS make it very hard to select only one boot device... once u change one, the other two automatically set themselves... but i could use my old computer with that kind of simple BIOS to do that, but im not 100% sure the XP cd would comply... its worth a shot...

Red02

as long as the first boot device is your cd-rom it will work just fine. Just follow the rest of Texks advice and it will work.

ERAD Caz

Quote: Originally Posted by EstwingMan At the A:\ prompt just type "fdisk" with no drive letter. Once youre in the fdisk program you can choose from there. Hope that helps.

fdisk works

but when i choose to delete the primary dos partition, it asks me for volume label... and C is not accepted, (cant type ":" either)

Red02

if your using a win98 boot disk it doesnt support NTFS. So your going to have to delete a NON-DOS partition. Then you can go in and make a FAT32 partion on the HDD and have windows convert it later to NTFS if you want.

EstwingMan

Quote: Originally Posted by ERAD Caz but when i choose to delete the primary dos partition, it asks me for volume label... and C is not accepted, (cant type ":" either)

Type in somthing like "120WD" for 120MB Western Digital or leave it blank.

EDIT: Oopps, you have to type in the name that the partition already has assigned to it. Then you can name the new partition whatever you want, Sorry