Need to to Delete Format and Install

[Mickey Mouse]

Help, I'm having trouble.

I want to delete my partitions reformat my hd and re-install windows XP.

I just bought a new system (2nd computer) to be used for school work.
The 160gig HD was clean.
I thought I created a 30gig partition (D) for backup storage leaving a C:
drive appx 130gig.
Well as stupidity would have it I did it backwards. In Disk Management I
now have...
C: Primary (Healthy system) 29.29 gig
F: Logical drive Healthy (Boot) 119.75gig
I can't change the drive letters on either, when I try I get....
"Windows can't modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot
volume".
So I thought I'd put my Windows XP cd in, power down and reboot.
When I reboot I'm not given the option to delete my partitions, I'm given a
message to press any key
to boot from cd (which I do). It then asks if I want to....
"To set up Windows now" - press enter
"repair a Windows XP installation" - press R
How do I get it to give me the option to delete partitions/format my drive?
I've had three Windows XP disks. One went with a system I sold and I've
still got the other two.
I'm pretty sure the two I'm left with are not upgrade disks although one
might be. In anycase I've tried both.

Help!
Mickey
P.s Please don't snip.

 

[Leonard Grey]

You cannot change partition sizes using Windows XP. You'll need
third-party repartitioning software. Or erase your hard disk and start
again.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

You cannot change partition sizes using Windows XP. You'll need
third-party repartitioning software. Or erase your hard disk and start
again.

Hey Leonard,
Well as you suggest and as I asked in my post, ERASE the drive is exactly
what I'm trying to do.

MICKEY

 

[philo]

Help, I'm having trouble.

I want to delete my partitions reformat my hd and re-install windows XP.

I just bought a new system (2nd computer) to be used for school work.
The 160gig HD was clean.
I thought I created a 30gig partition (D) for backup storage leaving a C:
drive appx 130gig.
Well as stupidity would have it I did it backwards. In Disk Management I
now have...
C: Primary (Healthy system) 29.29 gig
F: Logical drive Healthy (Boot) 119.75gig
I can't change the drive letters on either, when I try I get....
"Windows can't modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot
volume".
So I thought I'd put my Windows XP cd in, power down and reboot.
When I reboot I'm not given the option to delete my partitions,

<Break>


The option is there, you must have missed it

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941




I'm given a

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Help, I'm having trouble.

I want to delete my partitions reformat my hd and re-install
windows XP.
I just bought a new system (2nd computer) to be used for school
work. The 160gig HD was clean.
I thought I created a 30gig partition (D) for backup storage
leaving a C: drive appx 130gig.
Well as stupidity would have it I did it backwards. In Disk
Management I now have...
C: Primary (Healthy system) 29.29 gig
F: Logical drive Healthy (Boot) 119.75gig
I can't change the drive letters on either, when I try I get....
"Windows can't modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot
volume".
So I thought I'd put my Windows XP cd in, power down and reboot.
When I reboot I'm not given the option to delete my partitions, I'm given
a message to press any key
to boot from cd (which I do). It then asks if I want to....
"To set up Windows now" - press enter
"repair a Windows XP installation" - press R
How do I get it to give me the option to delete partitions/format
my drive? I've had three Windows XP disks. One went with a system
I sold and I've still got the other two.
I'm pretty sure the two I'm left with are not upgrade disks
although one might be. In anycase I've tried both.

When booting *from the CD*, it gives you a choice of where to install
Windows XP. At that point you DELETE the partitions.

You have to Press Enter to "Setup Windows XP Now".

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

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

When you reach this part..

"To set up Windows now" - press enter
"repair a Windows XP installation" - press R"

... you continue to go along with the option of installing Windows.
Eventually, you reach the part where you are given the option to delete the
partition, reformat and re-install..

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Mickey Mouse]

philo and Shehan, once again you've proven your both your weight in BURBON!

My only excuse is it's three in the morning here and I must be half asleep!

You have to Press Enter to "Setup Windows XP Now".

The option is there, you must have missed it

Of course you do, and yes I did! I really am an idiot.
Thanks heaps guys

Mickey the dill.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Thanks Mike, alls well now.
I've been chasing my tail on this one for three hours.
Although It's been quite some time, I have done this quite a few times.
Mental block I suppose or maybe just a little too much Christmas cheer.
In any case I was at the point to give up, go to bed and start fresh in the
morning.
But now, thanks to the other two noitalls I aint gonna get any sleep now
till it's all done...LOL
Question now is, am I gonna beat the sunrise.
Cheers
Mickey

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

You are going to have to stay up until at least you know that XP is up and
running. Then you are going to have to start the first bunch of updates.

LOL.. there are people all around the world who just have to stay up until
the first major hurdled is behind them. I am one of them..

--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[philo]

philo and Shehan, once again you've proven your both your weight in BURBON!

My only excuse is it's three in the morning here and I must be half asleep!


Of course you do, and yes I did! I really am an idiot.
Thanks heaps guys

Mickey the dill.

Glad you got it

and no, you are not an idiot.

Sometimes you just need an extra set of eyes<G>

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Help, I'm having trouble.

I want to delete my partitions reformat my hd and re-install windows XP.

I just bought a new system (2nd computer) to be used for school work.
The 160gig HD was clean.
I thought I created a 30gig partition (D) for backup storage

Over and above the answers to your questions you've already gotten,
let me mention that backing up to a second partition is an extremely
weak method of backup and I strongly recommend against it. It leaves
you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup to
many of the most common dangers: severe power glitches, nearby
lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the computer.

Even backing up to a second physical drive within the computer gives
you much of the same vulnerability.

In my view, secure backup needs to be on removable media, and not kept
in the computer. For really secure backup (needed, for example, if the
life of your business depends on your data) you should have multiple
generations of backup, and at least one of those generations should be
stored off-site.

You might want to read my thoughts on backup in this article I wrote
recently: "Back Up Your Computer Regularly and Reliably" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Help, I'm having trouble.

I want to delete my partitions reformat my hd and re-install windows XP.

I just bought a new system (2nd computer) to be used for school work.
The 160gig HD was clean.
I thought I created a 30gig partition (D) for backup storage leaving a C:
drive appx 130gig.
Well as stupidity would have it I did it backwards. In Disk Management I
now have...
C: Primary (Healthy system) 29.29 gig
F: Logical drive Healthy (Boot) 119.75gig
I can't change the drive letters on either, when I try I get....
"Windows can't modify the drive letter of your system volume or boot
volume".
So I thought I'd put my Windows XP cd in, power down and reboot.
When I reboot I'm not given the option to delete my partitions, I'm given
a message to press any key
to boot from cd (which I do). It then asks if I want to....
"To set up Windows now" - press enter
"repair a Windows XP installation" - press R
How do I get it to give me the option to delete partitions/format my
drive?
I've had three Windows XP disks. One went with a system I sold and I've
still got the other two.
I'm pretty sure the two I'm left with are not upgrade disks although one
might be. In anycase I've tried both.

Help!
Mickey
P.s Please don't snip.

You would choose Set Up Windows Now. From there, you will have the options
to choose what disk to install to, and then what partition - and on that
screen, you can delete and re-create.

HTH
-pk