Partitions -- Starting All Over with the Story

[Jim McKinley]

Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled software
with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore Windows to the
factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in 2008. I had a
computer built. I had the HD from the Compac copied to the new 160 GB HD in
the new computer. There is still a C: and D: drive from the way Compac had
it divided. The D: is just a small partition and has what I believe to be
files that would be used if I had to use the Compac factory disk to restore.
At this point I am not sure the Compac restore disk would still work on the
new computer. == Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files on
the HD and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows XP,
format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C: is
NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my new
Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be set to go.
Does that sound like a solid plan?

Thanks,
--

Jim
*******************************************
Baseball is the Only Game Where
the Defense Controls the Ball
*******************************************

 

[Malke]

Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled
software
with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore Windows to the
factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in 2008. I had a
computer built. I had the HD from the Compac copied to the new 160 GB HD
in
the new computer. There is still a C: and D: drive from the way Compac
had
it divided. The D: is just a small partition and has what I believe to be
files that would be used if I had to use the Compac factory disk to
restore. At this point I am not sure the Compac restore disk would still
work on the
new computer. == Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files
on the HD and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows
XP, format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C:
is
NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my new
Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be set to go.
Does that sound like a solid plan?

During installation of the retail version of XP you will buy, delete all the
partitions and create one new one formatted NTFS. Install XP on that.

Malke

 

[Daave]

Hi - In 2002 I bought a Compac Presario 5000. It had preinstalled
software with Windows XP. It also had the CD that I could restore
Windows to the factory state if needed. That computer crapped out in
2008. I had a computer built.

Jim, in the future, please don't start a new thread! I already asked you
pertinent questions; you should have responded there!

That being said...

When you had this computer built, did you purchase an OS? It sounds like
you didn't, but I want to make sure.

I had the HD from the Compac copied
to the new 160 GB HD in the new computer.

I doubt that would work. The hardware surely is significantly different.
Additionally, the license is non-transferrable, so it's not a legit
installation.

There is still a C: and D:
drive from the way Compac had it divided. The D: is just a small
partition and has what I believe to be files that would be used if I
had to use the Compac factory disk to restore. At this point I am not
sure the Compac restore disk would still work on the new computer.

I'm sure it wouldn't.

== Everything works OK, but there are alot of junk files on the HD
and I am considering buying a copy of the full install Windows XP,
format the HD and reinstall Windows. My D: drive is FAT 32 and the C:
is NTFS. If I format, will that erase the FAT 32? I can then use my
new Windows XP and reinstall, restore my files from backups and be
set to go. Does that sound like a solid plan?

I'm actually very surprised that everything works fine.

Your plan to perform a clean install does sound solid. Here's one place
you may purchase XP:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

Here are some sites with complete installation instructions:

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

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/sp2sp3installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

I would definitely delete both partitions; the FAT32 one is useless.

 

[Jim McKinley]

Jim, in the future, please don't start a new thread! I already asked you
pertinent questions; you should have responded there!

That being said...

When you had this computer built, did you purchase an OS? It sounds like
you didn't, but I want to make sure.


I doubt that would work. The hardware surely is significantly different.
Additionally, the license is non-transferrable, so it's not a legit
installation.


I'm sure it wouldn't.


I'm actually very surprised that everything works fine.

Your plan to perform a clean install does sound solid. Here's one place
you may purchase XP:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116511

Here are some sites with complete installation instructions:

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

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/sp2sp3installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

I would definitely delete both partitions; the FAT32 one is useless.

One more question. When I install XP, will it give me the option to delete
all partitions?

 

[Mick Murphy]

YES.
Click on the last link that Daave has given you, and read it.

 

[Daave]

One more question. When I install XP, will it give me the option to
delete all partitions?

I don't believe there is an option to delete all partitions all at once,
so you would need to delete them one at a time. When you get to this
screen

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/images/Image6.gif

use the arrow keys to select a partition (many people prefer starting
with the drive with the higher or highest letter and work backwards
toward C, then press D to delete it.