reinstalling XP

[bill]

I have a legitimate install disc (update version) for XP Home Edit.

I wish to format my HD and then do reinstall. I realize I will have to make
the step of letting install know about my Win 98. Anyway, will the install
disc have the option of formatting my HD and then start the reinstall
process?

Or will I have to format and then star the process again. In other words,
is it an automatic option?

tks all.

bill

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have a legitimate install disc (update version) for XP Home Edit.

I wish to format my HD and then do reinstall. I realize I will have to
make the step of letting install know about my Win 98. Anyway, will the
install disc have the option of formatting my HD and then start the
reinstall process?

Or will I have to format and then star the process again. In other words,
is it an automatic option?

If you are installing from scratch (and I assume that that is what you are
trying to do). Insert you Windows XP disk and go through the options of
formatting and installing. At some point, it will ask you to insert your
Windows 98 disk. It then performs a number of checks to establish that it
is really a Windows 98 disk. It then carries on installing Windows XP.

It matters not if your disk is formatted before you do this, The install
routine will ask you if you wish to format the disk. You can decline if the
disk is formatted.

 

[John Corliss]

If you are installing from scratch (and I assume that that is what you are
trying to do). Insert you Windows XP disk and go through the options of
formatting and installing. At some point, it will ask you to insert your
Windows 98 disk. It then performs a number of checks to establish that it
is really a Windows 98 disk. It then carries on installing Windows XP.

It matters not if your disk is formatted before you do this, The install
routine will ask you if you wish to format the disk. You can decline if the
disk is formatted.

If you're going to go the FAT32 route instead of NTFS, it's a good idea
to use a W98 startup disc to FDisk and format the drive first.
Otherwise, the XP installation disc will do it for you and it has an
(artificial) limitation of 32GB for partitions.

This site may be of help:

http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm

Of course, if you're going to go the NTFS route, you can ignore my reply.

 

[Rock]

I have a legitimate install disc (update version) for XP Home Edit.

I wish to format my HD and then do reinstall. I realize I will have to
make the step of letting install know about my Win 98. Anyway, will the
install disc have the option of formatting my HD and then start the
reinstall process?

Or will I have to format and then star the process again. In other words,
is it an automatic option?

Yes the XP upgrade installation CD has the tools needed to delete the old
partition and format it during the install process. See this link for info
on doing a clean install.

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

 

[bill]

If you're going to go the FAT32 route instead of NTFS, it's a good idea to
use a W98 startup disc to FDisk and format the drive first. Otherwise, the
XP installation disc will do it for you and it has an (artificial)
limitation of 32GB for partitions.

This site may be of help:

http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm

Of course, if you're going to go the NTFS route, you can ignore my reply.

2 things, where do find out on mysystem which I have: FAT32 or NTFS
and which would be best for me?

tks all

bill

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Use Computer Management console. NOTE: You must be logged on as
Administrator or as a member of the Administrators group view and modify
most properties and perform most computer-management tasks.

To start and use Computer Management on the local computer, click Start, and
then click Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance, click
Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management. Or, if My
COmputer shows on your desktop, right-click it and choose "Manage".

You want the item in the Storage section called Disk Management. It will
show you what disks you have, how they're partitioned, and what format each
partition is.

As for what's best, FAT32 or NTFS.... Well, I prefer NTFS, because it's more
secure and because it doesn't have some of the limitations FAT32 has. Only
advantages I know for FAT32 are if you're multi-booting and using Windows 9x
on any of the other partitions. 9x systems can't read NTFS volumes. Of
course, you can't read NTFS from DOS, either, and some purists like to
tinker with the system from DOS floppy boot. Anyway, you can compare
features here:
http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm