c0000221 error during XP setup

[BH]

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions. Data
and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C:

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, but when
booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of files loading,
just before the installation choices would start appearing I get the well
known and documented error message

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

This problem is mentioned in other threads - but with no real firm
solutions! I understand it could be a memory problem and I will use
MEMTEST86 to check that later.

If I start Windows XP, then put the Win XP CD in, choose to re-install
Windows, and choose a new installation (not an upgrade or recovery), then it
DOES work and that error message doesn't occur. BUT - I am NOT given the
option to reformat my C: drive.


QUESTIONS

1. How can I wipe clean and reformat my C: drive and leave my D: partition
intact? (presumably with floppy disks - but how?) I had a Win 98 startup
disk but it didn't appear to see the partitions (perhaps because of NTFS
formatting?).


2. Is there any workaround for the normal method of booting off of the
Windows XP CD and getting that @#$%& error message from stopping the
installation - which is stopping me from then reformatting the C: partition?


Bud H.

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions. Data
and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C:

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, but when
booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of files loading,
just before the installation choices would start appearing I get the well
known and documented error message

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

Try this: ""STOP: C0000221 Unknown Hard Error" or "STOP: C0000221
STATUS_IMAGE_CHECKSUM_MISMATCH" Error Message Occurs"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314474).

 

[BH]

Try this: ""STOP: C0000221 Unknown Hard Error" or "STOP: C0000221
STATUS_IMAGE_CHECKSUM_MISMATCH" Error Message Occurs"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314474).

Thanks for the response. However, I have seen this "solution" several
times.

The biggest thing I wanted to know is how to wipe the C: partition clean,
leave the D: partition intact, and format the C: partition so it is clean
before reinstalling Windows XP.

BH