Can't Reformat

[Guest]

My wife's computer has XP Pro on it and we got her the Media Edition for the
bonus features. Unfortunately, when I try to install it, I cannot get the
option to re-format to come up so I can remove XP Pro to make room for the
Media Edition. If someone could let me know what I'm doing wrong, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

 

[Gordon]

My wife's computer has XP Pro on it and we got her the Media Edition for
the
bonus features. Unfortunately, when I try to install it, I cannot get the
option to re-format to come up so I can remove XP Pro to make room for the
Media Edition. If someone could let me know what I'm doing wrong, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Boot from the Media CD - the install process will give you the format
option....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My wife's computer has XP Pro on it and we got her the Media Edition for the
bonus features. Unfortunately, when I try to install it, I cannot get the
option to re-format to come up so I can remove XP Pro to make room for the
Media Edition. If someone could let me know what I'm doing wrong, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Are you trying to install it from within Windows? You can't format the
Windows drive from within Windows, since that would leave Windows
without a leg to stand on.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My wife's computer has XP Pro on it and we got her the Media Edition for
the
bonus features. Unfortunately, when I try to install it, I cannot get the
option to re-format to come up so I can remove XP Pro to make room for the
Media Edition. If someone could let me know what I'm doing wrong, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

You will not have this option unless you boot from the CD. If you launch
Setup from within XP, you can *not* format the system drive.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Boot from the Media CD - the install process will give you the format
option....

Actually, I am booting from the CD, but I don't see an option to re-format.
It tries to install without the option to re-format. Maybe I need to try
again and see if I'm just missing the option in the dialog on the screen. If
someone could step-by-step it for me, that would help, but I understand if
that is too much to type out. I'll give it another shot and see where it
goes. Thanks for the responses.

 

[Unknown]

According to the Microsoft site Media Edition is only available with the
purchase of a new PC. How did you come by yours?

 

[Guest]

The fact of the matter is this, her computer came with Windows Media Edition,
but she wanted XP Pro, so we bought it for her. Now she wants to install
Media Edition since her first grandbaby was born for the media features
related to this. But since you can't install Media over Pro we need to
remove Pro to make room for Media.

 

[Unknown]

Confusing to say the least. As I understand this; you bought a computer with
Windows Media. You did a complete install of XP Pro on it, wiping out Media.
Now you want to reinstall Media. Is that correct?
If so, the vender who sold you the Media computer has provided you with a
method to recover/reinstall the Media Edition. What is the method the vendor
is using to enable you to reinstall the Media Edition?

 

[Poprivet]

Confusing to say the least. As I understand this; you bought a
computer with Windows Media. You did a complete install of XP Pro on
it, wiping out Media. Now you want to reinstall Media. Is that
correct? If so, the vender who sold you the Media computer has provided
you
with a method to recover/reinstall the Media Edition. What is the
method the vendor is using to enable you to reinstall the Media
Edition?

Maybe. You left out a couple things:

If that "method" included a hidden partition on the hard drive, installing
another OS may well have deleted the hidden partition and everything in it.
Thus, ME is lost for good.
If the "method" was restore CDs though, as long as they don't rely on a
hidden partition, that would work out OK.

HTH
Pop`

 

[bbunny]

My wife's computer has XP Pro on it and we got her the Media Edition for
the
bonus features. Unfortunately, when I try to install it, I cannot get the
option to re-format to come up so I can remove XP Pro to make room for the
Media Edition. If someone could let me know what I'm doing wrong, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

***Back up all your personal data***

Windows xp media center is an OEM only. There is no upgrade path. It must
or
should be installed on a new PC.

_Leached quotes_.
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is an operating system that
is only available on Media Center PCs. Because of special hardware
requirements, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PCs are available
only from Microsoft PC Manufacturer partners.

a.. Disclaimer: Qualifying proof of purchase must be recent receipts showing
the purchase of a mother board, hard drive, RAM and a CPU. The components
can be on multiple receipts; not necessarily all on one receipt nor on the
same receipt as the qualifying Windows XP/Office 2003 that you purchased.