Corrupt drive message during XP Home setup

[Tim]

During install I received this message: "Setup has
determined that drive c: is corrupted and cannot be
repaired." Setup cannot continue.

I scanned the drive for errors (including surface), did a
virus scan, disabled the cable modem, shut down the
firewall, and disabled the anti-virus program.

The system works okay using WIN98, which is what I'm
upgrading from.

 

[BobDelaney]

Rather than do an Upgrade, try doing a new Install of Windows XP. This
has the added advantage of removing all traves of Windows 98, withthe only
drawback being an extra day of work in getting the system back to where it
was, as you'll need to re-install all your applications.
After having backed up your
data, your address book(s), your e-mail files and your configuration
settings, and stored those backups on removable media (such as writable CDs
or tape), then run the Windows XP Compatibility Check to determine if Setup
will find any problems with your installed hardware or software. Download
XP-specific drivers for all your hardware from the manufacturer's web site
(not from the CD that came with it God-knows-how-long-ago).
When booting from the Upgrade CD, choose Repair Console, delete the
primary partition (at that point, all data on it will be permanently lost),
and recreate a new NTFS primary partition. Run Setup, choose New
Installation (Advanced), and then install Windows XP clean. It's the better
part of a weekend of work, but it's worth it in the end.
Note that you also need 256 MB of RAM or better, at least 2 to 3 GB of
free space on the hard disk, and a P-III processor or better. A fast video
card also helps. If your system falls short in this regard, then don't run
the Upgrade, and stay with Windows 98.