Deleting OS partition as part of Windows XP install...

[Dave]

I need to install a clean version of Windows XP SP2.

I insert the CD and go through the set up process...
Set up new version? ENTER
Fresh Copy? ESC
Delete Partition? D

But here is where the trouble is, I am not allowed to delete the existing
partition because it has set up files on it.

So the setup procedes but when it is finished I have a new copy of Windows
but with all my old files still intact.

I want a "clean" copy installed; one that reformats the hard drive and
installs only the basic Windows files.

I tried making the CD drive bootable and taking the hard drive out of the
boot sequence but apparently the windows XP/SP2 disk is not bootable so I
cannot launch directly to the setup disk.

Any ideas on how I can delete the existing os partition as part of setup?

 

[Jeff N.]

A legal XP CD would be bootable.

 

[Daave]

I need to install a clean version of Windows XP SP2.

I insert the CD and go through the set up process...
Set up new version? ENTER
Fresh Copy? ESC
Delete Partition? D

But here is where the trouble is, I am not allowed to delete the
existing partition because it has set up files on it.

So the setup procedes but when it is finished I have a new copy of
Windows but with all my old files still intact.

I want a "clean" copy installed; one that reformats the hard drive and
installs only the basic Windows files.

I tried making the CD drive bootable and taking the hard drive out of
the boot sequence but apparently the windows XP/SP2 disk is not
bootable so I cannot launch directly to the setup disk.

Any ideas on how I can delete the existing os partition as part of
setup?

First of all, the XP installation disk *is* bootable. Perhaps your PC
doesn't support booting from CD.

What kind of XP disk do you have? And what is the make and model of your
PC?

If you want to perform a clean install, see this page for very detailed
instructions:

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

You will find out how to use floppies if necessary. Also, you need to
make sure you are correctly configuring your BIOS to boot off your
CD-ROM drive. How one accesses the BIOS depends on the PC:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Finally, since you're performing a clean install, do you have all the
necessary drivers?

 

[philo]

I need to install a clean version of Windows XP SP2.

I insert the CD and go through the set up process...
Set up new version? ENTER
Fresh Copy? ESC
Delete Partition? D

But here is where the trouble is, I am not allowed to delete the existing
partition because it has set up files on it.

So the setup procedes but when it is finished I have a new copy of Windows
but with all my old files still intact.

I want a "clean" copy installed; one that reformats the hard drive and
installs only the basic Windows files.

I tried making the CD drive bootable and taking the hard drive out of the
boot sequence but apparently the windows XP/SP2 disk is not bootable so I
cannot launch directly to the setup disk.

Any ideas on how I can delete the existing os partition as part of setup?

I've seen a few machines that just plain could not boot from cdrom...
even though the bios setting was to do so.

Just go to Microsoft's website and you can download a set of XP
installation floppies.

You need to have the cd in the drive...
then set the bios to boot first from drive A:

There floppies should detect the cd and the installation should start
normally

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

 

[John McGaw]

I need to install a clean version of Windows XP SP2.

I insert the CD and go through the set up process...
Set up new version? ENTER
Fresh Copy? ESC
Delete Partition? D

But here is where the trouble is, I am not allowed to delete the existing
partition because it has set up files on it.

So the setup procedes but when it is finished I have a new copy of Windows
but with all my old files still intact.

I want a "clean" copy installed; one that reformats the hard drive and
installs only the basic Windows files.

I tried making the CD drive bootable and taking the hard drive out of the
boot sequence but apparently the windows XP/SP2 disk is not bootable so I
cannot launch directly to the setup disk.

Any ideas on how I can delete the existing os partition as part of setup?

Verify that prior to trying to re-install you are booting from the XP CD
and not the hard drive and then get back to us...

John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com

 

[Dave]

For some reason I cannot boot from the CD even though I specify this option
by pressing F12 and then selecting #4 IDE CR-ROM device on my Dell Dimension
4600.

I then see a DOS screen that gies me two options:
1. Launch Microsoft Windows XP Professional
2. Launch Microsoft Windows XP Professional setup.

If I choose 1 I launch Windows but if I choose 2 I start character based
setup but I am unable to delete the partition as I mentioned previously.

I have tried to install using a Windows XP Pro disc from the MSDN collection
and also a burned CD that that includes SP2.

 

[FrankFL]

For some reason I cannot boot from the CD even though I specify this option
by pressing F12 and then selecting #4 IDE CR-ROM device on my Dell Dimension
4600.

I then see a DOS screen that gies me two options:
1. Launch Microsoft Windows XP Professional
2. Launch Microsoft Windows XP Professional setup.

If I choose 1 I launch Windows but if I choose 2 I start character based
setup but I am unable to delete the partition as I mentioned previously.

I have tried to install using a Windows XP Pro disc from the MSDN collection
and also a burned CD that that includes SP2.

Go to www.bootdisk.com Download a W98 custom, make the floppy then
boot from the floppy and delete _all_ of the MSDOS and NONDOS partitions.
When you then boot from the XP CD the Harddisk will show up as raw.

 

[Dave]

Thanks John

Yes the CD drive was not bootable.

There were 2 CD drives. The master was broken and the slave was the one I
was trying to boot from.

I did not realize the master-slave designations at the time, I just used the
drive that worked..

Once I changed the jumper to set the slave to master it booted fine and I
had no problems.

Thanks for your help.