Format W2k drive (no disk), replace with XP

G

Guest

Really long story short: My sister has a W2k Pro computer that has corrupt
W@k files. I tried to repair the files but she lost the disk...and has no
boot disks made. She wanted to switch to WXP and I was told that formatting
before installing WXP was an option in the set up...unfortunately this is not
true. I tried to use a WXP and W95 boot disk to do the formatting but had no
luck (kept getting an invalid drive when I tried cd c:). I have a W98 that I
can try (saw on another thread).

Ok, maybe the story wasn't so short:) Will the W98 disk fork for me? If I
can't format from the W98 disk, is there anything else I can do besides get a
new hard drive? Thanks in advance!
 
C

Crouchie1998

There is a utility on the Windows 2000 CD for creating boot discs. You will
need 5 floppy discs.

Crouchie1998
BA (HONS) MCP MCSE
 
D

Dave Patrick

To do a clean install boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. When you get to
the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions found. After you
delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again restart the pc booting
the CD-Rom to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with your new
install.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Really long story short: My sister has a W2k Pro computer that has corrupt
| W@k files. I tried to repair the files but she lost the disk...and has no
| boot disks made. She wanted to switch to WXP and I was told that
formatting
| before installing WXP was an option in the set up...unfortunately this is
not
| true. I tried to use a WXP and W95 boot disk to do the formatting but had
no
| luck (kept getting an invalid drive when I tried cd c:). I have a W98 that
I
| can try (saw on another thread).
|
| Ok, maybe the story wasn't so short:) Will the W98 disk fork for me? If I
| can't format from the W98 disk, is there anything else I can do besides
get a
| new hard drive? Thanks in advance!
 
C

Crouchie1998

The problem with trying to do it the previous way is that it doesn't always
delete the partition or the previous installation, whereas, from the boot
discs you can.

Microsoft have a utility for creating Windows XP boot discs.

XP Professional Boot Discs:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...c6c-b923-092a94835278/WinXPSP1a_EN_PRO_BF.exe

XP Home Boot Discs:

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...996-963f-9f08cb9b10d7/WinXPSP1a_EN_HOM_BF.exe

Crouchie1998
BA (HONS) MCP MCSE
Official Microsoft Beta Tester
 
B

Bruce Chambers

lardman said:
Really long story short: My sister has a W2k Pro computer that has corrupt
W@k files. I tried to repair the files but she lost the disk...and has no
boot disks made. She wanted to switch to WXP and I was told that formatting
before installing WXP was an option in the set up...unfortunately this is not
true. I tried to use a WXP and W95 boot disk to do the formatting but had no
luck (kept getting an invalid drive when I tried cd c:). I have a W98 that I
can try (saw on another thread).

Ok, maybe the story wasn't so short:) Will the W98 disk fork for me? If I
can't format from the W98 disk, is there anything else I can do besides get a
new hard drive? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

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



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Crouchie1998 said:
The problem with trying to do it the previous way is that it doesn't always
delete the partition or the previous installation,
Click to expand...


It will if the computer user elects to do so. The user has to make the
choice.


whereas, from the boot
discs you can.
Click to expand...


Boot diskettes are a thing of the past, as all legitimate WinXP
installation CDs are already bootable.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
G

Guest

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

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

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



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
Click to expand...
Thanks Bruce/Dave! I hate knowing just enough to goof something up.
Crouchie-my sis lost the W2k cd, can't do what you recommended.
 
G

Guest

Again, I appreciate all the links you posted. I went to the How to install or
upgrade to windows XP link...I think it is funny how it says you can upgrade
from 98, Millenium, Me, AND W2k Pro. When I insert the WXP cd, I get a popup
that says WXP cannot upgrade W2k. Just venting:)
 
G

Guest

So after I delete the W2k (NTFS) formatted partition, I create a new
partition the entire size of the hard drive and reformat this new partition
with the FAT file system (which is what XP uses)...right?
 
B

Bruce Chambers

lardman said:
Again, I appreciate all the links you posted. I went to the How to install or
upgrade to windows XP link...I think it is funny how it says you can upgrade
from 98, Millenium, Me, AND W2k Pro. When I insert the WXP cd, I get a popup
that says WXP cannot upgrade W2k. Just venting:)
Click to expand...


This could mean either that you're using a WinXP Home CD, or that
you're using a WinXP Pro OEM CD. Win2K can be upgraded *only* to WinXP
Pro, and OEM CDs cannot perform upgrades at all.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

W2K SP4 dual boot problems 12
Installing another hard drive 3
Botched W2k and SP4 Installation 4
Invalid system disk booting to Win2K 3
Is there any Hard drive size limit in XP? 11
Getting partition too big on W2K re-install (NTFS) 1
cannot delete empty folders, cannot W-update, cannot inplace upgrade 3
Can't do W2K repair on ghosted installation 3

Top