Formatting Drive C: Issue

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Is there a config setting somewhere that I can change to allow drive c: to be
formatted, given that the OEM vendor has apparently disabled the users
ability to do so ?

I tried the command line format too, but it responds that some program is
using drive c:... but none "seem" to be (i.e., Alt/Ctrl/Del does not work so
I can't tell for sure). It's my sister-in-law's PC and they only use it to
access the Internet (it's an HP Pavilion 1.5GHz P4 with a 30GB HD running XP
Home, with a recovery capability that does not function... and it's out of
warranty, etc., etc.).

Harry
 
Are you trying to format from within Windows, you would have to boot from CD
or floppy disk to format the drive.

Andy W
 
BoatPerson said:
Is there a config setting somewhere that I can change to allow drive
c: to be formatted, given that the OEM vendor has apparently disabled
the users ability to do so ?
Click to expand...


No, the OEM hasn't disabled it.

I tried the command line format too, but it responds that some
program is using drive c:... but none "seem" to be (i.e.,
Alt/Ctrl/Del does not work so I can't tell for sure)
Click to expand...


Of course, "some" program is using it. The name of the program is Windows.

You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, since that would
leave Windows without a leg to stand on. Windows is too smart to let you do
that.

Assuming that your intent is to reinstall the operating system cleanly, 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://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
 
=?Utf-8?B?Qm9hdFBlcnNvbg==?= said:
Is there a config setting somewhere that I can change to allow drive c: to be
formatted, given that the OEM vendor has apparently disabled the users
ability to do so ?
Click to expand...

The OEM vendor did NOT disable format.
 
formatting XP drives is pretty simple if losing the data is not
problem, find a 98se startup disk, change the boot order so it boot
from the floppy first, restart it and once at the DOS prompt simpl
type in format C: and press enter, it will ask if your sure as al
data on non removable drive C will be lost, hit enter and it does i
NP

On restart go back to the bios and change the boot order back to th
CD first and put your O/S disk in and restart it, the rest is simple
answer the questions yada yada and it will ask you to format to NTF
in either quick or full mode, choose full "always" and whe
finished it will start the install of XP

Clean installs are always better, I personally would use fdisk whil
first running off the 98se startup disk, your guaranteed there are n
stray partitions left on the drive and you are indeed starting ove
from a fresh HDD
 
OK -- thanks to everyone -- one last question for Ken:

When OEM-ers (like HP) somehow "bundle" all of the system recovery stuff on
the actual boot drive itself (such that the user has no physical CDs), how
would I go about "authenticating" valid ownership of THAT instance of the
operating system -- in other words, in this case, if all I had were a
(currently no longer used) "upgrade" version of XP Home to trigger this
process (format, new install, etc), at some point it's going to ask for a
valid OS CD... and I don't have one ???

Note: I have captured both the DXDIAG and BelArc reports and saved the
results, so I do have all of the "keys" associated with MS products, so I
could provide that info but I'm not sure how to go about doing it.

Harry
 
Ken

I just did a search here for "OEM authentication" and found a link to an MS
doc that refers to an "SLP" process used by some OEM-ers, which basically
suggests that the OS authentication data is actually stored in the PC BIOS
chip, so I think this should be good news for me -- in that I could trigger
the reformatting of drive c: with a standard retail XP CD and the OS install
process would automatically pick up the original "authentication" info
directly from the BIOS... and not give me a hard time about the fact the
retail CD that I booted with was only an "upgrade" version -- does this sound
correct ???

Harry -- a bit of the info provided follows:

"Product Activation and new pre-loaded PCs

The majority of customers acquire Windows with the purchase of a new
computer, and most new computers pre-loaded with Windows XP will not require
activation at all. Microsoft provides OEMs with the ability to
“pre-activate†Windows XP in the factory and estimates that upwards of 80% of
all new PCs will be delivered to the customer pre-activated.

“Pre-activation†of Windows XP by the OEMs will be done in one of two
different ways depending on the OEM’s own configuration options and choices.
Some OEMs may protect Windows XP using a mechanism which locks the
installation to OEM-specified BIOS information in the PC. This technology
works very similar to existing technologies that many OEMs have used over the
years with the CDs they ship to reinstall Windows on these computers. We
expanded and integrated the existing OEM CD BIOS locking mechanism with
product activation, and call this method of protection “System Locked
Pre-installation,†or SLP.

Successfully implemented, SLP uses information stored in an OEM PC’s BIOS to
protect the installation from casual piracy. No communication by the end
customer to Microsoft is required and no hardware hash is created or
necessary. At boot, Windows XP compares the PC’s BIOS to the SLP
information. If it matches, no activation is required.

Every single piece of hardware could be changed on a PC with SLP and no
reactivation would be required – even the motherboard could be replaced as
long as the replacement motherboard was original equipment manufactured by
the OEM and retained the proper BIOS. In the unlikely scenario that the BIOS
information does not match, the PC would need to be activated within 30 days
by contacting the Microsoft activation center via the Internet or telephone
call – just as in a retail scenario. "
 
BoatPerson said:
OK -- thanks to everyone -- one last question for Ken:

When OEM-ers (like HP) somehow "bundle" all of the system recovery
stuff on the actual boot drive itself (such that the user has no
physical CDs), how would I go about "authenticating" valid ownership
of THAT instance of the operating system -- in other words, in this
case, if all I had were a (currently no longer used) "upgrade"
version of XP Home to trigger this process (format, new install,
etc), at some point it's going to ask for a valid OS CD... and I
don't have one ???
Click to expand...


You can't. That's one of the major diadvantages of buying a system that
doesn't come with an installation CD. Personally, I would never choose to
buy such a system.
 
BoatPerson said:
Ken

I just did a search here for "OEM authentication" and found a link to
an MS doc that refers to an "SLP" process used by some OEM-ers, which
basically suggests that the OS authentication data is actually stored
in the PC BIOS chip, so I think this should be good news for me -- in
that I could trigger the reformatting of drive c: with a standard
retail XP CD and the OS install process would automatically pick up
the original "authentication" info directly from the BIOS... and not
give me a hard time about the fact the retail CD that I booted with
was only an "upgrade" version -- does this sound correct ???
Click to expand...


Sorry, it's not correct. BIOS-locked versions are locked to the particular
OEM's Windows version. It wouldn't do anything for your retail CD.
 
BoatPerson said:
Ken
Thanks again for your time -- I definitely agree with your statement
about not buying PCs with bundled OS SW.
Click to expand...


You're welcome. Glad to help.
 
digisol said:
Clean installs are always better, I
Click to expand...


I disagree. Although many people will tell you that formatting and
installing cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, an upgrade to XP replaces almost everything, and
usually works very well.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much easier
than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and reinstall
cleanly if problems develop.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need to
backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to upgrade, it's
always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden power loss can occur
in the middle of it and cause the loss of everything. For that reason you
should make sure you have backups and anything else you need to reinstall if
the worst happens.
 
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