help on partition a Windows XP system

[James]

Hi, folks,

I have a Dell 4100 laptop with Windows XP (home edition)
installed by Dell. Recently, I have been encountering some
problems with the system and prepare to reinstall the
system. Before that, I also want to do partition and
format so that make sure there's no unknown lurks. I
failed in the following alternatives:
1) I tried to boot the system with my Windows XP CD, and
chose to install from fresh. In the step when there's a
page showing the partition information, I was denied
access to partion and was told "installation files saved
on the current partition under protection" (OK, I
understand I could not do it very well). However, I found
a strange info: the hard disk had a size of 19GB, in the
partition info, only the free space is shown! Does that
mean each time I try to reinstall XP, I will lose disk
space just for no reason? At the time, I believe I need to
get some DOS tools like Fdisk and format to do it.

2) I downloaded a copy of MSDOS6.22 (is there a newer
version?) and booted the system with it. By using the
fdisk, I found that it shows 19GB, however, only 8GB was
ready for partition! When I try to delete the current
partition of 19GB, it was denied for no reason. So, I
guess it may be due to the incapability of the DOS. Could
anyone suggest a source for partition?

3) I do not see any other CDs from Dell for technical
support, and there's nothing helpful for this issue after
browsing both DELL and MICROSOFT knowledge base. feel very
disappointed. I appreciate your help. Thanks a lot.

 

[James]

Dear Nicholas,

I read your answer to someone else, however, still have
the problems. The step 4 in your suggestions cannot be
performed when I was doing it. As in my original post,
when I tried to delete the current partition, i was told
that the current partition are used for temp files and
cannot be modified. So, you see, the step 4 is impossible.
thanks.

-----Original Message-----
The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition (s), then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Nicholas

---------------------------------------------------------- -------------


| Hi, folks,
|
| I have a Dell 4100 laptop with Windows XP (home edition)
| installed by Dell. Recently, I have been encountering some
| problems with the system and prepare to reinstall the
| system. Before that, I also want to do partition and
| format so that make sure there's no unknown lurks. I
| failed in the following alternatives:
| 1) I tried to boot the system with my Windows XP CD, and
| chose to install from fresh. In the step when there's a
| page showing the partition information, I was denied
| access to partion and was told "installation files saved
| on the current partition under protection" (OK, I
| understand I could not do it very well). However, I found
| a strange info: the hard disk had a size of 19GB, in the
| partition info, only the free space is shown! Does that
| mean each time I try to reinstall XP, I will lose disk
| space just for no reason? At the time, I believe I need to
| get some DOS tools like Fdisk and format to do it.
|
| 2) I downloaded a copy of MSDOS6.22 (is there a newer
| version?) and booted the system with it. By using the
| fdisk, I found that it shows 19GB, however, only 8GB was
| ready for partition! When I try to delete the current
| partition of 19GB, it was denied for no reason. So, I
| guess it may be due to the incapability of the DOS. Could
| anyone suggest a source for partition?
|
| 3) I do not see any other CDs from Dell for technical
| support, and there's nothing helpful for this issue after
| browsing both DELL and MICROSOFT knowledge base. feel very
| disappointed. I appreciate your help. Thanks a lot.
.

 

[Nicholas]

During setup, you need to select "New Installation", then you'll
get the menu option to delete all partitions and create new ones.

--
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


| Dear Nicholas,
|
| I read your answer to someone else, however, still have
| the problems. The step 4 in your suggestions cannot be
| performed when I was doing it. As in my original post,
| when I tried to delete the current partition, i was told
| that the current partition are used for temp files and
| cannot be modified. So, you see, the step 4 is impossible.
| thanks.

 

[James]

Yes, I did the same. However, it insists that it 'is using
the current partition for keeping the temporary files'.
This is really what I got from the XP instructions. Thx.

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

James,

If this is a Dell supplied OEM CD - it is possible that it is designed to
only restore the machine to as shipped by Dell.
This may mean that it will not allow you to change the partitioning scheme
from what they have hardcoded into the setup routines.


--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[James]

Yes, I also suspected that. However, the agreement between
me and DELL did not mention about this restriction. So, I
wonder if anyone else was in a similar situation with
DELL. Anyway, thx.

 

[Nicholas]

Go to www.bootdisk.com and create a Windows 98 boot disk.
Use the "Fdisk" procedure to delete all partitions, but do not
create any new ones. Then use your Dell CD like a conventional
Windows CD to boot to and create your partitions.

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;255867


--
Nicholas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------


| Yes, I also suspected that. However, the agreement between
| me and DELL did not mention about this restriction. So, I
| wonder if anyone else was in a similar situation with
| DELL. Anyway, thx.

 

[Keith Inman]

Nicholas,

I'm having a similar, but not quite the same issue as
James.

I am attempting a clean install of XP. I have followed the
advice here and below about booting from the CD, deleting
the partition, reformatting, etc. All goes well until the
computer reboots. With the CD removed, the computer just
sits there and does nothing. It is set to boot first from
the CD, and second from the SCSI, which has the hard drive
attached to it. It is this drive that I formatted in the
earlier task.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks........Keith

-----Original Message-----
The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition (s), then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Nicholas

---------------------------------------------------------- -------------


| Hi, folks,
|
| I have a Dell 4100 laptop with Windows XP (home edition)
| installed by Dell. Recently, I have been encountering some
| problems with the system and prepare to reinstall the
| system. Before that, I also want to do partition and
| format so that make sure there's no unknown lurks. I
| failed in the following alternatives:
| 1) I tried to boot the system with my Windows XP CD, and
| chose to install from fresh. In the step when there's a
| page showing the partition information, I was denied
| access to partion and was told "installation files saved
| on the current partition under protection" (OK, I
| understand I could not do it very well). However, I found
| a strange info: the hard disk had a size of 19GB, in the
| partition info, only the free space is shown! Does that
| mean each time I try to reinstall XP, I will lose disk
| space just for no reason? At the time, I believe I need to
| get some DOS tools like Fdisk and format to do it.
|
| 2) I downloaded a copy of MSDOS6.22 (is there a newer
| version?) and booted the system with it. By using the
| fdisk, I found that it shows 19GB, however, only 8GB was
| ready for partition! When I try to delete the current
| partition of 19GB, it was denied for no reason. So, I
| guess it may be due to the incapability of the DOS. Could
| anyone suggest a source for partition?
|
| 3) I do not see any other CDs from Dell for technical
| support, and there's nothing helpful for this issue after
| browsing both DELL and MICROSOFT knowledge base. feel very
| disappointed. I appreciate your help. Thanks a lot.
.

 

[larry samuels MS-MVP \(XP Shell/User\)]

If you are using a SCSI hard drive you will need to press F6 when prompted
at the start of setup to load the SCSI drivers.
XP cannot see the hard drive without them.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://home.earthlink.net/~larrysamuels/WS2003FAQ.htm
Expert Zone -
_____________________________________________

Nicholas,

I'm having a similar, but not quite the same issue as
James.

I am attempting a clean install of XP. I have followed the
advice here and below about booting from the CD, deleting
the partition, reformatting, etc. All goes well until the
computer reboots. With the CD removed, the computer just
sits there and does nothing. It is set to boot first from
the CD, and second from the SCSI, which has the hard drive
attached to it. It is this drive that I formatted in the
earlier task.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks........Keith

-----Original Message-----
The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition (s), then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Nicholas

---------------------------------------------------------- -------------


| Hi, folks,
|
| I have a Dell 4100 laptop with Windows XP (home edition)
| installed by Dell. Recently, I have been encountering some
| problems with the system and prepare to reinstall the
| system. Before that, I also want to do partition and
| format so that make sure there's no unknown lurks. I
| failed in the following alternatives:
| 1) I tried to boot the system with my Windows XP CD, and
| chose to install from fresh. In the step when there's a
| page showing the partition information, I was denied
| access to partion and was told "installation files saved
| on the current partition under protection" (OK, I
| understand I could not do it very well). However, I found
| a strange info: the hard disk had a size of 19GB, in the
| partition info, only the free space is shown! Does that
| mean each time I try to reinstall XP, I will lose disk
| space just for no reason? At the time, I believe I need to
| get some DOS tools like Fdisk and format to do it.
|
| 2) I downloaded a copy of MSDOS6.22 (is there a newer
| version?) and booted the system with it. By using the
| fdisk, I found that it shows 19GB, however, only 8GB was
| ready for partition! When I try to delete the current
| partition of 19GB, it was denied for no reason. So, I
| guess it may be due to the incapability of the DOS. Could
| anyone suggest a source for partition?
|
| 3) I do not see any other CDs from Dell for technical
| support, and there's nothing helpful for this issue after
| browsing both DELL and MICROSOFT knowledge base. feel very
| disappointed. I appreciate your help. Thanks a lot.
.