Help!! Trying to uninstall a partly installed windows :(

[Guest]

I was putting xp on my girlfriends laptop and it crashed half way through,
now when i turn it on it trys to start part way through but i need it to
start at the beginning, how can i get it to start from the beginning?

Thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I was putting xp on my girlfriends laptop and it crashed half way
through, now when i turn it on it trys to start part way through
but i need it to start at the beginning, how can i get it to start
from the beginning?

Clean install?
Boot from CD, delete the partition(s), create new partition(s) - install.

 

[Guest]

I tried this but it just takes me back to the middle of the setup

I'm not very good with computers so am not sure what to do

Matt

 

[JS]

How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP

From Michael Steven's: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm
also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

JS

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I tried this but it just takes me back to the middle of the setup

I'm not very good with computers so am not sure what to do

Then you're doing it wrong. 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://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

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

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I tried this but it just takes me back to the middle of the setup

I'm not very good with computers so am not sure what to do

Shenan Stanley wrote:

I was putting xp on my girlfriends laptop and it crashed half way
through, now when i turn it on it trys to start part way through
but i need it to start at the beginning, how can i get it to start
from the beginning?

Clean install?
Boot from CD, delete the partition(s), create new partition(s) -
install.

If you are doing what I said and it is 'taking you back to the middle of the
install' - then you aren't doing what I said. *grin*

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

Do this...
- Boot up from the CD (the press any key, it starts the installation..
etc...)
- When it gets to the point where it asks you where to install Windows XP -
choose to DELETE the partition(s).
* WARNING * Anything and everything not backed up on said partitions will
be lost.
- Reboot after you delete them.
- Boot up from the CD (the press any key, it starts the installation..
etc...)
- When it gets to the point where it asks you where to install Windows XP -
create the partition(s).
- Continue the install.
- When done - install all applications and patches.
- Don't get on the Internet unless you have your firewall enabled.
- SP2 (if not integrated into the CD) and the 80+ post-SP2 patches.
- Whatever applications you want to utilize.
- Antivirus/Antispyware

 

[Guest]

I put the CD in and asked for it to boot from the cd drive, and it says
restarting setup

When it crashed the first time it was asking me for the key-code, now i'm
using a different xp disk so would that be the problem? because i'm trying to
install it with a different disk?

Matt

 

[Guest]

I don't have a clue how to change the BIOS order either?

Once i can get into the bit where it asks if i want a clean installation i'm
ok but i cannot get to that at present just keeps taking me back into the
middle of the original setup even when i boot from the cd

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I don't have a clue how to change the BIOS order either?

Put the CD in the drive, and shut the machine OFF, power down.

Wait a few seconds, and power it ON. Watch the screen carefully for a
message that says "press <key name> for Setup". Press that key - it's
often Delete, or F10, or F2.

The system will boot to the BIOS and you can change the boot sequence there.

Save the changes, exit the BIOS setup and the machine will restart. You
may need to press a key to boot from the CD, and you will be able to start
Setup over again.

However. If her system came without XP, is it it older? Did you run the
Upgrade Advisor to see if it's capable of running XP?

Alternately, and just like a clean install, this will cause loss of any data
on the drive, you can use a number of other methods to invalidate the
partly-installed XP. For example, if the laptop has a floppy drive, you
can use a DOS boot diskette with FDISK to simply remove the partition. You
don't have to re-create a new one. Or, many Linux boot CDs can happily
wipe the partition table for you.

As to using different CDs, if you are using exactly the same type if install
CD, it doesn't matter. If you aren't, it definitely does matter, and the
key you are using will probably not be valid.

HTH
-pk

<snippage>

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I don't have a clue how to change the BIOS order either?

How to get into your BIOS depends, not on Windows, but on what
motherboard/BIOS you have. As a matter of fact, you have to access the
BIOS before Windows even starts to boot. One common way is to press
the Del key when you first power on, but that's not necessarily right
for your computer. Watch the screen carefully when you first boot;
there's often a message there telling you what to do. If not, check
your system documentation or check with your vendor.

Also look here: http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm Or
just try the Del key. There's a good chance that's correct for you.

Once i can get into the bit where it asks if i want a clean installation i'm
ok but i cannot get to that at present just keeps taking me back into the
middle of the original setup even when i boot from the cd

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I put the CD in and asked for it to boot from the cd drive, and it says
restarting setup

You don't "ask for it to boot from the CD drive." You set the CD drive
to boot first, then you put the CD in and boot the machine. Follow the
directions I sent you about setting the BIOS boot order. You will
otherwise screw things up royally.

When it crashed the first time it was asking me for the key-code, now i'm
using a different xp disk so would that be the problem? because i'm trying to
install it with a different disk?

No. It's because you aren't booting from the CD.

 

[Vanguard]

I tried this but it just takes me back to the middle of the setup

I'm not very good with computers so am not sure what to do

So, if I read your posts correctly, you selected to delete the
partition, format it, and install a fresh copy of Windows there but it
again hung up somewhere during the new install. So what was this laptop
running for a Windows version before? Maybe it has incompatible
hardware. Could be you just didn't wait long enough? How long is this
hang? Did you want more than 20 minutes? The Windows install detects
several hardware devices by attempting to load drivers for them whether
the hardware exists or not for that driver. This can take a long time.

 

[Vanguard]

I put the CD in and asked for it to boot from the cd drive, and it says
restarting setup

When it crashed the first time it was asking me for the key-code, now
i'm
using a different xp disk so would that be the problem? because i'm
trying to

We haven't a clue as to what type of installation media you are using.
Retail or OEM? If OEM, Microsoft branded, Dell, or who? Is it really
an install CD or some OEM's restore disc that merely overwrites whatever
is in the partition?

Rather than waste time guessing what brand and model you are working on
and WHICH version of Windows you are trying to use, tell us. If the CD
from which you are booting is jumping somewhere into the middle of the
setup and not providing options for you to navigate to the screen that
lets you delete and format partitions then you do not have a retail
install CD. So what DO you have?


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