How to delete XP (only) on NTFS Partition

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam
  • Start date Start date
S

Sam

I want to delete my XP.

I have data on my partition that holds XP and I want to keep it. If I
had Windows NT or 2000 on another partition, I could delete XP but I
can't.

Is there a way to delete XP only on that partition or do I have to
reload it on another and then delete from there?

Thanks
 
that is a loaded
question and winxp
is not a 2bit program


Therefore, it sounds like you
are running out of room
on the partition, so then
you want to delete it

or

winxp is causing your problems
and want to remove it. Which is it?
 
I want to delete my XP.

I have data on my partition that holds XP and I want to keep it. If I
had Windows NT or 2000 on another partition, I could delete XP but I
can't.

Is there a way to delete XP only on that partition or do I have to
reload it on another and then delete from there?
Click to expand...

Copy your data to another location, then format the partition.
 
DatabaseBen said:
winxp is causing your problems
and want to remove it. Which is it?
Click to expand...

Yes, I had installed a new motherboard and the Ram I had from my
previous board was causing data corruption. I ran SFC several times
but I still have problems. I have reloaded XP with the SP2 (separate
install) several times before and I never ran into any issues.

So, now I want to kill that XP and start again without losing my data
(it's over 150 GB worth) of programs and home entertainment.

Of course, the other option is to create another XP in another
partition or drive then delete my old and likely newly created since,
if I am not mistaken, XP still retains boot info on the active
partition and the Windows partition.

I was thinking of creating an NTFS boot disk, like the old Start-up
Disk in Windows 98/ME and then from DOS deleting XP manually.
 
Rock said:
Copy your data to another location, then format the partition.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, there is not enough room to copy the data to another
location :(
Also, I don't believe XP allows you to format a partition, only remove
or create a partition within the XP CD upon boot.
 
Sam said:
Yes, I had installed a new motherboard and the Ram I had from my
previous board was causing data corruption. I ran SFC several times
but I still have problems. I have reloaded XP with the SP2 (separate
install) several times before and I never ran into any issues.
Click to expand...

BTW, I do have another stick of RAM that is fine (passed burn-in tests)
and I still have problems with XP.
 
Unfortunately, there is not enough room to copy the data to another
location :(
Also, I don't believe XP allows you to format a partition, only remove
or create a partition within the XP CD upon boot.
Click to expand...


You don't have to use the XP tools. Format it in another way.

Your second post gave more info. You have an installation of XP with
programs and data that's not working right. To confirm, did you fix the
underlying hardware problems?

If so have you tried a repair install?
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If you want to do a clean install, even in another partition, the programs
that are installed now will not run. So why not just backup the data -
maybe to an external USB drive. Hard drives are cheap these days, and an
external USB enclosure is low cost too, then do a clean install on the
current partition, reinstall programs from the original media then restore
the data.

You should always have a full and complete backup of important data.
 
Rock said:
You don't have to use the XP tools. Format it in another way.
How?


Your second post gave more info. You have an installation of XP with
programs and data that's not working right. To confirm, did you fix the
underlying hardware problems?

If so have you tried a repair install?
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Click to expand...

Tried this before and I won't do it again....too many problems on my
other computer...left too much damage, besides I don't have the time or
patience to make a slipstream CD with XP SP2 that may or may not run.
If you want to do a clean install, even in another partition, the programs
that are installed now will not run. So why not just backup the data -
maybe to an external USB drive. Hard drives are cheap these days, and an
external USB enclosure is low cost too, then do a clean install on the
current partition, reinstall programs from the original media then restore
the data.
Click to expand...
So, there is no way then to delete the Windows Directory from DOS?
You should always have a full and complete backup of important data.
Click to expand...

It's always best...but I don't want to risk any more corruption, just
in case there are other issues that arent present yet or undiscovered.
So, if my current memory, CPU, motherboard, or even HD is causing
these new problems, I will be contributing to the problems by backing
up the data which may get corrupted during the backup process. I
don't want to risk my original data by backing it up.

My objective to ensure that I have no more problems with XP and to run
a basic install of XP for a while, that's why I want to kill XP and
start again and retain my existing data on the drive. It will be in a
"testing" phase for a bit.
 
Tried this before and I won't do it again....too many problems on my
other computer...left too much damage, besides I don't have the time or
patience to make a slipstream CD with XP SP2 that may or may not run.
So, there is no way then to delete the Windows Directory from DOS?


It's always best...but I don't want to risk any more corruption, just
in case there are other issues that arent present yet or undiscovered.
So, if my current memory, CPU, motherboard, or even HD is causing
these new problems, I will be contributing to the problems by backing
up the data which may get corrupted during the backup process. I
don't want to risk my original data by backing it up.

My objective to ensure that I have no more problems with XP and to run
a basic install of XP for a while, that's why I want to kill XP and
start again and retain my existing data on the drive. It will be in a
"testing" phase for a bit.
Click to expand...

One option for formatting the drive outside of XP is to boot with a floppy
boot disk or CD and run format c:\. Here is one source for a boot disk /
CD -- bootdisk.com

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

There are multiple options here. Look at the Custom XP Fresh Install
Bootdisk for example.

I don't think I quite understand the reasoning about backing up the data.
That should be your first priority. If there are problems with the hardware
it could corrupt the drive. Take the drive out, install it in another XP or
Windows 2000 computer and copy the important data. Always, always have a
backup.
 
I cant back up my hard drive using another USB2 drive since right now I
have it hooked up to my laptop.
One option for formatting the drive outside of XP is to boot with a floppy
boot disk or CD and run format c:\. Here is one source for a boot disk /
CD -- bootdisk.com

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm
Click to expand...

Is there no freeware utilities that do the same thing? Format in NTFS?
Surely, there must be something available that allows one to delete
and format in NTFS and in a DOS environment?
There are multiple options here. Look at the Custom XP Fresh Install
Bootdisk for example.

I don't think I quite understand the reasoning about backing up the data.
That should be your first priority. If there are problems with the hardware
it could corrupt the drive. Take the drive out, install it in another XP or
Windows 2000 computer and copy the important data. Always, always have a
backup.
Click to expand...

Yes, I value the importance of backing up. I just cannpt backup one
USB drive to another... I am told that the risk of data corruption
errors running both drives from the USB is high. I also do not have a
progam that will check the integerity of the data as it is
transferring. So, I really have no options in backing up from one USB
to another.

I am trying to backup files from one partition to another on the same
drive, it is taking a very very long time, even with using USB2. I am
also coming across files that are uncopiable or locked for some reason.
 
I cant back up my hard drive using another USB2 drive since right now I
have it hooked up to my laptop.

Is there no freeware utilities that do the same thing? Format in NTFS?
Surely, there must be something available that allows one to delete
and format in NTFS and in a DOS environment?


Yes, I value the importance of backing up. I just cannpt backup one
USB drive to another... I am told that the risk of data corruption
errors running both drives from the USB is high. I also do not have a
progam that will check the integerity of the data as it is
transferring. So, I really have no options in backing up from one USB
to another.

I am trying to backup files from one partition to another on the same
drive, it is taking a very very long time, even with using USB2. I am
also coming across files that are uncopiable or locked for some reason.
Click to expand...


Sam I have gotten lost in this thread, and I don't understand what you are
now saying. Why would you be backing up one USB drive to another?

Let's go back to the start. What exactly is the configuration of your
system, the number of drives, how they are partitioned, their sizes, what is
on each partition, what the current problem is and what do you want to
accomplish?

As an aside if you don't like my suggestions for formatting that one
partition, Google for something that suits your needs.
 
Rock said:
Sam I have gotten lost in this thread, and I don't understand what you are
now saying. Why would you be backing up one USB drive to another?
Click to expand...

lol...I think so.

Because right now, I am using my notebook as my PC. I have removed my
hard drive from my desktop and attached it to an enclosure and USB
interface to my notebook.
Let's go back to the start. What exactly is the configuration of your
system, the number of drives, how they are partitioned, their sizes, what is
on each partition, what the current problem is and what do you want to
accomplish?
Click to expand...

I have recently upgraded my desktop system with a new motherboard and
cpu. In the process, I had found that one of my two sticks of ram
wasnt compatible with the new combo I removed that stick. Before
determining that the ram was bad, my PC's symptom included various
errors and Dr. Watson was working OT. I ran a memory checker and it
determined that one of ram sticks failed in that board.

My primary hard drive is 200 GB with 3 partitions and the XP NTFS
partition is 117 GB with the remaining two partitions divided equally
for to data and other backups. I have about 50 GB free/117 GB on the
XP partition. I only have 20 GB of hard drive space on my laptop.

I want to delete Windows XPon [now portable] hard drive while
preserving the existing data on that partition. Some files, like a few
within acrobat are "locked" even when accessing via USB. Even one of
the macromedia files are locked, which is odd.
As an aside if you don't like my suggestions for formatting that one
partition, Google for something that suits your needs.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your suggestions but I guess I wasnt clear in my
explanation of my issues.

I guess the worst case scenario is to slowly over a period of days
transfer the data from my XP partition to alternate drives via USB.
Then, convert the XP NTFS partition via Partition Magic to Fat32 and
then format the partition using a Windows 98 Boot floppy, then have XP
convert it to NTFS when I load XP again.

However, I am looking for other options or ways to streamline the
deleting of XP on that drive while preserving the data, if possible.
Still looking for suggestions...but I havent found any that dont cost
me money.
 
Back
Top