Major Install Problems - Can't create or format partition.

[Jeff McAhren]

After attempting to copy the primary DOS partition to a like sized backup
partition, my XP Pro installation broke. It wouldn't boot to safe mode, or
any mode for that matter. The last known good config didn't work. Luckily,
I had created a Automated System Recovery set the day before. I booted from
the XP Pro CDROM, and choose to perform the system recovery, where I was
prompted for the diskette. After reading the diskette, the system reported
that the drive info on the diskette was not valid, and to make sure that I
was using the most recent diskette, and that all of the drives were
installed and turned on (there is only one internal drive).

I have a good data backup, so I decided that I could live with formatting
and reinstalling XP from scratch. When I begin this process (booting from
the CD), the install errors out because of a problem with the partition. I
spend all weekend (literally 20 solid hours ) deleting/creating/formatting
partitions both with the XP Setup program, and by using FDISK. Both fail
either locking up the computer or returning a general error (something like
couldn't perform requested operation). It seems like the disk has a major
problem.

I downloaded some disk diagnostic tools from Western Digital, Seagate, and
Maxtor, and all tests indicate that the drive is healthy. It's a WD 120GB
8MB Cache 7k rpm drive. Do I have to throw this drive out? How can I
"reset" it? Is there a more robust disk formatting tool out there to get
this drive ready to partition? I would like to use NTFS.

Thanks!

JM

 

[Jay W.]

I had a very similar problem. My ME just went dead on me
and I was frustrated so I decided to start from scratch.
I bought a new Seagate 160 gig hard drive and XP. Using
my old drive as a slave. When I got to the partitioning,
I couldn't decide which way to go, I wanted to go to NTFS
but I don't know enough about troubleshooting and fixing
stuff if anything goes wrong. I know DOS and use it amost
every time I have a problem...and NTSF doesn't recognize
it...so I'm really leary about changing. After trying to
load up XP and it leaving 100's of error messages as it
was loading, it finally stopped the program and said that
it couldn't be loaded onto my hard drive. No other info
to help me understand why. I messed around for about 2
days...(almost 20 hours), and got so frustrated I just
decided to reformat the new drive into 3 partitions...one
using FAT16, one FAT23, and one NTSF. Then tried to load
up starting with 16...(didn't work)...then 32(it worked
for about 3 days). I didn't try the NTSF and now my 160
gig hard drive only reads 140 GIG. They say you can
change to NTSF and you gain alot of functionality but you
lose other capabilities. Like being able to see it in DOS
and other drive monitoring programs. But once you do go
to NTSF, you can't go backwards. I had loaded all my
programs and was able to download a bunch of new
drivers...(only to find out my soundcard, video card, and
all-in-one scanner aren't supported in XP. According to
Visioneer, they never will provide new drivers it. But
they will let me upgrade. And Diamond was bought out and
they probably won't provide new drivers for my sound and
video card either...but they'll let me upgrade. After
doing all that, I had just downloaded a tax program and
finished my taxes, bought another new piece of software
online and loaded it up...and XP just crashed on me. I
had to reload it back on and start all over. Lost
everything. It had only been 2 days and I didn't back
anything up yet. Big mistake.
I would suggest though that if you are thinking about
throwing out the hard drive and trying a new one, you
might as well reformat it to NTSF and try to load XP on
it. You have nothing to lose.

 

[Jeff McAhren]

Sounds like you have had your share of problems. I would love to reformat
this drive, but I can't even do that! Every utility that I have tried,
including low level disk editors have either crashed, frozen up, or return a
timeout error when trying to access this drive. I have concluded that the
drive is dead.

I threw in the towel yesterday, and bought a new drive. $60 (after rebates)
for a new 120GB drive ain't too bad.... my time is certainly worth that.

The first thing that I did after setting up my system last night (windows xp
pro, all the critical updates, drivers, mcafee, office, front page, money,
etc.), was to make a Automated System Restore set, and burn it to DVD-R.
Hopefully I will never need it, but if I do, it will save me hours and
hours.

My backup strategy is as follows:
c:\ is for the OS and programs, and it is only backed up one time, right
after I set up the system (via ASR).
d:\ is for the swap file, it is never backed up.
e:\ is for data. I work really hard to put all of my data and documents
there, and it is backed up monthly.