Not enough space to install XP! Cant format

[Guest]

I have a 280GB and a 110GB hard drive. XP was on the 330 and I had to
reinstall it. I decided to install it on the 110 disk and got a message that
I had to create a minimum 8GB partition so I chose 8GB. The installation
went fine but I have a bit more trouble and want to do a clean reinstall.

When I try I'm told there isn't enough space in the boot partition and am
given no choice to install on the other partition or disk. Setup just closes
down.

Does anyone know how I can either make more room on the boot partition or
install XP somewhere else then remove the existing installation please?

 

[R. McCarty]

Part of the ( XP CD-ROM based ) boot allows you to perform disk
mananagment prior to actually starting the install. As to resizing any
existing volumes you'd need a 3rd-party Disk Management tool such
as Acronis Disk Director since XP's disk management doesn't offer
any of those features.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for that. I am not being offered the chance to do disk management
before starting the install. So I'll see if I can get the Acronis Disk
Director and try that.

Thanks again

 

[DL]

Then you are not installing correctly

Thank you for that. I am not being offered the chance to do disk
management
before starting the install. So I'll see if I can get the Acronis Disk
Director and try that.

Thanks again

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a 280GB and a 110GB hard drive. XP was on the 330 and I had to
reinstall it. I decided to install it on the 110 disk and got a message that
I had to create a minimum 8GB partition so I chose 8GB. The installation
went fine but I have a bit more trouble and want to do a clean reinstall.

When I try I'm told there isn't enough space in the boot partition and am
given no choice to install on the other partition or disk. Setup just closes
down.

Then you're trying to do the clean installation incorrectly. Are you
mistakenly trying to run it from within Windows?

You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, since that
would leave Windows without a leg to stand on.

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


Note that this means the loss of *everything* on the drive, so be sure
to back up anything you want to keep first.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I sorted it by downloading and using Acronis Disk Director. I was
then able to increase the size ot the partition. Then when I used the
Windows disk all went according to plan correctly.

Before, when I inserted the disk, I entered my registration code then was
immediately told there wasn't enough room on the disk to install. Even
though there was 100GB on the other partition and there was also a second
hard disk with 280GB.

Anyway I'm sorted at a cost of £40 for Disk Director, which I don't
begrudge. Perhaps I'll find another use for it

Thak you all for your help.