perfect clean install from HDD with NTFS

[Alex Kachanov]

Hi!
I have notebook with HDD, 2 partitions, NTFS, XP installed on first.
Installer files are on second partition.
How can I perform clean reinstall?
I can start installer from working XP, but in this case I can't delete
"Program files" and "Docs and Settings" folders...
Tried to boot from six floppies, but I can't start installer from hdd, only
from CD...
It's so silly - to copy i386 to CD, whereupon it will be copied to hdd by
installer...

How can I do this install in a masterly fashion?

Also tried to add fat32 partition at the and of the drive, copy i386 to it
and boot from DOS floppy. But after copying files installer asked me to
remove floppy and restart, but installation did not continue, only my
existing XP booted...

Help!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

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 all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, 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. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, 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.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

| Hi!
| I have notebook with HDD, 2 partitions, NTFS, XP installed on first.
| Installer files are on second partition.
| How can I perform clean reinstall?
| I can start installer from working XP, but in this case I can't delete
| "Program files" and "Docs and Settings" folders...
| Tried to boot from six floppies, but I can't start installer from hdd, only
| from CD...
| It's so silly - to copy i386 to CD, whereupon it will be copied to hdd by
| installer...
|
| How can I do this install in a masterly fashion?
|
| Also tried to add fat32 partition at the and of the drive, copy i386 to it
| and boot from DOS floppy. But after copying files installer asked me to
| remove floppy and restart, but installation did not continue, only my
| existing XP booted...
|
| Help!

 

[Jetro]

Having original CD is a preferable approach as Carey mentioned. Technically
you can delete primary NTFS partition from DOS and re-run 'winnt.exe'. Your
trick with FAT32 partition is perfect.