reinstalling XP Pro

M

mightymary

trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step where you
need to choose a partition. The choices are: -: Partition1 [FAT], C:
Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space. Which one would I choose?
 
S

smlunatick

trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step where you
need to choose a partition. The choices are: -: Partition1 [FAT], C:
Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space. Which one would I choose?

You seem to not be duing the re-install correctly. You are trying to
"fix" your existing install of XP or are you trying to set up a "new"
clean install? If you are trying to fix your XP. the install should
have found the old version.
 
S

Shenan Stanley

mightymary said:
trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step
where you need to choose a partition. The choices are: -:
Partition1 [FAT], C: Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space.
Which one would I choose?

Are you trying to get rid of everything and start fresh? Backed up
everything you need, I assume?

You would delete the partition(s), create new partition(s) and format them
NTFS.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step where you
need to choose a partition. The choices are: -: Partition1 [FAT], C:
Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space. Which one would I choose?


Assuming that you are trying to do a clean installation, you are doing
it wrong, and are therefore at the wrong place.

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
 
M

mightymary

there is a problem when the computer boots up the XP operating system I
received an application error. After that I talked to DEll support and they
told me to reinstall windows XP. When I was running the XP reinstall I
received an error that I was missing an intel file called "prounstl.exe." My
windows xp was an upgrade, so I decided to try and reinstall my Windows home
edition from the dell disk. When I was running the reinstall this page comes
up with the choices of partitions.

Hope that makes sense.


--
mightymary


smlunatick said:
trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step where you
need to choose a partition. The choices are: -: Partition1 [FAT], C:
Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space. Which one would I choose?

You seem to not be duing the re-install correctly. You are trying to
"fix" your existing install of XP or are you trying to set up a "new"
clean install? If you are trying to fix your XP. the install should
have found the old version.
 
S

Shenan Stanley

mightymary said:
trying to reinstall windows XP due to file errors. At the step
where you need to choose a partition. The choices are: -:
Partition1 [FAT], C: Partition2 [NTFS], and Unpartitioned space.
Which one would I choose?
You seem to not be duing the re-install correctly. You are trying
to "fix" your existing install of XP or are you trying to set up a
"new" clean install? If you are trying to fix your XP. the install
should have found the old version.

Shenan said:
Are you trying to get rid of everything and start fresh? Backed up
everything you need, I assume?

You would delete the partition(s), create new partition(s) and
format them NTFS.

Assuming that you are trying to do a clean installation, you are
doing it wrong, and are therefore at the wrong place.

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
there is a problem when the computer boots up the XP operating
system I received an application error. After that I talked to
DEll support and they told me to reinstall windows XP. When I was
running the XP reinstall I received an error that I was missing an
intel file called "prounstl.exe." My windows xp was an upgrade, so
I decided to try and reinstall my Windows home edition from the
dell disk. When I was running the reinstall this page comes up
with the choices of partitions.

Hope that makes sense.

Not really...
Kind of fogs up the situation somewhat.

I now know it is a Dell. I don't know what type of Dell, when it was
purchased or even what operating system it had for sure. I can make
inferences...

"My windows xp was an upgrade, so I decided to try and reinstall my Windows
home edition from the dell disk"; which I assume translates to something
along these lines, "My Windows XP [Professional] was an upgrade so I decided
to try and install my Windows [XP] Home Edition from the Dell [CD that came
with the Dell System.]"

What we would have to know (or you might have to contact Dell about this) is
if that Windows XP Home Edition CD is a true installation CD (it may be) or
if it is a recovery cd/dvd - part of likely a set? If the former (a true
Windows XP Home Edition installation CD) - you can perform a clean
installation with your Windows XP Professional Upgrade CD as long as you
have the other CD ready to be used when the installation asks to 'see' it.
You'd boot with the Windows XP Professional CD, start the install, if you
are trying to TRULY start from fresh - everything you did not back up
elsewhere before this happened (or at least before you do the next part)
*WILL BE LOST* - then you (in your particular case:

Delete the C: Partition2 [NTFS].
Create a NEW C: partition and format it NTFS.
Continue the install.

The other partition you are seeing from your original post is some sort of
Dell diagnostic or recovery partition - and you owuld need to contact Dell
about that. It may prove that your Windows Xp Home Edition CD is not a true
installation CD - but part of a recovery process - then again - you could
have both OR that may just be the recovery partition.
 

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