Trapped in Repair Console, need full re-install XP ?

[Guest]

I made a DOS boot disk - that's the only way to boot @mo without it insisting
on restarting the R(epair) Install - but can't do much, including can't run
FORMAT.
Presumably there is some file or something on C; that is telling the
Installation CD that it is part-way thru.
Does anybody know what/where that is? How can I force the Repair to
abort ? (no special keys seem to do anything e.g. Esc, Fn keys) so I can
start a full re-install ?
(It's a Targa machine, if that means anything in particular.)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I made a DOS boot disk - that's the only way to boot @mo without it
insisting on restarting the R(epair) Install - but can't do much,
including can't run FORMAT.

If you're trying to format an NTFS drive from DOS, you can't do that. DOS
can't see the drive.

You can run FDISK from the boot diskette, remove the non-DOS partition,
create a a FAT32 partition, then format it.

But if you're trying to reinstall XP, this isn't the way to do it. 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://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks - that's useful info (e.g. re DOS not even seeing NTFS partitions - I
think that explains why I can't see c:\windows when I boot from the DOS
floppy).
BUT I'm beginning to think he's got a duff XP CD because having started
the Repair Install, any form of boot (normal, safe, from XP CD) apart from
DOS floppy does the same thing i.e. wants to continue the Repair Install.
I was expecting the chance to abort it and go for FULL install but I've
tried ESCape and all the Function keys I can think of and nothing has any
effect! (

My own XP CD is from Dell but it says on the disk to use it only for Dell
machines. D'you think that one would work ? Any ideas what I can do to get
out of the Repair Install loop ? Thanks, Gerry

 

[ANONYMOUS]

If you have a floppy drive then boot your PC with Win98 startup disk.

Then run FDISK and when prompted delete the partition.

Now put your XP CD in the drive and boot from it. This should give you
the chance to format and reinstall XP cleanly.

hth

 

[Guest]

Hi Anon, thanks.

1. One problem is that neither he nor I have a Win98 startup disk because
both of us started directly with XP. Is there somewhere I can download that
and make a floppy for him ?

2. Will FDISK run in DOS ? Or does the Win98 startup disk boot into
windows ?

What would happen if I used my Dell XP CD ? (it says to use it only for
Dell machines but I'm running out of ideas!).

Thanks for your help, Gerry )

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Yes you can download from here:

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

FDISK will run in DOS. In fact it can only run in DOS!!

DON'T use DELL CD if your system is not made by DELL. You will create
even more problems apart from legal matters!

hth