Trouble with Reformatting (Windows XP Home)

[Guest]

I decided yesterday to reformat my HD (120 gig) just to improve my computer's
performance (no truly significant problems i.e. virus, huge slow-down in
processing, etc), through booting from my XP CD. After deleting my main
partition (C, I was advised by a friend to repartition my HD into two (my
main drive C would have about 100 gigs, leaving about 20 as an emergency
partition for myself). Once I partitioned C with just 100 gigs (I would leave
the unpartitioned 20 for later), I attempted to begin installing XP onto it.
However, when I tried twice to format it in NTFS (as opposed to the quick
NTFS format), the installation would reach 100% only to show a message
indicating that it was unable to format (or something along those lines.
Unfortunately, it only leaves that message on the screen for about 3 seconds
or so before the computer would simply turn off, and repeat an odd,
low-pitched beeping sound). After this occurred twice, I decided to repeat
the same steps, except choosing the (quick) NTFS format option. This part
occurred more successfully, installing the windows files.

However, once it led me to the windows setup program, even more problems
occurred. I would click "Next", agree to the terms of service, and it would
begin doing the "installing devices" portion of the installation. About 75%
of the bar (under "installing devices") would be filled before the screen
would simply turn completely black (any sounds coming from the computer that
indicated it was processing the installation would cease), yet leaving my
computer and monitor on. I waited a few minutes before realizing something
did indeed go wrong. I resetted my computer, allowed it to go past the "Press
any key to Boot from CD," and then it would go back to that same XP setup.
Once again, the same "blackout" occurred at about the same time as before. I
gave it one more try before I'd go back to the begginning: I resetted, went
back to the Setup program, and it finally got past the "installing devices"
portion. However, upon continuing through the setup (after entering data
about my area code, country, etc for the modem setup), it looked as if
Windows was about to start up (the "Welcome" logo appeared), the screen once
again simply went black.

Long story short, I've been attempting over and over again to install
windows, but without any success. The only possible problems I could come up
with was that maybe the re-partitioning of space somehow is causing an error,
but I'm no expert, so I can't really say. Could any of you please help me
solve my problem? Much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

All drive mfgs have a DOS utility downloadable from web site,you should have
downloaded it to a 3.5 floppy,then restart computer,boot to floppy,then in
utility
deleted partitions,created one then the other,format if you wish,however at
that point i'd exit,install xp cd,boot to xp cd,select recovery,then
typeiskPart
in DiskPart,delete 100 gb partition,then create one,then press Esc Key,then
type:FORMAT C: /FS:ntfs When its thru type:EXIT Let xp restart,reboot to
xp cd,
then select install xp.This being the 100gb is for C: and/or xp,otherwise
do to
20gb,the other should be formatted in xp,run,type:diskmgmt.msc

 

[D.Currie]

I decided yesterday to reformat my HD (120 gig) just to improve my
computer's
performance (no truly significant problems i.e. virus, huge slow-down in
processing, etc), through booting from my XP CD. After deleting my main
partition (C, I was advised by a friend to repartition my HD into two
(my
main drive C would have about 100 gigs, leaving about 20 as an emergency
partition for myself). Once I partitioned C with just 100 gigs (I would
leave
the unpartitioned 20 for later), I attempted to begin installing XP onto
it.
However, when I tried twice to format it in NTFS (as opposed to the quick
NTFS format), the installation would reach 100% only to show a message
indicating that it was unable to format (or something along those lines.
Unfortunately, it only leaves that message on the screen for about 3
seconds
or so before the computer would simply turn off, and repeat an odd,
low-pitched beeping sound). After this occurred twice, I decided to repeat
the same steps, except choosing the (quick) NTFS format option. This part
occurred more successfully, installing the windows files.

However, once it led me to the windows setup program, even more problems
occurred. I would click "Next", agree to the terms of service, and it
would
begin doing the "installing devices" portion of the installation. About
75%
of the bar (under "installing devices") would be filled before the screen
would simply turn completely black (any sounds coming from the computer
that
indicated it was processing the installation would cease), yet leaving my
computer and monitor on. I waited a few minutes before realizing something
did indeed go wrong. I resetted my computer, allowed it to go past the
"Press
any key to Boot from CD," and then it would go back to that same XP setup.
Once again, the same "blackout" occurred at about the same time as before.
I
gave it one more try before I'd go back to the begginning: I resetted,
went
back to the Setup program, and it finally got past the "installing
devices"
portion. However, upon continuing through the setup (after entering data
about my area code, country, etc for the modem setup), it looked as if
Windows was about to start up (the "Welcome" logo appeared), the screen
once
again simply went black.

Long story short, I've been attempting over and over again to install
windows, but without any success. The only possible problems I could come
up
with was that maybe the re-partitioning of space somehow is causing an
error,
but I'm no expert, so I can't really say. Could any of you please help me
solve my problem? Much appreciated.

There's a chance that whatever you used to partition the drive is the
problem. Delete all the partitions and start over, but this time let Windows
do the partitioning and formatting during the install.