Trying and failing to reformat single HD

[Guest]

Have a very curious issue. I have a very old laptop. It started w/WIN98,
then used an upgrade version of XP home to upgrade, then of course used a
download of SP2 and all updates as the update tool recommended.

Here is the issue though, as the the machine is about 5 1/2 years old, and
running horrible i want to blow away all of the hard drive w/a reformat and
then reinstall just the most current s/w i need at this point. When i try to
enter the portion of the setup that covers reinstalling windows and
reformatting, i get no option to continue, as the disk version of XP is older
than the version (SP2) currently on the machine.

Do i need to format the HD from the c: prompt somehow, or is there another
way?
My plan had been to disconnect from internet, reformat, install XP, then
install my Norton AV, zonealarm, and spysweeper -- connect to the internet
and redownload SP2 and other updates from MS site. If you have a way to
reformat, is that an appropriate way ahead. THANKS

 

[Dave Patrick]

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Have a very curious issue. I have a very old laptop. It started w/WIN98,
| then used an upgrade version of XP home to upgrade, then of course used a
| download of SP2 and all updates as the update tool recommended.
|
| Here is the issue though, as the the machine is about 5 1/2 years old, and
| running horrible i want to blow away all of the hard drive w/a reformat
and
| then reinstall just the most current s/w i need at this point. When i try
to
| enter the portion of the setup that covers reinstalling windows and
| reformatting, i get no option to continue, as the disk version of XP is
older
| than the version (SP2) currently on the machine.
|
| Do i need to format the HD from the c: prompt somehow, or is there another
| way?
| My plan had been to disconnect from internet, reformat, install XP, then
| install my Norton AV, zonealarm, and spysweeper -- connect to the internet
| and redownload SP2 and other updates from MS site. If you have a way to
| reformat, is that an appropriate way ahead. THANKS
| --
| JFB

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Have a very curious issue. I have a very old laptop. It started w/WIN98,
then used an upgrade version of XP home to upgrade, then of course used a
download of SP2 and all updates as the update tool recommended.

Here is the issue though, as the the machine is about 5 1/2 years old, and
running horrible i want to blow away all of the hard drive w/a reformat and
then reinstall just the most current s/w i need at this point. When i try to
enter the portion of the setup that covers reinstalling windows and
reformatting, i get no option to continue, as the disk version of XP is older
than the version (SP2) currently on the machine.

Do i need to format the HD from the c: prompt somehow, or is there another
way?
My plan had been to disconnect from internet, reformat, install XP, then
install my Norton AV, zonealarm, and spysweeper -- connect to the internet
and redownload SP2 and other updates from MS site. If you have a way to
reformat, is that an appropriate way ahead. THANKS

You cannot format a drive that is in use. You will have to boot from
the CD (you may need to go into your BIOS and set the CD are the first
boot disk. If you machine in unable to boot via CD then got to
http://www.bootdisk.com down load a W9x boot disk and use this to FDISK
the C: drive, as you were unable to boot from the CD you will need to
visit http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994 and down load the set
of six floppies that will boot your version of XP.

Make sure you have your XP Product key BEFORE you nuke your disk, if
you do not have it handy then the magical Jellybean key finder
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml will be able to find it
for you.

 

[Richard Urban]

You can not perform a repair install of a newer version of Windows (SP2)
with a CD that contains the original RTM version of Windows (pre-SP1).

Boot from the CD, start the Windows installation. When you get to where you
choose where you want Windows to be installed, choose the partition and then
select to format that partition. This will wipe out the old installation so
there will be no problems.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!