Unable to Delete Partition through XP Setup, need help! :)

[TLee]

Hi, I'm trying to reformat my hard drive through the Win
XP setup cd. I shut down the computer with the cd in the
drive, and then turn it back on and can get to the
Windows setup program. However, whenever I try to delete
the one partition I have on my computer (that already has
xp installed on it), it returns this message-

"Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on
the selected partition. This partition contains
temporary setup files that are required to complete the
installation.

To continue, press Enter"

And so, I can't delete the partition in order to install
XP on a clean hard drive! I can only reinstall XP on my
cluttered hard drive, and that doesn't do me any good.
Has anyone else had this problem, or know of a possible
fix?

Thanks!
Travis.

 

[Guest]

Travis

I'm not sure what specifically is causing that error, but if you don't care about the data on there you should have a couple of easy options

You should be able to select the recovery console option from the first screen of the XP setup. Once the recovery console is loaded, format is one of the options. Typing help will show all the commands available

If not that, you can always download a hard drive partitioning utility (your hard drive manufacturer's web site should have one available), and use this to format the drive, then proceed with your install

Obviously formatting will erase all data on the disk, so be sure you've backed up anything you want to keep

Hope this helps

Charlie Sumpte
(e-mail address removed)
remove the cap letters to repl

Cheap domain names - danggood.com

 

[Guest]

"Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on
the selected partition. This partition contains
temporary setup files that are required to complete the
installation

To continue, press Enter"<<<

I had this same problem but found out it was because I was using FAT32 instead of NTSF. Once I made the change to NTSF, I was able to delete the partition with no problems

Liz

 

[Guest]

I had this same problem but found out it was because I
was using FAT32 instead of NTSF. Once I made the change
to NTSF, I was able to delete the partition with no
problems.

Liz

Thanks for replying, Liz! And Charlie, also! I
appreciate all the advice...one question though...how do
I change the file system from FAT32 to NTSF? I'm a
little hazy about all this, ever learning
Thanks again!
Travis

 

[Guest]

<<<.how do
I change the file system from FAT32 to NTSF? I'm a
little hazy about all this, ever learning :Thanks agai>>>>

When You set up XP it should ask you if you want to go with NTFS or Fat32. Not sure where this happens, I just don't remember. It should be very close to beginning of setup

Li

 

[Ben]

NTFS partitions for XP can't be deleted by selecting it and deleting
it in the setup like previous versions of Windows (2000,Me, etc.) once
the files have been converted from Fat32 to NTFS it is a pain.

Put your old version of Windows (2000,Me,98) in your computer and run
the set up disk.
Select a new installation.
Select the partition and delete it.
Once the deletion is done, press ESC to exit the set up. This will
leave you with a formatted disk. Don't move forward installing old
version of Windows.
Put XP into the drive and restart your computer using XP as the set
up.
XP will make you put your old version of Windows disk in again to
verify setup.
You will notice that the partition is is finally gone. You will need
to create a new NTFS partition and XP will install fresh.

 

[sandwichhead]

I have sort of the same problem...I had a FAT32 Xp partition and MS-DO
on my hard drive. Thanks to my kids dowloading everything I ha
numerous bugs in the software taking up memory. I wanted to install X
over everyhting so I reinstalled and converted to NTFS. My curren
partition is clean, but I would like to wipe the rest of the drive an
delete the other partitions. Any advice?

*NTFS partitions for XP can't be deleted by selecting it an
deleting
it in the setup like previous versions of Windows (2000,Me, etc.
once
the files have been converted from Fat32 to NTFS it is a pain.

Put your old version of Windows (2000,Me,98) in your computer an
run
the set up disk.
Select a new installation.
Select the partition and delete it.
Once the deletion is done, press ESC to exit the set up. This will
leave you with a formatted disk. Don't move forward installing old
version of Windows.
Put XP into the drive and restart your computer using XP as the set
up.
XP will make you put your old version of Windows disk in again to
verify setup.
You will notice that the partition is is finally gone. You wil
need
to create a new NTFS partition and XP will install fresh.

-
sandwichhea

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I have sort of the same problem...I had a FAT32 Xp partition and MS-DOS
on my hard drive. Thanks to my kids dowloading everything I had
numerous bugs in the software taking up memory. I wanted to install XP
over everyhting so I reinstalled and converted to NTFS. My current
partition is clean, but I would like to wipe the rest of the drive and
delete the other partitions. Any advice?

You can do that with Disk Manager. See Computer Management in
Control Panel.

Hans-Georg