Windows Installation Files stop XP Clean Install

[Guest]

I am trying to make a clean install of XP (I had bought a copy of XP on ebay
and found it was pirated so I bought a legal version and am trying to install
it over the current XP I am running) I want to wipe the drive and start
over. However, when I boot from the CD and attempt to delete the partition
to start over it says it "Cannot delete this partition because it has setup
files installed on it that are needed to complete installation" and I am
unable to proceed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to circumvent
this or remove those setup files so I can do a clean wipe? The support on
the XP homepage offers no suggestions - I should have the option to input the
serial code right after deleting the partition. Thanks for any and all help

 

[Malke]

I am trying to make a clean install of XP (I had bought a copy of XP
on ebay and found it was pirated so I bought a legal version and am
trying to install
it over the current XP I am running) I want to wipe the drive and
start
over. However, when I boot from the CD and attempt to delete the
partition to start over it says it "Cannot delete this partition
because it has setup files installed on it that are needed to complete
installation" and I am
unable to proceed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to
circumvent
this or remove those setup files so I can do a clean wipe? The
support on the XP homepage offers no suggestions - I should have the
option to input the
serial code right after deleting the partition. Thanks for any and
all help

Are you sure you are actually booting from the cd or are you really
running the cd from within Windows? It sounds like the latter. If you
are trying to run the install from within Windows, put the cd in the
drive and restart the computer. If your computer is set to boot from
the cd drive, you should get a prompt at the bottom of the screen that
says "press any key to boot from cd". Do this and the installation will
start. You will be able to delete the system partition (after several
warnings), create a new partition, and install XP on the new partition
you just made.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Malke

 

[Guest]

Yes, I originally booted from within windows, however when I encountered that
problem I tried a straight reboot and still received it. I attempted what
you just said, but it kept going back to that screen, I was never able to
receive any warnings and then eventually delete the partition. Any other
ideas? Perhaps I am doing something else wrong? I appreciate all your help
on this,

Daniel Wilder

 

[Malke]

Yes, I originally booted from within windows, however when I
encountered that
problem I tried a straight reboot and still received it. I attempted
what you just said, but it kept going back to that screen, I was never
able to
receive any warnings and then eventually delete the partition. Any
other
ideas? Perhaps I am doing something else wrong? I appreciate all
your help on this,

In my previous post, I referred you to Michael Steven's excellent
installation instructions. He has information about what to do if you
get that error here:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/delete_nondos_partition.htm

Malke

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Try this:
Boot with the XP CD and at the first screen select the option to repair
using the Recovery Console- press 'r'
You should get to a command prompt. If asked "Which Windows install would
you like to log on to?" press the number key that corresponds to C:\Windows
( often it is number 1). And if you are prompted for an Administrator
password you need to enter the appropriate password. If this is XP Home then
simply press the Enter key.

At the command prompt type the following and press Enter.
DISKPART

That will give you a window to highlight the partition you want to delete.
Once you've deleted the partition and are back at the command prompt type
the following and press Enter key
EXIT

That will reboot the computer. The XP CD should automatically boot and you
will be able to do a clean install of XP.
--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

I am trying to make a clean install of XP (I had bought a copy of XP on ebay
and found it was pirated so I bought a legal version and am trying to install
it over the current XP I am running) I want to wipe the drive and start
over. However, when I boot from the CD and attempt to delete the partition
to start over it says it "Cannot delete this partition because it has setup
files installed on it that are needed to complete installation" and I am
unable to proceed. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to circumvent
this or remove those setup files so I can do a clean wipe? The support on
the XP homepage offers no suggestions - I should have the option to input the
serial code right after deleting the partition. Thanks for any and all

help