Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
1 Message
0
919
July 3rd, 2004 05:00
Format Windows XP Home Edition
I've read quite a few threads on this forum about formatting Windows XP, and I have not been able to find my answer. I'd like to clean my system out, and start with a fresh version of Windows XP Home Edition. I'll try to be as specific as I can so someone can pinpoint my troubles. By the way, it's a Dell Dimension XPS computer.
First of all, I have all of my information backed up, so please do not tell me to do that before I format my hard drive.
Okay, I put the CD entitled, "Reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 1" into the CD-ROM and close it. I then restart my computer and it automatically takes me to the screen that says, "Windows XP Home Setup" and I have three choices. The first choice is to press ENTER to install Windows XP. The second choice is to enter the recovery screen by pressing 'R.' The third choice isn't important as it's just to quit without installing. Now, from the other guides, I pressed ENTER and it displays a screen that asks me if I'd like to repair the version below that is labeled as C:\Windows "Windows XP Home Edition." I hit ESC to not repair the version as I want a fresh and clean installation. I now come to the screen where I start to receive problems. The following is what is displayed:
190733 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
-: Partition1 [FAT] 39 MB (32 MB free)
C: Partition2 [NTFS] 190693 (137852 MB free)
Now, it gives me the option of pressing 'C' to make a partition where there is an unpartitioned place, but there isn't one, so that's out. At first, I thought about installing Windows XP to the second partition, but then it advised me I'd have to dual-boot, which I'd rather not. From the guide, I tried to delete the partition 2 to make a fresh installation, but when I press 'D' on the NTFS (Partition 2), it will not let me delete the partition because it gives the following error:
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.
Is there anything I am doing wrong or should change? Is there a better or easier way to format my hard drive? Any help would be appreciated, but step-by-step or Laymen's terms would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help and patience.
osprey4
6 Operator
•
34.2K Posts
0
July 3rd, 2004 11:00
Thanks for your clarity and thoroughness. Go to this article:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1080458
You're doing everything exactly right until you get to step 7 of the guide. After you hit ESC from the setup screen, the partition screen appears. You will need to delete the existing C: Partition2 [NTFS] for Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0. This is showing up on your system as follows:
C: Partition2 [NTFS] 190693 (137852 MB free)
Follow the instructions starting at step 7 and you'll be able to delete and re-create the partition, then format it to install XP.
simpswr
2 Intern
•
3.2K Posts
0
July 3rd, 2004 11:00
Sounds like you are not booting from the cd . . once you set BIOS to boot first from CD, when you startup, you will get a black screen with the prompt "Strike any key to boot from CD" . . it can go by quickly, so have a finger on the keyboard when you startup. Once you boot from the CD you will be able to delete and recreate partitions and proceed to installation. If you do not get that Black screen you have not booted from the CD.
This is a pretty good guide, but you can find one specific to your model by clicking on the solutions tab above, navigateing to your model and selecting the reinstall guide. You might want to print the guide for reference during the installation.
Have fun . . wrs