Can you start Computer normally from HD boot.?
If so does it show Menu with choice of XP or Setup.?
If you can start Computer normally still you could try boot from XP CD select R for Recovery Console , type 1 for Windows partition , press Enter key then it request the Default Administrator password (not account Computer/Administrator password) usually blank so just press Enter key again.
If it accepts blank type HELP press Enter key at > prompt
or type FORMAT /? at prompt
You could then try FORMAT C:
but might not work as XP doesn't allow FORMAT of partition with boot or system files
Don't know about using Recovery Console if is has the same restriction.
or try command DISKPART press Enter key
select XP partition & try Delete.
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If that fails you could download a 98 boot disk from
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
set BIOS by pressing F2 (Del) key at startup to boot from Floppy.
Insert 98 Floppy & boot then use FDISK or FORMAT C: commands.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 02-04-2004 01:54 PM
You can partition the hard disk as an integral part of a clean reinstallation of Windows XP. See
this with particular attention to the removal of the existing C:\ partition in the reference linked to. The ~30MB partition contains Dell diagnostics.
look at the instructions in dell support/solutions/reinstall guide.. you need to adjust the bios settings so that you can boot from the win xp cd... then follow the simple prompts.. you need to have a firewall running before reconnecting to the internet..
sentenel wrote: I'm trying to reformat my harddrive using the disk from dell, but when I try to delete the partition a screen comes up saying i can't because there are temporary setup files on the partition.
To get that message you must be already booting from the XP CD & the setup files should have been created by an abandoned install.
You say you don't know the Logon Password , have you forgotten it or is it a computer you bought.?
No need to Logon , just wanted to see if it gave a choice of XP or Setup from abandoned install.
Since you get to the Logon screen you can try my previous suggestions of Recovery Console or uses of 98 boot Floppy.
The diskpart command in Recovery Console will not perform the desired function. From
this document:
"Diskpart blocks the deletion of the current system, boot, or paging volumes and partitions."
Running FDISK and FORMAT from a Windows 9X boot floppy will work but it's a good deal more work than simply reinstalling Windows XP and deleting existing partitions, then creating the new partitions desired from the unpartitioned space that results as indicated in my earlier post in this thread.
Denny Denham wrote: The diskpart command in Recovery Console will not perform the desired function. From this document: "Diskpart blocks the deletion of the current system, boot, or paging volumes and partitions."
Running FDISK and FORMAT from a Windows 9X boot floppy will work but it's a good deal more work than simply reinstalling Windows XP and deleting existing partitions, then creating the new partitions desired from the unpartitioned space that results as indicated in my earlier post in this thread.
I see the document you refer to to says;
"A Description of the Diskpart Command-Line Utility. Diskpart blocks the deletion of the current system, boot, or paging volume. To delete either an ESP, MSR, or a known OEM partition, you must specify the override parameter."
XP Help & Support says , ie: diskpart [/add | /delete] [device_name | drive_name | partition_name] [size]
delete partition [noerr] [override] override Enables DiskPart to delete any partition regardless of type. (Overrides protection) -------------- I have used DiskPart to delete the OEM FAT partition without any knowledge of override parameter. ? So its worth a try .
Also as I have said Poster seems to be booting from DELL reinstallation XP CD & attempting to Clean Install (Format HD) by trying to Deleting existing partition. I have checked google & found other have had same problem when try to Delete partition during Clean Install attempt. (can't be booting from HD & doesn't know password to Logon to Windows when he boots from HD)
So if DiskPart /delete C: /override doesn't work have to use 9x boot disk.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 02-06-2004 08:17 AM
gryjhnhpe
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February 3rd, 2004 23:00
If so does it show Menu with choice of XP or Setup.?
If it accepts blank type HELP press Enter key at > prompt
or type FORMAT /? at prompt
You could then try FORMAT C:
Don't know about using Recovery Console if is has the same restriction.
or try command DISKPART press Enter key
select XP partition & try Delete.
----------------------
If that fails you could download a 98 boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Insert 98 Floppy & boot then use FDISK or FORMAT C: commands.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 02-04-2004 01:54 PM
Denny Denham
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18.8K Posts
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February 4th, 2004 01:00
You can partition the hard disk as an integral part of a clean reinstallation of Windows XP. See this with particular attention to the removal of the existing C:\ partition in the reference linked to. The ~30MB partition contains Dell diagnostics.
redwolfe_98
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1.3K Posts
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February 4th, 2004 02:00
look at the instructions in dell support/solutions/reinstall guide.. you need to adjust the bios settings so that you can boot from the win xp cd... then follow the simple prompts.. you need to have a firewall running before reconnecting to the internet..
sentenel
5 Posts
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February 4th, 2004 02:00
gryjhnhpe
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2K Posts
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February 4th, 2004 19:00
You say you don't know the Logon Password , have you forgotten it or is it a computer you bought.?
No need to Logon , just wanted to see if it gave a choice of XP or Setup from abandoned install.
Since you get to the Logon screen you can try my previous suggestions of Recovery Console or uses of 98 boot Floppy.
Denny Denham
2 Intern
•
18.8K Posts
0
February 4th, 2004 19:00
Running FDISK and FORMAT from a Windows 9X boot floppy will work but it's a good deal more work than simply reinstalling Windows XP and deleting existing partitions, then creating the new partitions desired from the unpartitioned space that results as indicated in my earlier post in this thread.
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
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2K Posts
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February 4th, 2004 21:00
Denny Denham wrote:
The diskpart command in Recovery Console will not perform the desired function. From this document: "Diskpart blocks the deletion of the current system, boot, or paging volumes and partitions."
Running FDISK and FORMAT from a Windows 9X boot floppy will work but it's a good deal more work than simply reinstalling Windows XP and deleting existing partitions, then creating the new partitions desired from the unpartitioned space that results as indicated in my earlier post in this thread.
I see the document you refer to to says;
"A Description of the Diskpart Command-Line Utility.
Diskpart blocks the deletion of the current system, boot, or paging volume. To delete either an ESP, MSR, or a known OEM partition, you must specify the override parameter."
XP Help & Support says , ie:
diskpart [/add | /delete] [device_name | drive_name | partition_name] [size]
diskpart /delete \Device\HardDisk0\Partition3
diskpart /delete F:
delete partition [noerr] [override]
override
Enables DiskPart to delete any partition regardless of type.
(Overrides protection)
--------------
I have used DiskPart to delete the OEM FAT partition without any knowledge of override parameter. ?
So its worth a try .
Also as I have said Poster seems to be booting from DELL reinstallation XP CD & attempting to Clean Install (Format HD) by trying to Deleting existing partition.
I have checked google & found other have had same problem when try to Delete partition during Clean Install attempt.
(can't be booting from HD & doesn't know password to Logon to Windows when he boots from HD)
So if DiskPart /delete C: /override doesn't work have to use 9x boot disk.
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 02-06-2004 08:17 AM