Help needed with fresh installation of WIN XP please

homeworkgirl

I am having a problem with clean install of xp on my desktop pc. I have done it before successfully in the past on my laptop but I have just reached the bit where it shows you the partitions on the hard drive and there is nowhere for me to install it as unpartitioned space only has 8mb and it wont let me delete the other partition with previous xp version as it says it contains set up files needed for the installation. can anyone help please?

marleyboy

Go to the website of the maker of your hard drive and download a drive preparation utility that when executed on your computer will make a floppy that can be booted to prepare your drive.

Delete the existing partition(s). Partition the drive FAT32 but leave 8mb of partitioned space at the end of it if the utility doesn't do that automatically - that is what XP and 2000 do, and that makes it 100% compatible with those operating systems. Then format the drive with the utility.
The drive will then all be FAT32, and XP and other operating systems that recognize FAT32 will have no problem seeing all of it.

You can do similar with a Win 98 or 98SE Startup Disk, by using Fdisk and Format at the prompt when the disk has finished loading, but the Fdisk program must be the updated version - the original Fdisk on the Windows CD or the the floppy that originally came with the CD, and the one put there automatically when you make a Startup Disk, are limited to partitioning hard drives no larger than 64gb - beyond that it starts over and subtracts 64gb, or multiples of 64gb, from whatever the size of the drive is.

If you have access to a computer with Win 98 or 98SE on it and Fdisk has not been updated yet, get the update here:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...

If you don't you need to get the updated version of Fdisk for 98/98SE - it has a file date of 5/18/00 (the date may be incorrect if it's on the web - as long as it isn't the same as other original Windows files) and a size of exactly 64,460 bytes when you look at it's Properties.

If you use a Startup disk to Fdisk the hard drive, you must copy the updated Fdisk from C:\Windows\Command (or wherever you have it) to the floppy. If you boot/install Windows from the Win 98/98SE CD, you cannot Fdisk/Format a hard drive larger than 64 gig - use the Startup disk with updated Fdisk instead.

This explains why 8MB is left unpartitioned:

Setup Reserves Disk Space for Upgrading to Dynamic Disk

aliEnRIK

Are you definitely using an XP disc, or are you using a disc from the computer manufacturers to take it back to how it was from day one?

homeworkgirl

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Are you definitely using an XP disc, or are you using a disc from the computer manufacturers to take it back to how it was from day one?

Its definitely an xp disc with genuine product key etc. and I have carried out a successful fresh installation before....its just the partition problem.

homeworkgirl

marleyboy wrote: »

Go to the website of the maker of your hard drive and download a drive preparation utility that when executed on your computer will make a floppy that can be booted to prepare your drive.

Delete the existing partition(s). Partition the drive FAT32 but leave 8mb of partitioned space at the end of it if the utility doesn't do that automatically - that is what XP and 2000 do, and that makes it 100% compatible with those operating systems. Then format the drive with the utility.
The drive will then all be FAT32, and XP and other operating systems that recognize FAT32 will have no problem seeing all of it.

You can do similar with a Win 98 or 98SE Startup Disk, by using Fdisk and Format at the prompt when the disk has finished loading, but the Fdisk program must be the updated version - the original Fdisk on the Windows CD or the the floppy that originally came with the CD, and the one put there automatically when you make a Startup Disk, are limited to partitioning hard drives no larger than 64gb - beyond that it starts over and subtracts 64gb, or multiples of 64gb, from whatever the size of the drive is.

If you have access to a computer with Win 98 or 98SE on it and Fdisk has not been updated yet, get the update here:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...

If you don't you need to get the updated version of Fdisk for 98/98SE - it has a file date of 5/18/00 (the date may be incorrect if it's on the web - as long as it isn't the same as other original Windows files) and a size of exactly 64,460 bytes when you look at it's Properties.

If you use a Startup disk to Fdisk the hard drive, you must copy the updated Fdisk from C:\Windows\Command (or wherever you have it) to the floppy. If you boot/install Windows from the Win 98/98SE CD, you cannot Fdisk/Format a hard drive larger than 64 gig - use the Startup disk with updated Fdisk instead.

This explains why 8MB is left unpartitioned:

Setup Reserves Disk Space for Upgrading to Dynamic Disk

Ooh err that all sounds a bit complicated..might have to leave it to the experts unless there is an easier solution. Thanks anyway.

closed

Did you actually boot from the CD, or are you trying to do this inside windows? (change the boot order in the bios, or hold down F12 at boot)

Is there a factory restore partition on this machine btw, much easier install if there is.

When you get it all working, create a disc image to make the process easier next time.