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Help Needed - Formatted HD now cant install XP

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rizla01
rizla01 Posts: 7,260 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
in Techie Stuff
Hi all.

I have had problems with my PC for many months now and was advised a while back to re-install XP.

Its a 250gb drive which WAS partitioned but I decided to erase all partitions and just have 'C' drive for now and re-partition later.

Erased ALL drives and formatted to NTSF (Not quick format) to be sure that I got rid off all possible infections.

I have tried twice now to re-install XP (Had to re-insert disc a couple of times as it couldn't find certain files) and now I get a screen (black) telling me that the disc hardware configuration is wrong and tocheck my manual.

The version of XP I have is as was supplied by Dell i.e. no documentation that covers this.

What do I need to do now?

Presently using an old pc to communicate.
"Unhappiness is not knowing what we want, and killing ourselves to get it."
Post Count: 4,111 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,111 Posts (Actual figures as they once were))
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
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Comments

  • OneADay
    OneADay Posts: 9,031 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Formatting full does not get rid of any more infections than doing quick format.

    If its Dell supplied XP - it could be looking for particular size disk - if you can remember, then partition the disk to the size that it was previously and then try.
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Is it a SATA drive? If so, I think you may need to install the SATA drivers during setup, or alternatively slipstream them into a new XP installation CD created with nLite...

    More info about this here: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=xp+sata
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    It was less than two weeks ago that you ran a Clean Install (or perhaps a Repair) of Windows XP Pro SP3, according to your thread here

    So what's the story? It's sounds like a Boot.ini problem to me....and it looks as if you are making a total hash of it due to you not being able to follow simple instruction.
  • rizla01
    rizla01 Posts: 7,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    When I got it, it was just one partition.

    I used partition magic to change it.

    Do I run FIXMBR from Dos?

    If so what's the quickest way into Dos?
    "Unhappiness is not knowing what we want, and killing ourselves to get it."
    Post Count: 4,111 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,111 Posts (Actual figures as they once were))
    Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
  • rizla01
    rizla01 Posts: 7,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    stilltheone wrote: »
    It was less than two weeks ago that you ran a Clean Install (or perhaps a Repair) of Windows XP Pro SP3, according to your thread here

    So what's the story? It's sounds like a Boot.ini problem to me....and it looks as if you are making a total hash of it due to you not being able to follow simple instruction.

    Yes I did a clean install to partition 'C' but left everything else the same (I needed to get it up&running quickly and thanks to your assistance I was able to)

    because I ended up with a lot of broken links and a LOAD of unused software I figured it about time (5 yrs) that I started from fresh.
    "Unhappiness is not knowing what we want, and killing ourselves to get it."
    Post Count: 4,111 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,111 Posts (Actual figures as they once were))
    Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
  • Mat_Lock
    Mat_Lock Posts: 2,386 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If the PC is from Dell then it is likely there was a hidden partition on the drive containing the actual OS image. You've deleted all those partitions and so you are stuck with a Dell Resource CD and no XP image. You'll have to get a Windows ISO image (with the correct SP level) and install manaully and with the right key of course.
  • rizla01
    rizla01 Posts: 7,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 24 June 2011 at 6:37PM
    Oh Dear. That sound like a problem.

    Would I be able to download that to USB (On this machine) assuming I can get the PC to read the USB stick?

    If not I may be able to write it to a CD (Haven't tried doing that on this computer before as it's 'ers.)
    "Unhappiness is not knowing what we want, and killing ourselves to get it."
    Post Count: 4,111 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,111 Posts (Actual figures as they once were))
    Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    rizla01 wrote: »
    Yes I did a clean install to partition 'C' but left everything else the same (I needed to get it up&running quickly and thanks to your assistance I was able to)

    because I ended up with a lot of broken links and a LOAD of unused software I figured it about time (5 yrs) that I started from fresh.

    If you already had a clean install on C:, why not just format and re-partition the other drives?

    Which disc did you use this time in order to re-format and attempt to install? Your faulty DELL disc or the DELL disc that I sent to you?
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    Mat_Lock wrote: »
    If the PC is from Dell then it is likely there was a hidden partition on the drive containing the actual OS image. You've deleted all those partitions and so you are stuck with a Dell Resource CD and no XP image. You'll have to get a Windows ISO image (with the correct SP level) and install manaully and with the right key of course.

    OP already has such a disc.
  • rizla01
    rizla01 Posts: 7,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 24 June 2011 at 7:46PM
    The disc that you sent me ends upwith a blue screen each time.

    I managed to install windows Ok from the original disc. Each time it gave an error and wasn't able to find a file, all I needed to do was open the drive , reposittion the disc and close the drive and then it found the file. I needed to do that about three times in all but it worked.

    I don't suppose it makes much difference but the version of XP that was supplied is the home version and not the pro version.

    stilltheone wrote: »
    If you already had a clean install on C:, why not just format and re-partition the other drives?
    Wish I had now.

    Thought it'd be better to completely start again.
    "Unhappiness is not knowing what we want, and killing ourselves to get it."
    Post Count: 4,111 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,111 Posts (Actual figures as they once were))
    Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
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