formatting xp pro?

tawecdl

Trying to format xp pro. I go to install and it says there's a problem with the disk. I know that there isn't because i used it to install pro initially and it hasn't gat a scratch on it. Am i doing something wrong?

Psychofly

Give us the exact error message you're getting.

tawecdl

sorry not sure of exact message, i am trying to look it up atm. It's something like "setup could not complete because there is a problem with the disk, please check the disk and then press enter. The disk may be scratched etc."

tawecdl

i have selected to boot from cd and took the hard drive off the list of boot up devises in the bios, could that be a problem?

Psychofly

Doesn't matter if the hard drive is on the boot list or not initially but you're best to leave it on the list for when installation is completed.

As long as you select to boot from CD - which you're obviously doing - you should be OK.

A disc can be damamged without any visual signs. Sounds like that might be your problem. Do you have another CD drive you could try using ? I've had that cause problems before where it's not the CD but the drive at fault.

tawecdl

I will try to change the drive tonight. I just dont understand, the disk is new and been in a case the whole time, except when i initially installed it. It even reads in the same drive when the os is running.

With reference to the "disk Error" if i have mistaken whet the message is referring to (it might not say scratched, it may say corrupt etc) could it be a problem with the HD?

the following is where I am getting the message( highlighted in red)

To partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program: 1.Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup disk into the floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer.

Note To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM (or from the startup disk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to set this configuration. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.2.If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do this.

Note If your hard disk controller requires a third-party original equipment manufacturer (OEM) driver, press F6 to specify the driver.

For more information about how to use F6 to supply a third-party OEM device driver while the Windows Setup program is running, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 314859 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859/) Limited OEM driver support is available with F6 during Windows XP Setup
If you are starting from the Windows XP Setup disks, insert each of the additional disks when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after you insert each disk.3.At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.4.
Note If you are using the Setup disks (6 bootable disks), the setup will prompt you to instert the Windows XP CD. 5.Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.6.If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. To bypass the repair, press ESC.7.All the existing partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partition or the unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition. Press D to delete an existing partition, or press C to create a new partition by using unpartitioned space. If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this step for each of the existing partitions that you want to use for the new partition. When all the partitions are deleted, select the remaining unpartitioned space, and then press C to create the new partition.

Note If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions already exist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions, and then create the new partition.

Psychofly

I wouldn't expect a failure there if there was a problem with the hard drive. It would help if you could get the exact message mate.

tawecdl

i'll try again tonight and note down the exact message, Cheers Psychofly.

ollyk

Look for a scratch on the label of the disk by holding up to a light if you see a tiny scratch then the disk is knackered!