How do I get WinXP Install to Format HD?!?!?

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 17:15

This is insane! I've tried all of the options, and all I want for the thing to do is reformat the C: then install it there. Every single thing I try results in it either asking me if I want to reformat E:, which I don't, or saying that NECESSARY FILES FOR INSTALLATION ARE ON C:.

I scream at the computer JUST MOVE THE GODDAMN FILES!! I've seen this option in the install where I can pick the folder for the Setup files to be copied to, but it doesn't seem want to take that, since I've tried making it in E: and it still gives me the NECESSARY FILES ON C: thing.

So, any help. Thank you in advance!

SlowwHand · March 23, 2003, 17:22

Start in safe mode.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 17:26

alright, I'll try that. If I'm not back in 15 mins, then that probably worked. =)

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 17:26

wait, start the installation process in safe mode? What is that going to do?

SlowwHand · March 23, 2003, 18:31

The only way I've ever been able to format from Windows is in safe mode.

alva · March 23, 2003, 18:40

You can't format the drive which has your OS installed on, while it's running.

Start-up in dos and format c: /q (q= quick format)

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 18:47

alva, that's a good idea. Do you know the command for the long format? What's the difference?

alva · March 23, 2003, 18:56

Just drop the /q

difference: AFAIK with a quick format, it's only the directories that are deleted, not the actual info.

* Remember that doing this will erase everything !!

To reinstal XP, you might have to go into the bios to make sure you can boot of the CD-drive.

for better info, wait a little bit longer. There are far more better informed people around.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 19:05

Nah, I'm willing to try anyhing to get this working. How do I restard in DOS mode? This is insane! I used to know to do this, 'cus it was easy. When I press F8, I'm not given the option to do it.

Az · March 23, 2003, 19:06

Quote:

* Remember that doing this will erase everything !!

very important detail to remember BEFORE FORMATTING.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 19:07

Alright, I'm using a DOS prompt and it doesn't want to do it unless I force a "dismount" of the drive. Is this alright? Will the system automatically mount this partition again when I restart? I don't want to lose the partition forever....dunno why that would happen, but then I dunno why the damn setup just want do this for me.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 19:08

Yea, I already knew that. I spent a whole day last week backing stuff up.

alva · March 23, 2003, 19:08

Some systems use different ways to get into dos mode.

IIRC F8 is frequently used, maybe F6

alva · March 23, 2003, 19:10

x posted

Don't worry, just saw Asher make a post in a differnt thread, help is underway

Asher · March 23, 2003, 19:14

Boot with the Windows CD, use the format tools at the rescue console, then boot from the CD again and install Windows.

reds4ever · March 23, 2003, 19:17

always keep a copy of DOS 6.2 handy on floppy, just in case....

Zopperoni · March 23, 2003, 19:57

Quote:

Originally posted by alva
Start-up in dos and format c: /q (q= quick format)

c: /q is the worst you can do.

If you want a good format, do:

format c: /u

"u" stands for ultimate, so that'll guarantee a good scrub

alva · March 23, 2003, 19:59

What!!! There is no /x / u (extreme ultimate)

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 21:33

Hey guys, no one ever said if it safe to "unmount" this drive to reformat.

FYI, I did what Asher said, but only after installing WinXP on my second drive like I did accidentally the first time (but to no avail this time). That worked. Thank you, Asher!

Now, I just want to reformat my (now) D:, to get rid of all this extra crap.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 22:03

alright guys, I've done a few things, and I can't get the format to finish. It starts, goes a long time as if it's doing something, then pops back up "this volume cannot be formatted." What's the deal?

FrantzX · March 23, 2003, 22:24

Step 1:
Boot up the computer and go into the BIOS. Set the boot order like this: Floppy, CD-ROM, Primary Hard Drive. The Hard Drive will most likely be labeled. IDE-0 or the like. Save and exit.
What this does is that when you boot up, the computer will check, in this order, the floppy, CD, and hard drive for a bootable system. This means it will try to boot from the CD before the hard drive.

Step 2:
Stick the WinXP CD in the drive and boot the computer. The WinXP CD has a operating system on it, so it will go directly to the installation. From here you can format your hard drive before installing WinXP.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 22:38

Done and done, Frantz. That's no longer my problem. I officially have a fresh, nothing but WinXP (or just the CD really) installation, but now I just have to reformat my D:, which I also installed WinXP on before I knew of this other method.

My problem is that all these reformatting methods result in the routine going to 99%, then quitting. I think it just can't format a drive with those hyberfil.sys files and others on it, which is annoying to no end, since I happen to know what I'm doing and know they don't need to be there. I just have to convince this computer that I know what I'm doing.

So what do I do to get it to reformat? Thanks!

FrantzX · March 23, 2003, 23:17

You may want to scandisk those drives. Set it up to automaticaly fix errors and scan cluster by cluster.

Urban Ranger · March 23, 2003, 23:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Eroberer
So what do I do to get it to reformat? Thanks!

If you have DOS or *nix, a quick fdisk.

Eroberer · March 23, 2003, 23:41

Frantz, I'll try it.

UR, do you know of any free formatting utils? Also, I do happen to have Red Hat 7.2 and Mandrake 8.1 on CD's. Do you recall if there is a way to just format stuff with those CDs?

Urban Ranger · March 23, 2003, 23:48

AFAIK, you can simply just re-partition the whole D: drive again. This should fix the problem.

Eroberer · March 24, 2003, 01:59

Thanks for the suggestion, UR. I loaded up my Mandrake CD and used xDrake to repartition. Unfortunately I had to install WinXP again, but it worked. Good thinking!

Urban Ranger · March 24, 2003, 02:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Eroberer
Thanks for the suggestion, UR. I loaded up my Mandrake CD and used xDrake to repartition. Unfortunately I had to install WinXP again, but it worked. Good thinking!

Did you just re-partition the D: drive? Kinda strange that you needed to reinstall XP.

Eroberer · March 24, 2003, 12:59

Well, what happened was I chose a FAT32 filesystem, and I think /www/var/ as the name or whatever, 'cus that's one of the only ones that allowed FAT32. I think it overwrote the boot sector or something, but in any case, I rebooted and it couldn't find an OS, and neither could the WinXP upgrade (had to root around to find my old WinME disc).

So that's why I had to install it again. It's all working just great now though. Thanks!