Windows XP clean install

[MorseLady]

A few months ago I had a problem getting install to let me delete and partition the drive and I am having the same problem with another computer. After several attempts to do a clean install I ended up with three copies of Windows on one of my data partitions and had to transfer all my data to the other data partition so I could delete the partition.

I now have a corrupt copy of Windows XP Pro on my system drive and boot and other problems and keep getting a blue scrteen telling me Windows is closing down to protect my computer that I have a hardware or software problem and it is dumping my memory to disc.

I phoned the computer shop and she said it sounded like it was nothing I had done but that I might have corrupt reinstall disc. The disc goes straight to installing files without letting me choose the partition and delete and format. I must do this in order to be able to get a clean and non corrupt copy of Windows.


Please no compicated instrtuctions, those of you who0 know I did MCP coursers forget it as I am still in mental breakdown after losing my husband and have gone a bit senile so easy beginner instructions please.

[CCT]

On your GOOD comp, download this:

http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

Read about it here:

http://www.killdisk.com/screenshots.htm


Make the bootable disk and clean that other drive right up - then Install.

[MorseLady]

Thanks but I don't want to kill my disk and I have been suggested this killdisk thing before it does not work I do not understand I repeat I am in the throes of a nervous breakdown and my mind has gone it I want to format and do a clean install and make the OEM Windows XP disk allow me to do this. When I boot from it I do not get the option to delete and format the partition and it just goes on and installs another copy of Windows on the system partition or even on a logical partition and it does not ask me.

I am going to have one more try if not I am going to take it to the shop because it is driving me mad and fifty quid is cheap for peace of mind. She said use another XP disk but my others are an OEM XP Home and a retail XP Home and I want to reinstall XP Pro on this computer which it runs.

No more replies please delete this thread it is driving me mad I should not have aksed it is just makming it worse. All I wanted to know is why my Windows XP disk won't let me format and choose where to install Windows.

[CCT]

Calm down woman!


You can use an XP Home cd to delete the partitions, format and install the XP home.

Then shut down and start again with the XP Pro cd.

:)

[Mayet]

CCT if you told me "to calm down woman" i'd slap you.. ..



morse lady.. a work around thats not conventional.. stick in win 98 boot disk with fdisk on it .. delete partitions and create new ones and then format.. they will be in fat 32 but then when you stick the xp cd in it should then offer to format in ntfs

I've done it before.. I guess its not the right thing to do but it worked for me

[Spaceman Spiff]

CCT if you told me "to calm down woman" i'd slap you.. ..
Calm down lady? :rolleyes:

[slgrieb]

Mayet, it really isn't all that satisfying to slap someone when so many common household objects (books, pots and pans, etc) are so much more satisfying. As my daddy said, "Son, if you are going to hit someone, make it count. Always hit his soft parts with your fist, and his hard parts with a hard object." This simple, homely advice has never failed me.

[Mayet]

Calm down lady? :rolleyes:

I won't go into glorified detail on the rationality of Condescending texting on bulletin boards, nor a lecture on the danger of subversive misogynistic undertones creeping into speech or even on the subtle discrepancies of grammatical speech between one noun and another which therefore changes the context of the statement at hand ... let alone discuss the sanctity of respect, freedom and justice for all...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/The_Thinker_close.jpg/250px-The_Thinker_close.jpg

[Mayet]

Mayet, it really isn't all that satisfying to slap someone when so many common household objects (books, pots and pans, etc) are so much more satisfying. As my daddy said, "Son, if you are going to hit someone, make it count. Always hit his soft parts with your fist, and his hard parts with a hard object." This simple, homely advice has never failed me.

ok.. hmm homely advice I love

*peers down at wooden rolling pin in hand .. CCT where are you

[Guts3d]

Run, CCT!! ( Guts3d ducks as well )

[MorseLady]

Thanks CCT and Mayet, will try your suggestions and let you know how I get on. CCT please go easy on me, I hate being called woman for a start, I am 66 and lost my husband 7 months ago and even little things can have me in tears or worse.

Angie

[Mayet]

Hey morselady I am sorry to hear that I didn't know. Losing a loved one is having a piece of you ripped away that can never be replaced. It's the little things that keep you going and get you smiling again, memories, sunrises, family and friends, flowers and cute tiny furry animals (barring rats, mice and anything else with sharp teeth and pink eyes.) ...Keep your chin up ..

CCT front and centre for a huge apology for upsetting one of the nicest ladies around.

[CCT]

Just because you and slgrieb threatened physical violence by innuendo is no reason for you to apologize.

As far as Angie is concerned, if the term 'woman' hurt you, if you want an apology then sorry for that.

At least you calmed down. :)

[NooNoo]

One of these days CCT will get it. Until then, don't hold your breath.

[NooNoo]

Angie, if you are stuck, you have my email, send me your phone number and I can try and talk you through ok?

[MorseLady]

Mayet thanks for your kind words :) and I am getting there but slowly.

Noo that is very kind of you. I bumped into an old MCP classmate today whilst shopping and he gave me one or two ideas. I will have one more try and if it does not work I will contact you and thanks :)

CCT no comment

Angie

[MorseLady]

I used my W98 bootdisk and FDISK to delete the primary partition and its assortment of corrupt installs thereby forcing the XP Pro setup to allow me to choose and format the partition. FDISK renamed my data partition C and it's allgone pearshped because I now have two copies of Windows on Drive C and my data and the drive is now logical not primary. Noo Iamnot sure if I couldfollow instructions on the phone as I am hard of hearing and have a phobia about the phone because that's how Ilearned of my husband's demise.

Sorry this keyboardhas a dodgy spacebar. I am using another computer and a wirteless broadband router.

Iam taking the computer to the shoplater,. I was really relaxed now Iam stressed again, I willjustmake things worseand theremust be a problem.


Angie

[MorseLady]

I have been up all night but I tried onemore thing and it worked. It seemed to be my data partiton was confusing the OEM setupdisk so I installed Partition Magic and merged the partitions and set it toprimary and active and then booted tomy setupdisk and it workedproperlyand I wasableto format the drive and now have one huge partition of nearly 200GB and a perfect instalof Windows. I can create a data partition later and of coursemy data had been backed upto DVD anyway.

Must get a new keyboard forthis opther computer Iam using inwhat is nowmy radio shack.

Angie

[Mayet]

do you use echolink at all morselady?

I wondered if you are an amateur. We have an echolink node at home.

[MorseLady]

Hello Mayet,

Yes I am a radio amateur G0HGA - are you a VK? I am CW only because I like it and because my hearing prevents me using fone.

I do not use Echolink but lots of friends are trying to persuade me. I am not very active on the bands at the moment and only have a 60ft wire at 7ft!

See my ham radio website http://www.qsl.net/g0hga/

Please feel free to PM or email me and that goes for anyone on here who is a radio amateur.

33/72/73/161 as appropriate

Angie G0HGA High Speed CW Op

[NooNoo]

Brilliant Angie - perserverence always pays off with you! I understand about the phone, perhaps instant messaging would have been a better proposal... space bar problems or no!

Keyboards of the cheap and cheerful variety can be got for a fiver if you don't go to pc world....

[MorseLady]

Thanks Noo. I have found an old white keyboard in the cupboard and it is good so I am able to type again. Will pick up a black one from Argos or Currys when I go out later to choose a cooker, old cooker tripping power circuit and only one hotplate working so got to buy a new one :(

Not got all the drivers back on my main computer yet as had to have a lie down to make up for lost sleep and despite being tired washing my car this morning, I hate seeing dust and sap on it. Meanwhile my cat is asleep on the settee! He's been busy all night too, poor mice! Like most cats he is not easy to get in at night.

I am using my other computer to access the Internet and in no hurry to finish the job on the main one now I know I have a decent instal of Windows on it I can relax and take my time.

I used to use a lot of instant messaging with Yahoo Messenger mostly with members of my own Yahoo Groups but prefer to post to forums or use email.

I don't know what I would do without my friends on the web and that includes the Windrivers forums gang. I think just being able to come on here and talk about a problem helps me resolve it. I may have been a bit unconventional and took a chance and could have lost my MBR but it worked. It involved using my W98 boot disk to get FDISK and then when that did not solve the problem completely I used PM8 to merge my partitions so the setup disc could only go one way. My data and photos are of course backed up on DVDs all ten of them! Be fun putting that lot back once I have all my drivers on and can safely create a new data partition.


Angie

[Mayet]

The old win98 bootdisk has saved me on many an occasion with the fdisk

I'm learning for my exam at the moment moselady .. my husband is VK4TGH ......he wants me to go for my F call, limited bandwidth but no other restriction but I want my full call. The full call doesn't involve the ten words of morse anymore so it is easier but I want to learn morse anyway.

Hubbies to sick now to teach me so I am looking for some dvd's or something to learn off.

I have radios coming out of my ears. In the bedroom alone there is four handhelds set up permanent on various bands ..The radio users around here are mostly rural farmers so at 4am most mornings I get woken up by them discussing the weather.....sheesh no wonder my head is full of noise all the time. I have two lounge chairs in my bedroom retreat and one of them is full of cable and antennas. it gets maddening sometimes but mostly its great, I love hearing from people all over the world, I get a kick out of it when say a man from scotland opens our node and starts chatting away in his thick accent..

[MorseLady]

Good Luck with the exam Mayet. I have not worked VK for many years and not worked many anyway. Sorry to hear that your OM is too sick to teach you. I have a couple of VKs on one of my Yahoo groups, will ask for you and also you could contact your national society as they may be able to help. Hey I am really glad you want to learn morse and I am a member of many morse clubs and I would recommend you join FISTS once you have your call. Also in the UK you do not have to do the morse but many choose to. I can read 40wpm on a good day!

I am back on my main computer with a good install of XP Pro. Just set up the Internet and installed video and sound drivers got lots more work to do yet.

Just a thought Noo, looking at my MCP results my worst score for the XP Pro one was installing and configuring Windows so I obviously need to learn more.

Angie

[NooNoo]

No, you need to tinker more... learning just happens. :D