Reformat problems...

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

My computer lately has been having some problems so ive just decided that i'd reformat. Ive done this a few times before, but now for some reason it isnt working correctly. From previous times all I did was choose to boot disk(Windows XP)when my computer was starting up, but now the option to boot from disk isnt available while restarting my comp. So I go to my desktop and boot WinXP from there. From there it tells me to restart my computer and load WinXP while restarting, which works. Only now when I try to clear my current harddrive to install WinXP it tells me I cant because there are necessary files that I need to have that cannot be deleted while trying to reinstall WinXP. Which means that the setup is still actually running on my desktop. I know it probably doesnt make any sense at all, but if you know what my problem is and can help, please do. Thanks.

[legacy-Turmoyl]

Your issue is that you are actually running the setup off your hard disk, and you can't reformat a disk that's in use.

If you don't have a Win98-style boot disk then go to www.bootdisk.com and download one that has format.com on it, then use it to boot and do a format.

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

Where do I go when ive open the page up. Confusing at first.

[legacy-Turmoyl]

Here's a direct link to a 98 OEM boot disk:

http://files.frashii.com/~bootdisk/boot98c.exe

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

Stuck at the black prompt screen cause I dont know what im suppose to type.

[legacy-PsychoChihuahua]

If you are going that far, perhaps a low level format of the drive is in order? It may take a few hours, depending on the size of the drive, but at least it'd be a clean surface on which to store data.

And any bad blocks would be mapped out.

As far as your current issue, no clue as to what to tell you. When I reload windows I boot from the CD, and the boot device order can be defined in BIOS somewhere.

[legacy-Turmoyl]

I don't intend this to sound mean, bud, but you are in over your head. I suggest you call your OEM (the people that sold you your PC) so they can walk you through this.

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

*Sigh*...all hope is lost. I guess i'll just go sulk in front of the television for the rest of my days.

[legacy-PsychoChihuahua]

If you are to the point of blowing everything away on your drive, certainly you can find someone local (friends come to mind) who can help you out.

[legacy-howdy b]

First go into your bios and set first boot device to CD-Rom, and stick in the WinXp disk and follow directions.
If you can't boot from cd rom ,go back into bios and change 1St boot device to floppy, use win 98 setup disk(try to find a boot disc made on a win 98 machine in Windows setup) to boot to the a:\prompt then type Fdisk . after fdisk runs , reboot , and at the a:\ prompt type format c: .
after formatting at the a:\ prompt type e: (to change to cd-rom , boot disk changes cd drive letter to e:)
then type setup (make sure XP disk is in drive) , should run.
alternately you can make boot floppies for XP install , available at Microsoft.com, takes 4 disks.

[legacy-.:i:.]

Ive had alot of problems like this
The best thing to do is get the xp boot disk-its like 5 or 6 floppys

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

Thanks, I got it fixed.

[legacy-PsychoChihuahua]

What was the fix?


Originally posted by ssj3kakoroto
Thanks, I got it fixed.

[legacy-ssj3kakoroto]

It wouldnt let me boot from CD when I restarted, but now I got it to do so.