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[Problems Installing XP on HD that previously contained Ubuntu]

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by edwardcullen, 2012/06/08.

  1. 2012/06/08
    edwardcullen

    edwardcullen Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello all-
    Here’s the problem. A few weeks back I installed Ubuntu 10.10 on my old DELL desktop using universal usb easy installer.
    When I installed Ubuntu I wiped the hard drive completely so that Ubuntu is Today I had the desire to play some early 90’s PC games GTA, Doom, Duke Nukem etc.
    So in order to play these I need to install windows back on my desktop, by the way Im using "windows Xp" for my install. When I try to install "XP" windows will not install because windows does not recognize the hard drive because Ubuntu is the only thing on the drive.

    So I deleted the ubuntu partition using Fdisk, when I rebooted my system I was prompted it could not find the partition so I believe I was successful.


    Ok...so next thing is:
    I loaded the XP media got to the blue screen that reads "Microsoft XP Pro Set Up page ".... "To set up windows XP now Press Enter" so I press enter...nothing happens

    Ive now tried numerous time with no response from the system,,Ive tried multiple keyboards with no response...I even tried R for repair and F3 to
    quit again nothing happens.


    Any suggestions/help will be greatly appreciated ..thanks

    -Grant
     
    edwardcullen,
    #1
  2. 2012/06/08
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Welcome to WindowsBBS. :)
    When you used FDISK, did you Format C: /S to complete? Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #2


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  4. 2012/06/08
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    retiredlearner,
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  5. 2012/06/08
    edwardcullen

    edwardcullen Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the kind words Neil-

    When I ran Fdisk I just deleted the partition and rebooted I did not format C.
    I will try running from dos and see if that helps. Thanks
     
    edwardcullen,
    #4
  6. 2012/06/09
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Arie,
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  7. 2012/06/09
    edwardcullen

    edwardcullen Inactive Thread Starter

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    Oh thank you :) I will give this a try tonight...I have a "Java" final Im studying
    for right now woo hoo haha
     
    edwardcullen,
    #6
  8. 2012/06/11
    edwardcullen

    edwardcullen Inactive Thread Starter

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    So I was able to use fdisk.
    I deleted all the partitions.
    Rebooted with windows XP, got through one or two setup pages.
    I then got to the windows page where it asked which partition
    would I like to install XP on. I picked the one and only drive
    in fat32 and hit enter. I was then prompted with a window stating
    "start up program can not gain access disk containing the partition windows XP can not
    install. : (
    Any thoughts..I had no idea this would be so hard haha
     
    edwardcullen,
    #7
  9. 2012/06/12
    retiredlearner

    retiredlearner SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Hi Grant, XP should be NTFS format. You may have to run again and select NTFS (Quick). Cheers Neil.
     
    retiredlearner,
    #8
  10. 2012/06/12
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Arie,
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  11. 2012/06/12
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Well, that's unlikely to be the problem here. Windows XP installs just fine on FAT32, altough you can't create FAT32 partitions larger than 32GB in size.

    Yes, you should use NTFS instead.
     
    Arie,
    #10
  12. 2012/06/14
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Just deleting the Linux partitions and creating an ntfs partition for XP will not be enough. After the install, you still won't be able to boot into XP. You will have to boot from the cd again and use the R (repair option) and get into recovery console. Once there, you will have to use the command: fixmbr.

    This is because the previous linux install put GRUB in the master boot record and its needed files were on the linux partition, which no longer exists. Fixmbr writes a new master boot record that will work with windows.
     
    TonyT,
    #11

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