Formatting and Installing XP

Ok, first off you'll have to forgive me for any mistakes I make while I explain the problem, this happened 6-7 months ago, Now I'm faced with the same issue so I'm asking for some help.

Alright, right now I'm running Windows 2000 and because of program needs and certin programs not working in Windows 2000 I'm forced to upgrade to Windows XP.

About 6-7 months ago I was in the same boat. Heres what happened. I had (and still have) 2 partitions on my hardrive. Bother are NTFS, one is 8 Gigs, and the second is 32 Gigs. The 8 Gig is my main partition and I run programs from there, the 32 Gigs are storage for movies, music, artwork stuff like that.

So I want to reformat and upgrade to XP, As I remember I just put the Windows XP CD into the CD drive and it asked me it I wanted to install XP? (not totally sure about this part) Anyway, somehow I got started installing XP, and I think it was from boot disks? Anyway, once all the boot disks finished loading in the XP Setup started and gave me an error, said some problem with something about the "boot" and a string of numbers like

101010x0382007x292090x201784

I'm not totally sure. Anyway, I tried it several times and it always came up with the same error. From what I remember I looked it up on microsoft's website but they said there was no fix for it and didnt explain much at all.

I know the details are a bit vauge but I hope someone can at least help point me in the right direction.

 

You should be able to do everything you want to do (reformat C: and install XP) using only the XP CD.

Boot the computer with the XP CD in the CD drive. If a screen comes up asking whether you want to boot from CD or from the harddrive, tell it the CD.

Then it's just a matter of reading each screen carefully as it comes up and making the appropriate choices.

If it won't boot from the CD, you'll need to change the boot order in the BIOS. Generally there will be a screen early in the boot process telling you what key, or keys, to press to access "Setup." Do that and then navigate through the BIOS stuff using the arrow, ESC and Enter keys on your keyboard.

Find something relating to accessing "Boot" or "Startup" or something similar (every BIOS is a little different) and change the boot order to look at the CD drive first. Once you've found and made that change, use the "Exit Saving Changes" option and you should be good to go.

 

I'm pretty sure thats exactly what I did but I got this error when the setup started.

I'll go test it in a minute.

 

Ok, when I tried that, I set my bios to boot from CD first, second disabled, third disabled. I start my computer, just after all the DOS screens with information I dont understand on them go by it says "Boot from CD" but really quickly disapears and then starts Windows 2000.

Anyway,

When I throw the XP disk in while in Windows 2000 and go to "install" it asks if I want a "New Installation" or "Upgrade ". I dont want to go any further than that because of this error, I cant be sure it wont happen again and if it does I'm stuck with a computer that has half of XP.

 

Thanks for the wonderful advice about installing XP. I pretty much understand that, my problem is this error that I had. I guess nobody has any clue what I'm talking about so I'll just forget it.

 

Since the "Boot from CD" window goes by so quickly, you'll need to be ready to use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the CD option and press the enter key. It might take a few tries to get it done.

You'll have to get the machine to boot from the CD in order to accomplish what you want since the boot disks aren't getting the job done. To be honest, I've never used XP boot disks (which requires 6 floppies so if you aren't using a set of 6 disks to boot, you're trying to use the wrong boots disks in the first place ) since the XP CD has everything needed.

 

The "Boot from CD" option comes up and is gone in less than half a second. I'm not sure about your reaction time but mine doesnt seem to be that good even when I have my finger ready to click.

Also, even when I remove my HD totally from the Bios and have it set to boot CD & Floppy only, in that order, it still runs Windows.

 

Bard - since booting from a CD doesn't seem to be working for you for some reason, I'd suggest you check Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks and make the 6 floppy boot/setup set that XP needs. It will take a few minutes longer to get started but it should work.

 

Bard: Seems to me that I hear you saying you are concerned about getting an error message. And, you want to reformat and install XP.

I think you also said you put the XP CD in the current setup, it ran and gave you choices between "upgrade" and "Clean Install "

I am going to assume that you have checked the minimum requirements for running XP on your machine and you meet those requirements.

An "upgrade" will not format your "C" drive, it installs the XP operating system over the existing operating system. The "upgrage install" will inventory your system give you a list of those programs and hardware you have on your system that are incompatible with XP.

A clean install wil format your "C" drive and wipe it clean of all your personal settings and programs. All programs you are currently running on Windows 2000 will have to be reinstalled. Again, the install program will list what hardware you have that will not work with XP or will need new drivers. Most all the hardware manufactures have XP drivers on their sites.

When you run the "clean install" program, you will be given the opportunity to choose the partition to install to and I think you can resize the partition at that point if you wish.

If the install program runs and encounters an error and cannot install, it will tell you what the error is and allow you to exit the installation without it making any changes to your system. In other words, if it does not install you will be no worse off.

If you have a legitimate copy of XP and have your product key, there is no reason to be afraid of getting an error message.

If you do get an error message, write down the exact error message, exit the install program and post the error message here, verbatim. That is, the entire error message. There are a lot of very smart people on this board (I don't include myself in that group) just waiting to pitch in and help. I've yet to see a problem posted that was not eventually solved if the poster perservered, faithfully followed posted instructions and kept the board up to date with successes and failures.

Also, Microsoft has toll free 24/7 installation support for XP and the 'phone number should be in your quick start guide. Personally I have more confidence in this board than in Microsoft tech support.

So, if you really want to format and install XP, have at it, start 2000, put the XP CD in the drive, select clean install, keep at it and folow instructions, and eventually if not sooner, you will succeed.
If for any reason the CD won't run the install program from within Windows 2000, you will be able to boot from the cd using the proceedure you have been, just when you see that screen with all that stuff you don't understand start to load, start rapidly tapping the space bar key, don't wait to try to read the boot from cd message, just keep rapidly tapping. It is just a question of timing. If it does'nt work the first time do it again, and again, you will to get it if you just keep at it.

If you have more questions that you want answered before you begin, post them here.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

Hello,

If I were you :
-make a new folder called XP at D:
-copy at XP folder the content of XP CD-ROM
while you're in Win 2000
-copy at XP folder SMARTDRV.EXE from a Win98
Boot Diskette
-insert the Win98 Boot Diskette, reboot the PC
and type :

A:\>d:
D:\>cd xp
D:\XP\>smartdrv
D:\XP\>cd i386
D:\XP\I386\>winnt

the XP setup will start etc...
NOTE:the best would be to delete and recreate
the C: partition before the XP install

all the best

Stefan