Windows Setup and Windows is starting Windows

Hi All,

My system has WindowsXP Pro SP2 with two hard disk drives. The operating system is on C:\ and the second drive is F:\ with a backup of C:\. The problem began with a Startup situation, sometimes a normal startup other times startup would just hang. I decided to do a Repair, using a Slipstreamed disk, something I had done in the past with no problems. The boot order was CD/Floppy/HDD. Setup started and seemed normal until the bottom of the screen had the message: Windows is starting Windows and there it would hang. The same results happened with several attempts. Next I used the original CD (not slipstreamed), gave up on the Repair and went for a Clean install. Then I got a little further but eventually the installation would hang. For example: the top message, Setup is deleting Windows installation and the bottom: Setup is examining folders--hangs. Another try and the bottom message: Examining 114471 MB disk 0 at ID 0 on bus 0 on atapi... hangs. Finally on another try: got as far as Installing Windows, setup will complete in approximately 28 minutes. Copying files but the moving indicator at the lower right screen stopped (Hangs).

My impression is that there is something on the C: drive that is blocking a complete setup since I see the subject title regardless of where the main drive (120 GB) is installed, that is, interchanged with the F: drive. My desire at this point is to format the C: drive but I can't get to that point.

The system is performing normally using the F: drive and that is how I'm sending this post. Does anyone have suggestions that I might persue? Thank you.

 

How about deleting all partitions on the drive?
Here is a tried and true method. Go to Bootdisk and get the file for 98SE OEM. Go here and get Delpart.Exe, this file was created by M$ specifically to delete NTFS volumes.
Put a floppy in the drive, and run the file from bootdisk, this creates the 98 bootdisk for you. When done, copy Delpart.Exe onto the floppy.
Boot the computer with the floppy, choosing 'Without CD rom support' when asked. Then when the A:\ prompts appears, type in "delpart" and press Enter. Choose to delete the partition, be sure to Save changes to the drive. Take out floppy and boot with XP installation CD, use the regular format rather than the Quick format.

 

markp62,

Followed your directions, made the floppy and continued on to delete the partitions. Then I installed Windows from the CD to a 15 GB C: partition and finally got to the Windows desktop. I left things there since there is a lot more to do in getting the drive back to where it was. This reply is being done from the second hard drive. Great input and it was just what I was looking for to clean up the main drive. Thank you very much for you interest and help.