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Format problem

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by bluewing79, 2009/05/25.

  1. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello. Ive got a big problem. I have windows xp home with 2 partitions. Ive got no windows cd because it is on my C: partision. A while ago i was going to reinstall windows, but did a little mistake and istalled it on my D: disk. So ive got one Win xp on both drives. The problem is that i now want to format my D: drive and use my C: drive as my operation system. The thing is that it wont allow me to format my D: drive because its a Windows XP on it. How can i go around that and format it? Please help. Ive tried everything..
     
    bluewing79,
    #1
  2. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Welcome to WindowsBBS :)

    Are both XP installs bootable - do you get the choice to select which OS on boot?
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    yes i do.
     
    bluewing79,
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  5. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If you boot to the OS on C:\ drive, probably the second option, can you then format D:\?

    If not we may need to edit the boot.ini.
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    no i can't do that. i tried to boot from c: and format with no luck.
     
    bluewing79,
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  7. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I'm not clear if you were able to boot to the C:\ drive or not.
     
    PeteC,
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  8. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry if i was a bit unclear. Yes i can boot from both disks, C and D, but i cant format D when i boot from C and the other way around.
     
    bluewing79,
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  9. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Would you please post your boot.ini .....

    Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup & Recovery - Settings > Startup & Recovery - Edit button.

    boot.ini opens in Notepad - copy/paste the contents here.
     
    PeteC,
    #8
  10. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Here it is:

    [boot loader]
    timeout=30
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
     
    bluewing79,
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  11. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Make a backup of boot.ini and name it bootold.ini

    Reopen boot.ini and edit it to read .....

    [boot loader]
    timeout=30
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

    Note the change in the default = line - highlighted in red

    File > Save and reboot

    The boot menu to select the OS should no longer appear and you should boot into the C:\ drive.

    Now try to format D:\
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tried it, but same problem as if i choose C: boot. Can't format D: because its in use.. Isnt it possible to make some sort of boot cd and then format?
     
    bluewing79,
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  13. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This foxes me - I'll ask a Team Member to look in on this - don't know how long it might be until he responds.

    One more suggestion in the meantime - check the following .....

    System Restore is not enabled for D:\ drive - Control Panel > System > System Restore

    There is no pagefile set for D:\ drive - System > Advanced > Performance - Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory - settings.
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Ok thanks alot helping me because this is starting to be a real pain. I really need to format the disk. Disabled the pagefile and system restore with no success. Still it says that D: are in use...
     
    bluewing79,
    #13
  15. 2009/05/25
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Two questions:
    1. How was Windows installed on D partition, if you don't have Windows CD?
    2. When booted to C, for instance, how exactly do you approach D formatting? From Disk Management?
     
    broni,
    #14
  16. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    1. I installed it from C:\windows folder setup file.
    2. Thats the core of the problem. I dont know how to go from here... I tried just rightclick on D: and select format. I tried booting in safemode with command line and type in Format d:. So far, no luck..
     
    bluewing79,
    #15
  17. 2009/05/25
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Boot to C.
    Go Start>Run, type in:
    diskmgmt.msc
    Click OK.

    Right click on D partition, click "Format ".
     
    broni,
    #16
  18. 2009/05/25
    bluewing79

    bluewing79 Inactive Thread Starter

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    cant do that. Its grayed out both format and delete partition...

    [edit] found something odd tho.. The C: disk is listed as System, and the D: disk is listed as a pagefile.. That cant be right, can it?
     
    Last edited: 2009/05/25
    bluewing79,
    #17
  19. 2009/05/25
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Recheck your setting on the page file. You apparently still have it set to use a paging file on the D: drive. That's why you're being locked out from formatting the drive, the system is using it. Change it so that the only paging file is on the C: drive. It is necessary to reboot in order for this to take effect.
     
    surferdude2,
    #18
  20. 2009/05/25
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    I just remembered something, be sure you click the SET button after you select "No Paging File" with the D: drive selected. If you don't click SET, no changes will be made.

    Then select the C: drive and choose "System Managed Size" and click SET.

    REBOOT
     
    surferdude2,
    #19

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