XP reinstallation, i want to deleting everything! Can anyone help? I beg you!

[Rapta3]

Ok, ive had this new comp and xp for about 2 weeks and now for some reason i cant even play simple games on the computer so after hours of troubleshooting trying to fix the problem i had decided to just reinstall XP so its as if i just got the computer. (I had no previous os on this computer before XP) So i put the XP home edition cd in, select install, then it gives me an option of doing: Upgrade (Recommended) or New installation(advanced) so i select "New installation". Then I accept agreement, enter the cd key and the computer restarts. I then have the option of choosing to run the home edition xp which is already setup or run setup to install, i chose setup. "Welcome to setup" is next. I have 3 options: "To setup windows XP now, press enter," "To repair a windows XP installation using recover console, press R," "To quit without installing Windows XP, press F3." I choese To setup windowss XP now(enter). Then it gives an option to repair or install fresh copy by pushing esc. so I push esc. Then it asks if i want "to set up windows xp on the selectted item press enter" "to create a partition in the unpartitioned space press c" "to delete selected partition, press D" I try deleting the old partition but it wont let me, it says "Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on selected partition. This partition contains temporary setup files that are required to complete the installation." So then i choose to install on the old partition and it then says that this may cause the other os to function improperly so I dont... I dont know what to do, I want to reboot the whole thing so i dont have my old account or anything, I want to restart everything so I have one partition and its as if I just bought the computer and I have no old files on the hard drive or anything. I dont know if i should make a new partition and install it there then once that is done delete the old one, im all ears! If anyone can take the time to help me out i would be extremely grateful! Thanks alot!

[snowmonkey]

Rapta3, Welcome to this Forum.

You are on the right track to re-install a fresh copy of Windows XP Home.... but you did not mention how did you start the installation ? did you just put the XP CD and tried to reinstall it through Windows Desktop ? or you booted the system from the CD and then started to reinstall ?

cheers

[Rapta3]

I put the cd in when I was already logged onto windows. Then a window pops up and i chose install windows xp...

[drzanecchia]

Rapta

Ya gotta just format the whole thing. Look to Blackviper.com for an installation guide, but never try to do anythin from the win desktop, this is like installing a os samwhich, and if you are having probs, usually it is spyware/viruses, lack of maintenence etc.

I would format and reinstall the OS myself on any new computer, just make sure you check your driver updates



G

[Rapta3]

Um...so do I put the XP cd in once i restart the computer?

[Rapta3]

And blackviper.com only talks about upgrading and installing, I need a guide on how to reinstall it by clearing everything off the hard drive without having a previous os.

[volcom2129]

Rapta3,

I've had the same problem u are having, i wanted to reinstall windows xp also. I chose the new installation but then i decided i should format then install XP. So u insert ur XP boot disk then reboot then u should get the command prompt:


A:\>

or

A:

then type "format c:"(without the quotes and "c:" being the letter associated with ur hard disk)
then when that is done u should be back at the prompt:

A:\>

then insert the xp home cd. now u need to run the setup so u switch to ur cd-rom drive which is now e: instead of dd: now being ur RAM drive)
switch to ur cd drive by typing:

dir e:

now u should be at:

e:\>

or

e:\

now type:

dir i386

u should be at this:

e:\I386\>

type:

winnt

now follow the setup instructions.


that should work but if it don't email me at

volcom2129@hotmail.com


-volcom2129

[Rapta3]

I dont have xp boot disk...... a friend of mine told me that i could do it through the BIOS setup, that i push del right when my comp boots and do it from there but i dont know how :/

[PoA]

There is an option called Boot with CD-Rom. Then after that, put your xp cd and it will start installing

[volcom2129]

yah oops forgot about the boot from cd rom. just go into ur bios and find boot options or something like that. then make sure one of the devices that boot is ur cd rom drive or change it to the first boot device. see my bios is old so i cant boot from the cd-rom for some gay reason so i have to use a boot disk. see if changing the boot lineup works.


-volcom2129

[Rapta3]

Lemme try...

[Rapta3]

It worked! Its all been reformated, thanks a lot guys!

[newyorkernick]

I need help too... Same EXACT problem.

I see how he pressed delete when windows started and he got to the setup. Well, that's what I'm trying to do now. One problem though. It requires a password.

How would I know my password?! Any ideas on what it could be?