formating my hard drive please HELP!!!!!!

[zfeghali]

I have been trying to reformat my hard drive (maxtor diamond plus8 ata-133 hd) i try restarting the system with the xp cd in it and i delete part. and create a fresh install once it asks me to format with ntfs files the completed bar stays @0% and does not move and if i do a quick format using ntfs it formats but the i get an error message "setup can not create folder \WINDOWS\config " setup can continue if folder is not created i have tried everything and i am still stuck...please notify me on what to do....it also is not booting from the floppy

[feorod]

Hey,

XP doesn't allow FORMAT C: command... I tried everything... including W98 bootdisk... unless you have a partitioned HD.. I read somewhere you have to do it with the Recovery Console when installing, but never succeeded.

I don't know why they made it that way, but it's a real pain in the a**...

I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but I challenge everyone to make it work...

Good luck,

Rick

[snooker]

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".