Scrubbing partition C:

[Oronsay]

My 120Gb hard disc is divided into several partitions. On partition C there is installed Windows XP Home (plus SP2 and all the latest updates), beside this a second copy of Windows XP Home and Suse Linux 9.2 Pro. The second Windows OS was installed in a fit of mental aberration. I have been running this setup for a year now. Recently the first Windows OS has been playing up - mainly crashing half way through boot up. Suse is unaffected. The desk top opens but with no icons and no task bar with everything crashed, causing me to switch off and boot each time from the Windows XP CD. I have Zone Alarm firewall, Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spyware Doctor none of which indicate any infection.
I would like to scrub (delete) all programs from partition C: only. Then to make a clean installation of Windows and Suse. I have the original installation CD/DVDs for both OS.
I have saved all my files and settings to DVD but this may all include the cause of the boot up failure.

a. Is it possible to erase the extra Windows OS only and repair the first Windows OS with the CD?
b. Failing this to completely erase all partition C contents retaining the partition?
c. How do I go about it and with what programs?

Thanking you all in anticipation of your replies and help.

Oronsay.

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by Oronsay

My 120Gb hard disc is divided into several partitions. On partition C there is installed Windows XP Home (plus SP2 and all the latest updates), beside this a second copy of Windows XP Home and Suse Linux 9.2 Pro. The second Windows OS was installed in a fit of mental aberration. I have been running this setup for a year now. Recently the first Windows OS has been playing up - mainly crashing half way through boot up. Suse is unaffected. The desk top opens but with no icons and no task bar with everything crashed, causing me to switch off and boot each time from the Windows XP CD. I have Zone Alarm firewall, Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spyware Doctor none of which indicate any infection.
I would like to scrub (delete) all programs from partition C: only. Then to make a clean installation of Windows and Suse. I have the original installation CD/DVDs for both OS.
I have saved all my files and settings to DVD but this may all include the cause of the boot up failure.

a. Is it possible to erase the extra Windows OS only and repair the first Windows OS with the CD?
b. Failing this to completely erase all partition C contents retaining the partition?
c. How do I go about it and with what programs?

Thanking you all in anticipation of your replies and help.

Oronsay.

Take a look here on doing a Clean Install of windows, you will also find the answers to your questions http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_in...windows_xp.htm


hope this helps

[Oronsay]

Thank you for your help, Barbara.

My main doubt is in the operation of deleting partition C. I have Acronis Partition Expert 2,003. I would like delete the partition and its contents then do a clean install of both the Windows OS and then the Suse OS.
I envisage this method. With Partition Expert in the drive eliminate partition C.
Shut down and restart the computer with Partition Expert still in the drive. Create a new clean partition C. Replace the Partition Expert disc with the Windows XP Home disc. Shut down and restart again. Then go ahead and make a clean installation of first Windows followed by Suse Linux.
Are there any hidden problems in this operation?
You will appreciate that I am very short of practical experience, in fact an elderly newbie!

Oronsay.