Problem with Partition

DigitalRage · #1 12-03-2003, 01:15 AM

OK, so here's the deal. I recently acquired my uncle's computer which was running on a WIN98. Somhow it wasn't loading anymore and after much stress over trying to figure out the problem, I just FDISK it in DOS. I got an XP reinstall disk from my cousin who recently just bought a new DELL desktop, it came with the new computer, and figure I will just install XP onto my recently formatted computer. So I turn on the comp and load the cd in. Keep in mind, I am a total novice at this, so I'm praying there isn't much technical crap involved. I come to this page where it ask about partitions and FAT NFTC...something like that. I believe I chose the FAT32 one and choose the C:/ option. Keep in mind, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing...I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping I'm choosing the right things. So I go and reboot the computer hoping XP will load and this message that says "Invalid Partition Table" comes up.

What do I do now?

I remeber at one point it said I shouldn't install XP on a partition that already had an operation system on it...which is wierd because I thought I wiped out WIN98 when I FDISK it. Someone please help. .

alchemist · #2 12-03-2003, 03:24 AM

Is ur winxp disk bootable? If it then it is easy boot it up and then when u can see the partition. Delete all of it and recreate it.

Then u should have no problem. U only wipe out everything if only u r sure and nothing u wan from ur current win9x data. If so proceed.

DigitalRage · #3 12-03-2003, 11:00 AM

Ok I have no idea what you mean by if it's bootable? I'm really not in an expert in this, soI'm not familiar with any of the terms. If you could tell me what to do step by step, that would be so much easier for me. I would be much appreciated. I don't want to risk going back in there and assuming I know what you mean and end up erasing something I should've touched. Thanks!

snowmonkey · #4 12-03-2003, 11:39 AM

After Fdisk, you should format the drive and set the drive as an active partition,, since you have FAT32 partition then I would suggest you put a windows 98 boot disk in the drive and boot the system to dos prompt, then type in fdisk, one of the option at that point would be "SET ACTIVE PARTITION" select that and set you drive active,, reboot the system and you should be find. I don't know what you are going to do with XP licensing since it does not belong to that computer,, that's a total different issue.

cheers

cfisher · #5 12-03-2003, 11:54 AM

Ok, basically, when you start the computer with the CD in the drive, does it boot up into the XP installation? If so, choose the options on the screen as normal until you get to a point where it will detect the partitions on the computer and it will list those, there should be an option on the screen to delete the partition, choose that option, then it will show unallocated space where the partition used to be. Now there should be an option to create a new partition, use that option, then carry on with the formatting and installation as before, you can use either FAT32 (for backwards compatibility with older programs, win 95, DOS, etc) or NTFS for faster drive performance, but I do believe there are utilities out there that will still allow the backward compatibility even though you're running NTFS.

DigitalRage · #6 12-03-2003, 03:47 PM

Ok, so I went back in and did that deleting partitioning thing and setting up XP on the newly recreated partition which is the C:\. I allowed it to set up XP on the newly created partition and when I went to reboot the comp the same error message popped up with the invalid partition table thing. So I went back into DOS and tried to Fdisk everything all over again and try to set the c:\ as the active partition, except now when I go to type in the FDISK it says bad command. I have no idea what happened.

snowmonkey · #7 12-03-2003, 03:55 PM

did you boot with Windows 98 Boot disk and then you tryped in FDISK ? does your windows 98 boot disk have FDISK command on it ?

cheers

DigitalRage · #8 12-03-2003, 05:04 PM

Yeah I did. I don't think I have a properly working win98 boot disk, cuz all it ever does is load a virus scan when I start the computer with it in. Where can I get a win98 boot disk?

snowmonkey · #9 12-03-2003, 05:32 PM

at this site:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

cheers

DigitalRage · #10 12-03-2003, 06:12 PM

Is there a specific WIN98 bootdisk I should get, there's more than one....