Need a good NTFS format/partition programme other than the Windows XP disk.

Your XP installation disc will delete and create partitions as well as format them . .

Enter BIOS ( Setup ) and set the first boot device as CD/ROM. Put your XP Disc in the drive and disconnect all external peripherals except the monitor, keyboard and mouse, and be sure those are not USB, or wireless. Any internal USB card should also be removed.

Once you set your BIOS to boot first from cd . . when it restarts you will see a black screen with a prompt "Press any key to boot from CD" . . do that and you will be able to delete partitions and recreate one or more, then proceed to formating and installing XP.

That message can pass quickly, so have a finger on the keyboard when you boot. This will delete all data on the drive so be sure you have your important data backed up. The prompt will appear after every reboot, but do not press any key on subsequent reboots. The setup process will continue with no action required from you.

If you do not get that message, and you have another optical drive, try the XP CD in the other drive.

This is a site that walks you thru a simulated XP installation:
http://www.echoproject.net/en/software/catalog.html

These are good guides to reinstalling XP . . you might want to print one for reference during the install.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
http://www.socrtwo.info/cleanxpinstall.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

For help entering BIOS: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

The missing files issue could be memory or CD drive failures . . XP depends heavily on memory during the installation phase. You can google, download and run memtest86 to rule out memory problems

Assisted Solution

06.01.2006 at 03:07AM PDT, ID: 16805938

You can format the disks using your windows operating system: Start- Run- Rightclick on my computer- select manage and select Disk Management. You can format/create partitions etc.

06.01.2006 at 03:13AM PDT, ID: 16805967

<Well first of all FDISK is program u use> These are NTFS drives.

06.01.2006 at 03:16AM PDT, ID: 16805978

You can format the disks using fdisk as fat32 and then install windows which will give you the option to quick format them to ntfs...

or otherwise you can run the following command if you have installed windows on a fat32 drive.

Goto command prompt Start-run-cmd

Convert C: /ntfs /v

Convert D: /ntfs .v

06.01.2006 at 03:20AM PDT, ID: 16805990

Rank: Guru

Merete:

Yes true xp will delete the partition compeletly using this method, if you also wish to remove the MBR ( master boot record)
The MS-DOS Fdisk utility usually updates the master boot record (MBR) only if no master boot record exists. Repartitioning with Fdisk does not rewrite this information.

Fdisk has an undocumented parameter called /mbr that causes it to write the master boot record to the hard disk without altering the partition table information.

Warning Writing the master boot record to the hard disk in this manner can make certain hard disks partitioned with SpeedStor unusable. It can also cause problems for some dual-boot programs and disks with more than four partitions.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q69013/

You could slave this hdd to another computer, on that other computer using its cdrom ide cable and power connector these fit your hdd perfectly.., moving the pin on the rear of your hdd to slave, once plugged in and power restored and booted this windows will find new hardware your hdd D drive.
In control panel administrative tools computer management disc management..
Using computer management you can format it from here if you wish to ( see the partitions)
Illistrated:
Creating Logical Drives In An Extended Partition
http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_08.htm
Partitioning Hard Drives in Windows XP
http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives.htm
Clean Install Procedure with Illustrative Screen Captures
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_pro_install_-_graphic.htm

Remove partition
http://www.partition-manager.com/overview_details/remove_partition.htm

Cheers Merete

Assisted Solution

06.01.2006 at 05:03AM PDT, ID: 16806525

Sorry just found the link:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Contains the following partitioning tools along with other useful utilities:

Ranish Partition Manager      2.40
XFDISK (Extended FDISK)       0.9.3beta
SPFDISK (Special FDISK)       2000-03r
TestDisk       6.2
Partition Resizer       1.3.4
Partition Saving       3.01
Free FDISK       1.3.0
MBRtool       2.2.100
MBRWork       1.07b
FIPS       2.0
Active@ Partition Recovery

Assisted Solution

06.01.2006 at 08:33AM PDT, ID: 16808262

Slackmasterflash:

BootItNG provides what you need and much more in a very simple, easy to use program:

Boot Manager, Partition Manager, and Drive Image Utility - BootIt Next Generation
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

Accepted Solution

06.01.2006 at 11:17AM PDT, ID: 16809771

Eksteen:

<Well first of all FDISK is program u use> These are NTFS drives.

FDISK allows you to delete the NTFS partition too. when you start up FDSIK you will see it under other partitions. or rather Non-Dos partitions

06.01.2006 at 05:00PM PDT, ID: 16812416

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm looking at BootItNG and Ultimate Boot.

I'd be very nervous about letting XP make FAT32 files and then convert them to NTFS from the OS (not saying this doesn't work) -- but my problems have been with Windows leaving files on the partition and trying to install 2 operating systems. I'm also nervous about converting a partition that my OS is on whilst in Windows. I'm really looking for what the pros use to do a complete 'blow away'/reformat/partition. I'd like to bet they don't use the XP disk.

Also I've been told that my C drive (OS) should be marked 'Active' -- but it's not, it's marked HEALTHY ( System) , whilst my USB Seagate pocket drive is marked HEALTHY (Active). Is this correct?

06.01.2006 at 05:01PM PDT, ID: 16812426

Should have added: Slackmasterflash: Are you using this programme?

06.01.2006 at 06:27PM PDT, ID: 16812752

The conversion to ntfs is really fine. ~Most new laptops come with fat32 and then you just upgrade to ntfs. Most of the toshiba and acer brands use this method so its fine.

06.01.2006 at 06:34PM PDT, ID: 16812785

Rank: Master

If you delete the partitions, create new ones then format . . nothing will be left . . I'm a Pro and I use the XP CD all the time to do this . . I sure would not first create FAT32 volumes only to convert to NTFS later . . makes no sense.

If you are trying to hide data from CIA . . then you would need the more powerfull nukeing programs

06.01.2006 at 07:04PM PDT, ID: 16812947

Thanks simpswr (CIA don't come down here -- well not officially) I'm still wondering why XP left files on the drive after formatting and partitioning -- and even after I manually deleted them in Windows -- then after reformatting/repartitioning, XP still thought there was an OS on the drive -- but fortunately (unlike the last time) didn't leave that ugly option where you have 2 operating systems to choose from on the same drive.

06.01.2006 at 07:11PM PDT, ID: 16812996

Rank: Master

Those guys are like roaches . . everywhere!

Only thing I can think of is that you may not have deleted all the partitions . . or brought some files back in inadvertantly after the reinstallation. . If you get the choice of operating systems . . it seems to happen sometimes if you do not reboot after deleting the partitions . . but not consistantly, so I have not really figured it out yet.

When it does happen, you can fix it by clicking on Start . . Run . . type msconfig . . click on the Boot Ini tab and click on Check all boot paths . . when it comes back with one in invalid, click Fix invalid boot paths

Good luck with it!

06.01.2006 at 09:47PM PDT, ID: 16813595

Rank: Guru

Merete:

hi all,
this coment here from grakem would explain possibly 2 OS.
Most new laptops come with fat32 and then you just upgrade to ntfs. 2 different partitons.
If the MBR ( master boot record ) from a windows98 operating system is not removed fully.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q69013/

The best way is to make a 98 boot disc download here completed just save as> http://www.msu-hb.de/download/boot98se.exe

http://mirror.href.com/thestarman/DOS/bd98/Bootdisk.html
then extract it to a floppy disc, windowsxp may produce a warning all system bla bla will be wiped ignore this and continue, once the floppy is made close the strip on the floppy to lock it.
Set the bios to boot from floppy first boot.

Reformat and Reinstall
Windows XP FAQ

1. How do I reinstall and reformat Windows XP on my hard drive? Click here

2. I reinstalled Windows XP and now there are two copies on my hard drive. What do I do? Click here.

http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/index.html

06.01.2006 at 10:50PM PDT, ID: 16813783

Rank: Guru

scrathcyboy:

Fredshovel -- the solution is under your nose.

Set up a boot diskette of windows 98 with the latest Fdisk on it and format , both capable up to 127 GB.

It takes 2 minutes to remove all partitions, even NTFS (yes the new fdisk handles all these), and when you re-fdisk for FAT32, and format with format.com -- you are good to go. When you boot windows XP, you are given the choice to leave the partition as FAT32 (recommended for base level boot partitions that MUST be recoverable, even if the OS dies, I use FAT32 all the time for the root partition) or NTFS.

And the most important thing is that using the FDISK and FAT32 guarantees that all data is wiped from the partition, it is a good as a 000 fill, as far as NTFS is concerned. If you convert to NTFS, it is guaranteed clean !!!

06.05.2006 at 08:01AM PDT, ID: 16833584

Slackmasterflash:

fredshovel,

I have used BootItNG on a Windows XP machine as well as a Windows Server 2003 machine. You load the program and run it before Windows boots so all the formating/partintioning work you are doing is outside of the XP environment which means you can get rid of the duplicate install you created if that is your intention. If you look at the specs page for the program you will see you can do so much more with it as well.

If you decide to install multiple OS'es, BootItNG also works as a very nice boot manager with a customizable boot selection screen.

Best of luck to you!

06.05.2006 at 08:36AM PDT, ID: 16833974

Rank: Master

Unless you are trying to hide data from the CIA, all you need to use is the XP CD to delete/create partitions and format.

06.05.2006 at 04:10PM PDT, ID: 16837928