Marget
asked on
clean hard drive
I have two operating systems on an older machine. Windows 2000pro and xp. I would like to erase 2000 but cannot access the program. At startup the option of which OS to use is there but it won't let you select 2000. When I install the 2000 disk it won't open. When I try to remove xp it says it is unable to do so. How do I erase both and start over?
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
or use a bootdisk from www.bootdisk.com
run fdisk from it, and delete all partitions
run fdisk from it, and delete all partitions
You should just boot the XP disk and do a clean install.
When tou get to the disk space and partition section,just delete the partitions,recreate and reinstall.
When tou get to the disk space and partition section,just delete the partitions,recreate and reinstall.
ASKER
It will not allow me to format the drive, either in 2000 or xp, it says the drive is in use. any help with that? Maybe I'll try the bootdisk, I want to be able to use the drive again.
Did you use a drive overlay program at any point in time?(Maxblast,Seatools,et
Sounds like you got something messing with the partition tables.
Sounds like you got something messing with the partition tables.
ASKER
No, I haven't allow I don't know the previous owner of the machine.
How big is the drive?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
fdisk has no problems with NTFS
ASKER
The drive is 40 g. I downloaded a dban boot disk. It finished without changing anything saying it had experienced bad sectors. No change to the machine at all.
sylpheed is an xp bootdisk different than using the xp program disk?
sylpheed is an xp bootdisk different than using the xp program disk?
as said, you can use a bootdisk, even a windows 98 bootdisk with fdisk
Bad sectors?
Depending upon manufacturer,you should run their diags and see what's up.
Depending upon manufacturer,you should run their diags and see what's up.
WinXp boot CD, not the floppy disk. You'll have to boot up completely from the CD. so you completely bypass anything that's on your HDD. Any WinXp installation CD should be bootable from CD. Remember to set in your bios to boot from CD before HDD also.
ASKER
I have tried to follow the above suggestions. When Iboot from the CD and go into safe mode it allows me to request a format but the message resulting is:
format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process, all open handles to this volume would be invalid, force a dismount of the drive, (yes) cannot unlock the drive because the volume is in use.
Have I done all that can be done or have I not followed the suggestions properly. I need step by step, for example is fdisk on the CD
format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process, all open handles to this volume would be invalid, force a dismount of the drive, (yes) cannot unlock the drive because the volume is in use.
Have I done all that can be done or have I not followed the suggestions properly. I need step by step, for example is fdisk on the CD
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
no it's not booting from the CD.
from the CD it should be something like this
Load the CD in, then turn on the PC. immediately after bios boots it should try to detect if tehre's anything in the CD. If there's a legit booting thing in there, it'll ask, "press any key to boot from CD" and wait for awhile. During this you press anything. THen windows XP installation will boot up. It's a blue screen, you can't miss it.
IF this doesn't load up means you're not booting from CD. To boot from CD, go into your bios, and set your boot order 1. CD, 2. HDD. as long as CD is before HDD.
from the CD it should be something like this
Load the CD in, then turn on the PC. immediately after bios boots it should try to detect if tehre's anything in the CD. If there's a legit booting thing in there, it'll ask, "press any key to boot from CD" and wait for awhile. During this you press anything. THen windows XP installation will boot up. It's a blue screen, you can't miss it.
IF this doesn't load up means you're not booting from CD. To boot from CD, go into your bios, and set your boot order 1. CD, 2. HDD. as long as CD is before HDD.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Caution: don't use the above without backing up anything that may be useful - it erase the entire disk forever.