formatting hard drive

[scruffy]

anyone know how to format a new hard drive and prepare it to accept xp operating system, thanks

 

[Shude]

If you have booted off the XP CD then it should allow you to configure the HDD from there, partitions and file systems etc all available during setup.

 

[scruffy]

hi shude, thats the problem, have always done that in the past but this pc will only boot off a floppy (only have a win 98 boot disc), doesn't recognise any other drives and theres no option in the bios to boot off cd, any thoughts?

 

[Shude]

Win98 boot disk should be sufficient, if the cd-rom driver etc is on the floppy then you can run the winxp setup from the folder on the cd. It might create a boot menu with "windows 98" or "previous operating system" in it but you can delete that from boot ini later.

EDIT: this is the kind of thing I have to do because I have a cheapo adaptec scsi card rather than a posh one and it has no bootable bios on it, so I have to boot using the win98 floppy, let it load the cd-rom drivers then I can install...

 

[Alex Argent]

Just pop in the XP CD-ROM and everything else will be done from there.

You can wipe (format) the hard disk first (see: http://freepctech.com/pc/001/002.shtml ). However its probably easier just to let XP format the hard disk for you during its set-up. Don't forget to first back-up everything you want to keep.

FYI, there are a lot of older programs which you may have that won't work with XP. Also, some hardware is incompatible, but most have updated XP drivers available. XP will go through a hardware compatibility routine during its install.

Hope this helps

Alex

 

[Ian B Walker]

anyone know how to format a new hard drive and prepare it to accept xp operating system, thanks

If the drive is as you say new, have you FDISK'd the drive yet. The drive needs to be prepared for data. Just a question

 

[Shude]

If the drive is as you say new, have you FDISK'd the drive yet. The drive needs to be prepared for data. Just a question

This can be done with the XP setup process though, in fact it's better done by that than by the windows 98 fdisk/format combo!

 

[scruffy]

Win98 boot disk should be sufficient, if the cd-rom driver etc is on the floppy then you can run the winxp setup from the folder on the cd. i

drivers not on it and don't have them on cd either

If the drive is as you say new, have you FDISK'd the drive yet. The drive needs to be prepared for data. Just a question

won't fdisk, error message reads 'no fixed disc present'

 

[Ian B Walker]

This can be done with the XP setup process though, in fact it's better done by that than by the windows 98 fdisk/format combo!

Thanks Nick didnt know that. I am getting a new drive tomorrow so will try. Saves me the hassle of FDISK ing. God I hate that, so many options and so little time

 

[Shude]

drivers not on it and don't have them on cd either

Not got another cd-rom drive knocking about?

won't fdisk, error message reads 'no fixed disc present'

Did you check master/slave settings on the devices?
Are the cables all attached?
Is the HDD bigger capacity than 128GB?

If you have a spare PC then I'd just configure it on that machine instead - fdisk/format then copy the contents of the XP disc onto the HDD in a setup folder, put the 98 system files onto it so it boots, don't forget fdisk /mbr (not always done by default) then put the HDD into the other PC again, let it boot into dos then swap to the setup folder and you're away. Faster than installing from the CD in most cases.

 

[scruffy]

If you have a spare PC then I'd just configure it on that machine instead - fdisk/format then copy the contents of the XP disc onto the HDD in a setup folder, put the 98 system files onto it so it boots, don't forget fdisk /mbr (not always done by default) then put the HDD into the other PC again, let it boot into dos then swap to the setup folder and you're away. Faster than installing from the CD in most cases.

good idea, like it, I'll give it a whirl

much appreciated

 

[Shude]

good idea, like it, I'll give it a whirl

much appreciated

Where in lancashire are you?

 

[Alex Argent]

If you have a spare PC then I'd just configure it on that machine instead - fdisk/format then copy the contents of the XP disc onto the HDD in a setup folder, put the 98 system files onto it so it boots, don't forget fdisk /mbr (not always done by default) then put the HDD into the other PC again, let it boot into dos then swap to the setup folder and you're away. Faster than installing from the CD in most cases.

That's the way to do it!

 

[scruffy]

Where in lancashire are you?

Poulton Le Fylde, just outside Blackpool

 

[Shude]

Poulton Le Fylde, just outside Blackpool

Ahh, bit far away for me to just pop by then - I live in Rochdale

 

[scruffy]

Ahh, bit far away for me to just pop by then - I live in Rochdale

seems your original idea is working ok but appreciate for the thought anyway

 

[Ian B Walker]

Poulton Le Fylde, just outside Blackpool

Eeek I live in sunny down town Freckleton 10 miles away