Formating in XP?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Galactus, Sep 21, 2005.


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  1. Galactus

    Galactus Monkey+++ Founding Member

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  2. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Printable version of Format XP. updated 3-20-05

    If you currently have an XP CD (not Restore media supplied by
    the OEM) and simply want to Clean install XP, select the Clean
    Install link below with a step by step guide to Clean install XP.
    Before formatting a hard drive, make sure you have backed up
    all the important data and anything that cannot be replaced
    from other sources.

    Need a boot disk? You can get images to create all types from
    www.bootdisk.com.

    Hint: It is usually not necessary to format XP to correct a problem.
    You should first try to find a solution from the Microsoft Knowledge
    Base, the Microsoft newsgroups, manufacturer web sites or if
    you suspect a virus, get the latest virus definitions from your
    AV manufacturer's web site; you can also run one of the many free
    web format virus scans.

    As a last option before resorting to a format and reinstall, a
    Repair Install will usually fix file corruption problems and leave
    your applications and setting intact. Updates not included on the
    XP CD used for the repair install will need to be reapplied and
    should be applied before connecting to the internet. Updates can
    be downloaded and burned to CD media prior to the Repair Install
    or clean install.

    The alternative to applying the SP updates after the repair or
    clean install is to slipstream the updates into the XP CD.

    Check for links in the Clean Install link below as they will be
    the latest updated links for slipstreaming.

    The Repair Install is not a fix for and will not remove a malware
    or adware problem, but it will restore files affected by the malware
    or adware applications after they are removed.

    Repair Install
    http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
    Clean Install
    http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
    XP FAQ
    http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html
    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Identify the file system you are using.

    To identify, follow the steps below:

    1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop or from Explorer right
    click the My Computer Icon.

    2. Right-click the disk that you want, and then click Properties.

    3. Look for the File System entry.

    * If the disk is formatted in NTFS, your options for returning to
    Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me are limited. The Win 9X
    based operating systems do not read or recognize NTFS, and you
    cannot convert the disk to use the FAT or FAT32 file system. The
    bootable disk that you use and the drive on which you want to
    install Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me cannot use NTFS.
    Microsoft does not support any third-party solutions for converting
    NTFS to FAT or FAT32.

    * If the drive is using the FAT file system, you can install any
    operating system. If the drive is using the FAT32 file system, you
    can install Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) or later.

    The above was copied from:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314052

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Format XP by booting from the XP CD

    BIOS must be set to boot from CD before hard drive.

    1. Formatting an XP System Disk by booting from the XP CD is accomplished
    by loading the Recovery Console by typing R at the first window.

    2. After selecting the Windows installation you want to access and typing
    in the Admin password [leave blank if no password was created] you will
    see a command prompt.

    3. Type Map & press ENTER

    4. Note the letter designation of the drive you want to format. [write it down]

    5. Type format x:<space>/fs:fat32 then press ENTER, where x is the drive
    letter you want to format. Substitute NTFS or FAT if desired.

    6. Type Y to confirm your selection and then type exit & press ENTER to restart
    computer.

    7. To view other format commands, type format<space>/? & press ENTER at the
    RC command prompt.


    Format XP by booting from XP CD using an aborted setup

    Note: I find this method to format a NTFS partition more time consuming than the
    use of FDISK from MS-DOS, but if a boot disk is not available use this method.

    1. Formatting an XP System Disk by booting from the XP CD and using the setup
    routine is initiated by selecting ENTER at the first window. Example follows
    in step #2

    2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below

    This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
    Windows XP to run on your computer:

    To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

    To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

    To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.



    3. After selecting ENTER you will be prompted to accept the EULA and then be
    given the option to choose the location to install XP. You choices will
    include deleting partitions. Choose to delete the XP partition and any other
    partition you want to remove and then press ENTER.

    4. Choose F3 to end setup.

    5. You will need to use a boot disk or boot from the OS you want to install to
    format the unallocated space.

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Format Non-System Hard Drive or Partition using XP Disk Management

    To open Disk Management

    1. From the Start menu, click Run.
    2. In the Open box, type diskmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
    3. Select the drive or partition you want to format.
    4. Right click the selected drive or partition.
    5. Choose format from the list.
    For more information select from the toolbar or from the right click menu.


    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Remove NTFS file system and Reformat with Win 98/Me Boot Disk

    Check Dr. D's for specialized boot disks.
    Click on boot disk from the web page tool bar.
    http://www.nerdlabs.org/bootdisks/diskimages/wbootess.exe

    1. Format with a Win98/Me Startup disk.

    2. Use a Windows 98/Me startup disk to delete the non-dos partition.

    3. Boot from Startup Disk.

    4. Load FDISK by typing "fdisk.exe" at the "A" prompt without the quotes.

    5. Say yes to large disk support <Y-N>...........? [Y] ENTER

    6. Enter choice #3 to "Delete partition or Logical Dos Drive" Press ESC to
    return to FDISK options

    7. Enter #4 to "Delete Non-DOS Partition". Select the Non-DOS partition by
    typing the number and then ENTER. Press ESC to return to FDISK options.
    Note you cannot delete a NON-DOS partition located inside an Extended
    partition. You can use the DOS utility called delpart.exe from a DOS boot up.

    Download link for "delpart.exe"
    http://michaelstevenstech.com/delpart.zip

    8. Reboot with startup disk and load FDISK.

    9. Say yes to Large disk support as above.

    10. Enter choice #1 Press ESC to return to FDISK options

    11. When asked if you want to use the maximum size for the partition and make it
    active, type Y if you want to use the whole drive, or N if you want to set a
    maximum sized for the partition.

    12. After setting the size, reboot.

    13. If you want to install another OS; after reboot: Type format X: at the
    A: prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter designation.

    14.If you want to reinstall XP clean. After setting the size, reboot, remove the
    disk from the floppy drive and insert the XP CD in the CD drive.

    15. Boot from the XP CD and do a clean install to the new partition.

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Format XP on a Fat/Fat32 file system with a Windows 98/Me Boot Disk.

    1. Boot from a Windows 98/Me Startup disk or a boot disk with specialized content.

    2. Type format X: at the A: prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter
    designation.

    __________________________________________________________________________________

    Michael Stevens MS-MVP
    Revised 04/01/2005
     
  3. melbo

    melbo Hunter Gatherer Administrator Founding Member

    I use a belt sander
     
  4. Conagher

    Conagher Dark Custom Rider Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    One notice of interest though, is that the XP Home version does not have a Repair XP option, only XP Pro has that abilility. Also, when you format the hard disk drive, it's very critical to use a Win98SE boot disk with the FDISK utility to delete the partition, create the new partition, and make it active. This will insure a trouble free clean install of the new OS.
     
  5. Galactus

    Galactus Monkey+++ Founding Member

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