Help! Windows

[celticone]

Hi

Grateful for some help.

I had a C: 6Gb and D: 20Gb drives. Running Win2000.

Both drives were starting to get pretty cramed so I thought I'd wipe some files and install Win XP Pro while I'm at it.

Problem was that it installed XP on my D drive and left 2000 on my C drive.

I now want to delete Win 2000 and XP Pro from my C & D drives and start again but even though I've gone as far as too reformat my C: drive (which didn't work) I can't get back on track.

I need some advice in wiping the C: drive (nothing worth saving), installing XP Pro on the C drive and then wiping any OS from the D drive.

Cheers

[QuickSurfer]

boot to a DOS prompt and type

format c:/

then after it is done type

format D:/

and both of your drives will be wiped

[phalkon30]

Boot Windows XP setup from dos (using the bootup floppy thing from MS, ask if you need a link). Then durring the install, it will give you the options to wipe both drives, do a FULL format, not quick. Delete the partitions from both, then when you're back in windows xp, you can finish formating the extra drive.

[Krell]

Exactly, in the blue installation screen, it will show you both drives, you hit D to delete the partition, then L and go back, when both partitions are gone, you hit C to CREATE the new C partition, then chose NTFS to format it.

DONT Worry about D right now, just lose the partition, you get XP Pro on there, the other will be a cake walk . just come back and ask !

[DainBramaged]

The DOS prompt is definately the easiest way to go. I just thought I'd mention that if you happen to have Partition Magic software, you can do it through there as well. Just tell it to delete both partitions, reboot, wait, and you're clean.

[Krell]

Unless youre talking about PM on a floppy, how can that work?

And why is DOS easier? W2000 and XP show you the partitions, and the sizes, you get a few easy choices . . . this user wants to get rid of both, then install XP, what good is DOS if they go NTFS?

I really wonder if you guys actually do this yourselves sometimes.

.

[cpugeniusmv]

the easiest way i have found to do it is to use rescue media from either partition magic or acronis partition expert (i like acronis better, for reasons i'll get into if you'd like)

they both offer a GUI interface and you can delete all the partitions from there with out any problems.

[nasrules]

I agree with Krell and Phalk, going through an Installation screen is much easier. Doing it through a DOS prompt is very basic and it would be easier to simply merge the two, wipe the drive, then install the OS and re-create the partition.

Clean, simple and easy to understand.

[Krell]

I see no indication that there are two partitions on one physical drive. Several manufacturers make 6G and 20Gb drives, but I cant think of any that make a 26Gb drive.

In the XP setup, these two drives will be obvious as one is much smaller. Not to mention that the IDE 0 will be on the top, the first one.

[celticone]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

If i have any problems i'll let u know.

Thanks again

Cheers

[CCSDUDE]

Well....lets see...

1) Open case...set jumpers on D:\ to master
2) Set C:\'s jumpers to slave
3) Reinstall drives with the 6gb as a slave an the 20gb as the master
4) Boot the system
5) Toss XP Pro disc in CDROM drive
6) Follow instructions...an format drives
7) Install XP
8) Boot an enjoy XP...

Now with that said, you may be wondering why I just told you to swap HD's....the answer is simple...

Down the line you may need more space...and as it's much easier to replace the 6gb drive then to swap around later and reformat - losing your nice little XP setup - in place of that BS you just copy files off the 6gb drive to the 20gb then replacing the 6gb drive with the new one as a slave an going from there...

Krell an Phalkon are on the right track...don't fuck with DOS when you're dealing with 2k/NT or XP....

[isus]

my question is:
why do you want winxp over win2000?

winxp is bloated as all hell.

i would take win2000 anyday over winxp.

anyone wanna trade?

[cpugeniusmv]

windows xp isn't bloated if you don't want it to be. mine may as well be a windows 2000 box the way i have it configured....i don't like arguing, but i just like XP better than 2000.

[DainBramaged]

You don't need PM on a floppy.

He still has XP on D:\ So he puts PM there. He runs PM. He tells it to delete all partitions on all drives, or anything else he wants it to do. He clicks apply changes. He reboots. PM does its magic, and when it reboots again, he has clean drives.

At that point, he puts in his nice OS installation CD (possibly reboot) and goes from there.

I didn't say it was the best, I just said it was another option. So get off me.

[CCSDUDE]

Originally posted by isus
my question is:
why do you want winxp over win2000?

winxp is bloated as all hell.

i would take win2000 anyday over winxp.

anyone wanna trade?

XP is better then 2k in a load of ways...

My 'shit' triple boots...

I use 2k for video capture/misc shit that needs a stable system

XP for games and loads of 'normal' everyday stuff...and ME is thrown in just for kicks...

Just like CPU said...clean XP up and it's not bloated at all...hell XP boots up faster then 2k on my system.....and it picks up on hardward 2k doesn't...

[phalkon30]

How many times are we going to go over the whole 2k vs xp thing? Its been done, discussed, and rehashed way too many times.

As long as I'm posting though.....I have to agree with CPU and CCS.