formatting a windows XP PC

Dr.Zero! · 26th March 2005, 10:27 PM

FFS, i feel like a total noob but i cant figure this pos out, i've tried all sorts of guides online but nothing fucking works, i'm trying to get rid of this windows install on this HDD and install Linux on it, my dad wants to try linux out on his computer.

but for the life of me i just cant figure out how to format the fucking thing

Its driving me insane, i've made about 5 - 6 different "boot discs" but when i stick them in on bootup it says "non windows or system disc, please remove and press any key to continue"

then i made the MS-DOS startup disc from the winxp A: floppy formatting tool but when io tried to format through that it gave me "bad command or file name"

THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME IF I DONT FIX IT SOON

bolex17 · 26th March 2005, 10:42 PM

dunno if this will work but, have your winxp disk ready, set in the bios to boot from cd, now when the windows xp disk load select repar, and then u shud be able to type format C: or wateva/

autumn21 · 26th March 2005, 10:55 PM

if you can make a bootable floppy disk you can enter dos...
go to my computer, right click on the a:\, click format

then restart and boot with a:\

after that it will go dos

you can try to run fdisk first to manage partitions in dos

then try format c:\ or whatever drive

i know this is not the best guide, it's from memory, but hopefully can help you make some progress

computers can be so unfriendy when they are not working...

sven222 · 26th March 2005, 10:58 PM

Alternatively, you could boot from CD, put your winXP cd in, go to install as usual, but after the format, reset and voila! All done.

What pisses me off is the fact you can't install the academic edition on a new HDD without having a previous install on it. That's a pain in the ass.

Dr.Zero! · 26th March 2005, 11:17 PM

well, i never thought of the CD boot, thanks for all the help dudes, installing now i am (r0xx0r the star wars)

petercr · 26th March 2005, 11:28 PM

Depending on the flavour of Linux, it may even ask you whether you want to delete the existing partition and start from scratch...

|jay| · 26th March 2005, 11:57 PM

couldnt be easier..

1- go to bios and put boot from cd to the first preference..
2-insert xp cd
3- turn on comp
4-it should boot from cd or it will say press any key to boot from cd.. if it does press any key..
5-it should boot from the xp cd and its fairly straight foward from their

if your using sata its gonna be even more fun...

charliebrown_au · 27th March 2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Zero!

FFS, i feel like a total noob but i cant figure this pos out, i've tried all sorts of guides online but nothing fucking works, i'm trying to get rid of this windows install on this HDD and install Linux on it, my dad wants to try linux out on his computer.

but for the life of me i just cant figure out how to format the fucking thing

Its driving me insane, i've made about 5 - 6 different "boot discs" but when i stick them in on bootup it says "non windows or system disc, please remove and press any key to continue"

then i made the MS-DOS startup disc from the winxp A: floppy formatting tool but when io tried to format through that it gave me "bad command or file name"

THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME IF I DONT FIX IT SOON

Why dont you try formating the HDD with the Linux boot disc/cd/dvd ?
Most linux distros can format the hdd's and boot off the Linux cd/dvd

Have you considered Duel booting Windows 2k & linux ?

26th March 2005, 10:42 PM	#2
bolex17 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Adelaide, 5010 Posts: 1,021	dunno if this will work but, have your winxp disk ready, set in the bios to boot from cd, now when the windows xp disk load select repar, and then u shud be able to type format C: or wateva/ __________________ Good Trade List \| trakt.tv \| serv0r “Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest.” ― Leo Babauta

26th March 2005, 10:58 PM	#4
sven222 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,203	Alternatively, you could boot from CD, put your winXP cd in, go to install as usual, but after the format, reset and voila! All done. What pisses me off is the fact you can't install the academic edition on a new HDD without having a previous install on it. That's a pain in the ass. __________________ Shut your sasshole!

26th March 2005, 11:28 PM	#6
petercr Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Northern Brisvegas (4037) Posts: 4,027	Depending on the flavour of Linux, it may even ask you whether you want to delete the existing partition and start from scratch... __________________ Proud to be part of the OCAU FOLDING Team Folding@Home 400K Club Member Folding@Home 30,000,000 Points Milestone OCAU Folding Hall of Fame member, December 2010 Iron Folder I think if we were doing Bio-terrorism@Home, it wouldn't be that popular - Vijay S Pande

26th March 2005, 11:57 PM	#7
\|jay\| Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 346	couldnt be easier.. 1- go to bios and put boot from cd to the first preference.. 2-insert xp cd 3- turn on comp 4-it should boot from cd or it will say press any key to boot from cd.. if it does press any key.. 5-it should boot from the xp cd and its fairly straight foward from their if your using sata its gonna be even more fun... __________________ PC: msi k9n sli platinum \| amd athlon64 x2 5200+ \| 1gb giel ddr2-800 \| 7800gt

26th March 2005, 10:55 PM	#3
autumn21 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canberra Posts: 377	if you can make a bootable floppy disk you can enter dos... go to my computer, right click on the a:\, click format then restart and boot with a:\ after that it will go dos you can try to run fdisk first to manage partitions in dos then try format c:\ or whatever drive i know this is not the best guide, it's from memory, but hopefully can help you make some progress computers can be so unfriendy when they are not working...