Reformating

[Pressure]

I wanna reformat my computer. I put the CD in and start the windows thing. There are two options I can pick from one the deletes everything and installs windows and one that just reinstalls windows and keeps all the files. I wanna make my computer the way it was when I first got it. So I picked the one where it was going to totally reinstall windows. When I got to a point where it asked where I wanted to install it and I told it my C drive because thats my only hard drive. It comes up saying that theres already an Operating System there and installing another one could cause problems. Should I tell it just to install or what?

 

[Shuzer]

You want to delete the active partition(s) first, then recreate them. Once the partition is "blank," installing an operating system to it will start with a format (followed by the actual installation of XP).

 

[Pressure]

Ok thanks It asked me if I wanted to delete the paritions and I didn't know what it would do so I said no. Theres 2 of them my main drive (C: ) thats about 80gb and another thats about only 8mb. Should I delete both or just one?

 

[Shuzer]

Delete both, and then recreate just one.

 

[Pressure]

Oh ok thanks. Now recreating it'll like give me a list or something and let me select one right?

 

[Pressure]

Too late to edit last post. I'm having a problem, when it asks what partition to install it on it shows my C: drive. I tell it to delete it like you told me and it gives me this message, "Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on the selected partition. This partition contains temporary setup files that are required to complete the installation." Now I thought this CD was supose to take care of everything. Do you know what I'm supose to do?

 

[Shuzer]

Are you running a full install CD, or an upgrade CD?

 

[Pressure]

Its the CD that they gave me when I bought the computer. On the disc it says Recovery CD-ROM, "The software included on this Recovery CD-ROM was pre-installed on your hard drive at the factory and may only be used for backup and recovery of your computer system." Then at bottom it says "For distribution with a New PC Only."

 

[Shuzer]

That's pretty weird.. it should let you delete the partitions.. I can't help, sorry, maybe someone else can =/

 

[Pressure]

Should I call the company that I caught it from and see whats going on?

Edit: Ok, I e-mailed their tech support, which they're pretty good about respond quickly. I asked them whats up with this problem. Hopefully theres just something wrong with the CD or something they gave me because it would be gay if I'm not able to reformat windows.

 

[Jammydodger]

Hey Pressure are you booting from the cd? or are you puting the cd in when your in windows and then restarting?.
If its the latar you need 2 boot from the disk, go into your bios and make sure your 1st boot device is your cd rom then save your changes, put the disk in and reboot and you should be able 2 format ok.
GOOD LUCK

 

[Pressure]

I was putting it in from windows cause when I restarted it with it in nothing would happen. I'll go into the bios when I get home from school cause I gotta leave now or I'll be late. I hope it works .

 

[The PC Nerd]

Whne you start up look for boot options and press that button and select cdrom when the menu comes up if there isnt a thing that says that.....

When you restart hit [DEL] [CTRL] and [ESC] as soon as the counter for your ram stops hit al of them as many times as you can
Once in a menu go to "boot options" change the first to floppy second to cdrom third to hard drive. Restart. If you can't do this get a cd-rom booter floppy.

 

[Pressure]

Ok I got into the boot option and changed it to Floppy, CD-ROM, Hard Disk (was floppy, hard disk, cd-rom). Now when I start up with the CD in the CD-Rom it says "Press any key to boot from CD..." so I just hit a key and it brings me to Windows like normal. Whats wrong? Should I not hit anything to get to the install?

Also I went into my Computer checking thing and my SYS Fan isn't running at all. Is that an important fan?

 

[Jammydodger]

Not sure about your fan, best bet is to take the cover off ur pc and start the pc up and see if the fans are working.(WARNING DONT PLAY AROUND IN PC WHILE ITS RUNNING) :dork:
As for when it tells you "Press any key to boot from CD" You have to press it quick as it only gives you about 3 secs before it goes into windows.

p.s congrats on your 1000th post :thumbs:

 

[The PC Nerd]

The fan speed for SYS usually are not compliant with the new fan things that determine speed. ignore it but check the fans anyway.

Messign with pc while its on is fine, i do it all the time and have only been electricuted 4 times but only once did the safety feature to cut power not initiate, that one i was on it for a good minute or it felt like it. And yes, you do shake when you are electricuted. It's coo.

If you hit the cd-rom thing perfectly many times then your cd is not bootable meaning you are screwed i geuss lol

 

[Pressure]

Ok I don't think its processing that I hit a key when it asks me to. When it asks periods scroll out behind it. When it gets to the fifth period it starts Wondows. Even if I hit it on the first period it counts to the fifth.

 

[Pressure]

Hmmm....I tested some stuff out and after the initial start up screen it won't respond when I hit keys on the keyboard. Is it something thats turned off in the BIOS or something? I hope I can reformat before the weekend is over :/.

 

[Jammydodger]

hmm sounds like you dont have a proper operating system boot disk, You could just borrow a friends disk as long as its the same operating system and use your cd key.

 

[Pressure]

Yea thats what I was thinking but most people I know got XP with their computer and didn't get the actual CDs. I'll ask around though. Also I think I have to send back some faulty parts that are on my computer. Hopefully I can get it running like normal soon.

 

[Pressure]

Ah. I figured it out. The reason it wouldn't register me as hitting a key when it asked me too was that my keyboard has a USB cord. I had to go find the PS/2 extender that came with it then plug that in. It worked and I've reformatted and I'm happy . Thanks for all the help guys!

Edit: After reformatting the start menu is different from the way it used to be. Its more like the old windows style. How can I get it to the XP style it was before. Heres a screen of what its like now, but I don't have one of what it was like before :/.

 

[Pressure]

Too late to edit, but I figured out how to change the start menu.

Edit: Ugh. Now when I turn on the XP style menu all my desk top icons besides the recycling bin disapear. Anyone know how to fix?

 

[Maxi]

Oh and I wanna add to get USB keyboard to work in the bios go into it and turn usb legacy support on.

 

[Asus]

Display Properties / Desktop tab / Customize Desktop

 

[Maxi]

or right click desktop, arange icons by, and untick hide deskotp icons.

 

[Pressure]

Thanks I got the icons back. You've all been so much help.

 

[ShinRa]

Guys I'm having the EXACT same problem as Pressure. My computer won't let me reformat! It keeps telling me the volume is in use and it can't. So I put my xp cd in and tried what pressure is trying, and i get that setup has files on the disk blah blah. I put in 2000, and it still doesnt do anything!! someone helpppppppppp!

 

[Jammydodger]

You could try formating with a 98 boot disk.
Get the disk here - http://www.oldstuff.myagora.net/powerload/download/PW1118.EXE

And you also need this - http://www.winimage.com/

save the image to a floppy with winimage software, At that point reboot your PC with the boot disk in. Boot up with CDROM support and then test to see if you can access your CDROM, by typing E: or whatever drive letter is assigned to your CDROM. Of course there needs to be a CD in the drive.

There is a generic CDROM driver on these boot disks that will work fine for 99% of all CDROM's.
If you can do this, then feel free to format your HD using the boot disk.