Windows XP not formating :( ?

[Pandab34R]

I am trying to install windows on one of my hard drives but it keeps telling me its not formatted in such a way that it would be compatable with windows. Then it tells me to go back to the partition selection screen and create a windows compatable partition by creating a new one or deleting an existing one then creating a new one. Ok, I do this, but the problem is that it keeps creaing a [New (Raw)] partition on that space I allocate to it(which is approx 6000 megabytes[the size of the drive]). There is no option to reformat it in NTFS or anything. The one ntfs drive I do have has info on it that I need to keep there and dont want to mess up. My other one is a 40 gb drive that I use for linux. So this 6 gb one is the only solution for me to install windows... and I really need windows for some of the apps I run. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

[doctorgonzo]

What is on the NTFS partition? Just data, or does it have Windows too?

[Pandab34R]

What is on the NTFS partition? Just data, or does it have Windows too?
Data Only. Games(Most important :) ) Music, Pictures and Movies.

[doctorgonzo]

Is there any chance of copying that data to CD/DVD or another drive so you can just start over and put it back after Windows is installed? If you don't have Windows on there, how do you even access the data and games?

[Pandab34R]

You can access NTFS info on Linux, just not write to it. But no, there is probably 150+ gigs of info on there collectively. I would like to avoid that... I also tried putting in a linux disc and formating the drive to fat32, then not installing anything. When I put in the disc and tried to install it wouldnt recognize that either(im notsure if fat32 is a valid format for xp or not though). I would consider trying to use the 250 gb ntfs one, but, I am not positive it would actually work. And if I did that and screwed up the partition, I would be screwed.

[doctorgonzo]

I'm confused as to what is on what drive. Could you post your system specs, including partitions on each drive?

Where was the old version of Windows? The games on the NTFS volume are obvious Windows games, correct?

[Pandab34R]

Ok.

Amd Athlon 64 3200+
Zenith VNF4 mobo
6600LE Chaintech
Nec Dvd R/RW
2.5 GB DDR Ram
Hitachi 250 GB Hard Drive- one NTFS partition with my media on it(games, movies, etc. NO OS) Maxtor 40 GB hd(Linux partition) and a 6GB Samsung with a [New(Raw)] Partition on it- the one I am trying to install windows on.

[doctorgonzo]

So you have three hard disks? I think the problem, then, is the hard drive order. Remove all other disks but the Samsung, set it as master on the Primary IDE channel, and then try the install.

[Pandab34R]

Great! Seems to be working :) thanks.