Formatting a computer

[Anth83]

Im trying to format my brothers computer. Im trying to boot from the win XP cd to format. I went into BIOS and changed the boot device to cd rom. But for some reason its not booting from the cd rom. This is the only way i can do it because windows doesnt work. Thats why im formatting it. Maybe i need to create a boot disk?? Im not too sure how to do this. Can someone please explain to me how to create a boot disk for windows XP PRO

thanks

I actually created the 6 boot disks from microsoft. still didnt work. WHY???

[Panama Red]

The XP cd should be recognized as a bootable CD if the boot order is correct, the CD drive is working and the CD is a legal XP disk. Once satisfy those conditions and boot to the XP cd, go thru the steps to install a new copy of XP until it shows you the existing XP installation. Just Delete the existing partition(s), create a new partition (if you wish to), format in NTFS and complete the new installation. Sounds like you need to resolve one of the three conditions I first mentioned. Is this a legal XP disk?

[Anth83]

Well its not but it boots up fine on my pc when i tried it. Just not my brothers. I made boot disks (win XP and MS DOS) and the pc doesnt seem to recognize them at all. My brothers friend started to install XP HOME and for some reason he didnt finish the installation. So when i turn the pc on it loads into the xp home instalation screen and says there is an error. Thats why i want to format from the bootable xp CD. Any ideas why the computer won't recognize the xp cd or floppy boot disks?

BTW the boot order is correct. Set it on CDROM when tried the cd. And set it on floppy when trying the disks. Also plugged in another cdrom. that didnt work either.

[Panama Red]

We cannot provide support for copies of MS operating disks. Rule 9 of the Forum Rules strictly prohibits this. For that reason, I have to close this thread. You need to use a legal copy. Thanx for understanding.


edit: Another mod suggested I may have misread your post, Anth83. I apologize for closing this too quickly. Try this as a solution. Remove his hard drive and install it as a slave in another pc. Format it and move it back. See if that will allow the XP install. You still need to use a legal copy of XP tho.

[Anth83]

Apoligy accepted. No worries. I was going to try that. Don't worry i will use a genuine copy of xp.
cheers

Do i just format in windows?? Or in DOS?

[Kareeser]

As it seems to be stuck in an install mode, when you slave it into another computer, you should see the drive in "My Computer"

Right click the new drive, and click format, while in Windows. Once emptied (you can use the quick format if you want), you can put it back into your brother's computer and restart the Windows installation.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Anth83 Do i just format in windows?? Or in DOS?

Just use Disk Mangement in Windows. Or you can even use My Computer and just right click on the drive.

[Anth83]

Ok i took out the hard drive and put it in my pc, formatted it then put it back. It's still doing the same things. Wont recognize the cd or and hard disks. When i put the cd or floppy disk in it doesn't even try to read them. It says it can't read boot device. I went into BIOS and went into ide detection and it says there is 2 cd rom drives there. So the computer detects them. I don't know whats going on. And yes its a genuine xp cd. But since its not reading the floppy disks either. Don't know why?? And yes i changed the boot option thing to cd rom, then when i tryed floppy i cahnged it to that to. Not to sure whats going on??

[Anth83]

someone help?

[EzyStvy]

One little spec of dust on the cd or the drive can cause these problems.

[Anth83]

oh well nothing will boot. Too bad i suppose