delete multiple installs of XP

[TorontoKid]

guys, right now I have 2 installs of xp and one of windows 98 on the same unpartitioned drive. How do I install xp pro on there so that it is the only operating system? I tried to do this before, but just ended up putting another copy of it on my drive. does windows xp have a way of deleting everything on the drive so I can get rid of the previous installs? I want a clean install and I want to start from scratch. I have the full version of windows xp.

[not important]

You can use Fdisk or format the drive from the XP CD

[edge345]

Set the bios to boot from the cd-rom first, insert the win-zp and boot the computer, choose to format the drive, then choose to install win-xp to the new formated drive.

Do not choose to leave the file current system alone.
Read the options carefully.

[TorontoKid]

ok, I've gotten the multiple installations deleted, but now I have a message coming up after I try to format the partition using ntfs, when the yellow bar gets to 100% it says:
"Setup was unable to format the partition. Make sure the drive is switched on and properly connected to your computer. If the disk is a SCSI disk, make sure your scsi devices are properly terminated. Consult your computer manual or SCSI adapter documentation for more information. You must select a different partition for windows XP. To continue press enter"

I know that the drive is an IDE drive. Any ideas?

[edge345]

Do you have a win98 startup disk, if so boot with floopy first then at the A: promt type format d: then press enter, this will format the drive with a fat32 and not the ntfs format.

To do the fdisk at the a promt type fdisk then choose to delete the d: disk or the non-dos drive then press the Esc key and then choose 1 to create. then reboot the computer with the floopy still in the drive and at the A: promt type format d: to format the d: drive. after that you can boot from the cd and install the copy of win-xp you have.

[mike breck]

You cannot format a partition larger than 32Gb in FAT 32. If your HD is larger than 32Gb and you want to make it one large partition (I personally would recommend making separate partitions for the OS, programs, and data) then you have to use NTFS instead of FAT32.

HTH

[edge345]

Please check out the limit for formating fat32 mike. I'v had no problems formating 40gig hard drive using fat32 or even a 60gig.

I'v read that if a hard drive is over 40gigs then the better format is NTFS.

[mike breck]

Hi edge345,

I'm talking specifically about formatting a HD during an XP install, which may explain TorontoKid's error message.

As far as I know, you cannot format a volume larger than 32 Gb in FAT32 by using the XP Format tool or XP Setup.

If the volume is larger than 32Gb, then you are advised to use NTFS during setup.

However, XP "can" support volumes larger than 32 GB in FAT32, if you Format the HD first using a Win98 or Me Boot disk and then install XP.

[edge345]

Thanks mike , yes i was talking about formating from dos and not the xp boot cd as you were. sorry i misunderstood your post....




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