changing from XP to 2000

[ailin]

My computer was operating windows 2000 when it crashed. I was told to perform a drive fitness test which offered to erase my hard drive for me. I did that and then installed a friend's windows XP until I could get windows 2000 again. Now I want to reinstall 2000 and remove xp. Unfortunately, xp keeps disabling the windows 2000 setup with the excuse that it is an older operating system.
I have been told that reformatting using ms dos is not a good idea and neither is having both operating systems on my computer. HELP

[raftero]

I would erase the hard drive as you did before,(unless you have files you want to save)then install wk2.there may be other ways though so waite for more answers.if your friend's xp was activated on his computer then it will only go 30 days on yours,you are not allowed to use xp (or really any )os on two computers.

[ailin]

Would that cause any damage to the hard drive at all?
I got the impression reformatting would if I was to use ms dos.
Also how would i erase it. Last time I used a rebootable disk that offered me that option. But i don't think i can use it this time as there isn't anything wrong with my hard drive.

[andyms18a]

first boot from a win98 boot disk and at the a prompt type fdisk if your hard drive is using ntfs then chose the option to remove non dos partitions if its fat then chose remove a dos partition and just deleat the primery partition this will remove all data from your computer and set the hard drive back to a new blank drive
then boot with the win 2k cd (you my have to make the cd drive the first boot device in the bios) run setup and it will give you the option to create a new partition to install windows on

[crjdriver]

Backup anything you want to save to other media like a cdr. Now boot with the win2k cd. Delete the current partition[s] now create however many partition[s] you want and format with ntfs. There is no need for a win9x bootdisk; the win2k setup allows you to create / delete / format partitions.

As to formatting causing damage to your hd, I think that is incorrect. You will not "Damage" a hd by formatting the hd.

[ailin]

thanks for the help but i tried booting with the win2k cd, didn't work.

[crjdriver]

Did you set the boot order in the bios to "cd as first boot device"? If your mb does not support booting from the bios, you can make the four setup disks necessary for running setup. There is a folder on the win2k cd called bootdisk or makedisk, something to that effect; open the folder and run the program. It will make the setup disks for you. You then restart with disk 1 in the floppy drive.

[ailin]

great thanks a lot. I will try that

[raftero]

i don't think eraseing the disk damages it,if i change os i like to completely erase the disk but thats just me,if you set the bi;os to first boot cdrom as driver said it should work.

[ailin]

cool thanks. You've been very helpful

[ailin]

News Update:

Ok I tried changing my BIOS boot device to cd-rom so I could load win2k, but it doesn't seem to be working. It's still using winxp to boot up. So I'm thinking maybe there's something I'm doing wrong in BIOS setup. Can some one please give me some clear instructions on how to change my boot device to cd-rom so I can boot up using win2k?

Pretty please?

[FLG]

You have to put in the win98 boot disk an erase your partition just folllow what andy said then after you finish that reboot go into the bios put cd-rom as first boot device and put in your Win 2k cd save the changes you made and it should boot from the cd.

**Edit**
On my mobo to change the boot device you have to go into advance bios featurers.

[raftero]

when it starts boot there is a note that says to boot from cdrom press any key or words to that effect,press any key and it should then go into w2k setup.

[Markoman01027]

Once you remove the partition, XP will not load anymore, so you will be able to enter 2000 setup.

When I had XP, I wanted to install 2000, so I put in the 2K CD and then it worked fine from there, just removed the curent partition and stuff like that.

Remove the partition, make CD-ROM 1st boot device, insert 2K CD and boot into 2K Setup and you should be fine.

[ailin]

ok. thank you peoples. I will try that and hopefully next time I put a post on this site, it will be with win2k on my computer.

ciao