Can't boot or access C drive
in [Windows XP]
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From: rj on 15 Jul 2010 13:03 Windows XP won't boot. I tried reinstalling Windows but keep getting a blue screen even after deleting, recreating and formatting the C drive. I booted with an MSDOS floppy but can't access C drive. It may be a boot sector virus. How do I format the entire hard drive so I can do a clean install?
From: Pegasus [MVP] on 15 Jul 2010 13:45 "rj" <rjnothere(a)netzero.net> wrote in message news:ulZXW#DJLHA.1868(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Windows XP won't boot. I tried reinstalling Windows but keep getting a > blue > screen even after deleting, recreating and formatting the C drive. I > booted > with an MSDOS floppy but can't access C drive. It may be a boot sector > virus. How do I format the entire hard drive so I can do a clean install? > You can boot the machine with your MSDOS boot diskette, then run fdisk.exe and use it to delete all existing partitions. Certain partitions cannot be deleted in this way - use delpart.exe (http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm) to get rid of them. Note, however, that the Windows XP setup program is just as capable of deleting any pre-existing partition. If it blue-screens before you get to this point then you may have a problem with your hard disk. You need to download and run the diagnostic program that its manufacturer has on his web site.
From: Jim on 15 Jul 2010 15:15 On Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:03:01 -0400, "rj" <rjnothere(a)netzero.net> wrote: >Windows XP won't boot. I tried reinstalling Windows but keep getting a blue >screen even after deleting, recreating and formatting the C drive. I booted >with an MSDOS floppy but can't access C drive. It may be a boot sector >virus. How do I format the entire hard drive so I can do a clean install? > It will tell you on the blue screen what the problem is ; read and post .
From: Kenny on 15 Jul 2010 15:22 Try the Ultimate Boot CD, it's free. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ If it's the same version I've got it loads a cut down version of XP together with a number of useful tools and utilities. Kenny "rj" <rjnothere(a)netzero.net> wrote in message news:ulZXW%23DJLHA.1868(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Windows XP won't boot. I tried reinstalling Windows but keep getting a > blue > screen even after deleting, recreating and formatting the C drive. I > booted > with an MSDOS floppy but can't access C drive. It may be a boot sector > virus. How do I format the entire hard drive so I can do a clean install? > >
From: HeyBub on 15 Jul 2010 16:17
rj wrote: > Windows XP won't boot. I tried reinstalling Windows but keep getting > a blue screen even after deleting, recreating and formatting the C > drive. I booted with an MSDOS floppy but can't access C drive. It may > be a boot sector virus. How do I format the entire hard drive so I > can do a clean install? 1. You do NOT need to format ANY drive that will ultimately contain an operating system. The installation process handles that chore. 2. That you cannot install XP from a CD is evidence that your C drive is broken, busted, dead, singing in the heavenly choir (well, it COULD simply be disconnected or without power, but I assume you checked that...) |