Windows Xp Problem

Ok, im getting irritated about my condition of my Windows XP. Im kinda afraid but the only choice is to reformat and reinstall Windows XP. However my problem is maybe the setup freezes and when I restart it, it becomes idle. That is my 100% problem

>> I want to reinstall XP through putting up the CD and choose New Installation to create a fresh copy of Windows XP

>> I want to reformat first my Hard Drive through a Windows 98 Boot Disk and reboot, and run the setup through booting up from a cd

>> I want to just top-up my previous XP and run the Setup and choose upgrade

>> Create a partition

And others.

Please guys, how can I create a fresh copy of Windows XP? Its ok, I already backed up my files. Don't worry about the files, the only thing I am afraid of is when Im running Windows XP Setup, maybe the setup freezes. I don't like that realistic joke. Hmmm

Please reply. I need to refresh my XP before June comes outl

Thanks Guys.

-jed

#29870

which kind of partition you have (FAT,FAT32,NTFS?) cos from what i remember i won't be able to format an NTSF partition with a win98 CD, i once got the problem of the install menu freezing i just reformat one more time and restart the install & it worked nice...

#29871

You can create a partition before formatting, grab Partition Magic and make the partition, if you need help about it let me know.

I often reinstall windows xp on my computer when it becomes slow or buggy, what I always do and work, I insert the windows xp installation disk, and reboot my computer.

When it is booting, it will grab the CD and run it BEFORE loading windows, it will ask that if I want to install Windows XP, then I jut follow the instructions in there.

Try inserting the disc and rebooting, if the installer doesnt load or for some reason it doesnt boot from the CD before the HD, then you need to enter your computer bios setup and change the boot order to something like CD, Floppy, HD, because if it doesnt boots before the HD, it might be that the HD is the first thing to boot.

If you need more detailed help let me know.

EDIT:

>> I want to reformat first my Hard Drive through a Windows 98 Boot Disk and reboot, and run the setup through booting up from a cd

Widnows XP installation cant run through a floppy disc, althought it has CD support, if you want to install it outside windows it needs to be when it is booting up. In the setup you need to choose the current installation, it will ask if you want to repair or install a fresh copy. If you get to load the installation as I told, I think it will work, I have never had problems with it.

Good Luck

#29872

I don't need partition, but if it is the only choice, But, still, I just want to know how can I install a fresh Windows XP? w/o partitioning.

#29873

You can use partitioning before installing to safe some files, the only solution is to install a windows xp while your computer boots.

#29875

Having a new Installation from the Windows XP CD-ROM? Maybe that is the solution. Did somebody already experienced it? If so, please reply. Your reply is really appreaciated.

#29877

THe process I follow is this.

1. I insert the Windows XP Disc

2. Reboot

3. It will appear a line saying "Press any key to install windows xp..." BEFORE it loads windows boot screen.

4. Press a key.

5. Follow the instructions of installation.

If step #3 doesnt appear, you need to enter to your boot settings, and change the boot order to CD first than HD.

You are trying to run the installer throught windows, right?

#29883

Here's a decent solution:

Google for seagate's disk wizard, (don't worry if you don't have a seagate drive), if you can't get it send me an email mjaff010@uottawa.ca,

Once you have that make the 2 disks that it wants made, boot your system with the first disk, you should be asked to enter the 2nd one and then you're in a nice GUI. Select the option to zero fill your hard drive, its takes a while but its well worth it, takes me about 6-7 hours (80 GB). Once thats done select the format option and select NTFS this should take all of 30 seconds. Now boot up with your XP cd in the drive, and install a fresh copy, it works great for me every time.

Also if you plan to do any system updates ie. dll switching, I suggest streamlining SP1 into your windows cd, that way you don't have to worry about the extra service pack files folder and you'll have SP1 when you install.

If you need a better tutorial I can come up with something just let me know,

ez.

Miqx

#29887

This is a tutorial for installing:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/wi...dexfullpage.htm

And it is what I make to reinstall over. The only difference is that I select the current partition in which windows is installed, all this process should not take more than 40~50 minutes.

#29889

Fdisk

enable large drive support(FAT32)

delete all partitions...

make a new one and make it active

(Might not work if your drive is over 64GB!!!)

Format C: /Q (quick format)

Format C: /U (UNconditional, full format!)

:Boot from Windows XP CD and install!

#29959

Jed...

Why are you having so much problems ?

If you are using your drive with a single partition=no partition then it is a straight installation. Is your present drive NTFS or FAT32 ? I advice you to keep FAT32 on the drive that has the WindowsXP OS. All other drives can be NTFS. If it is not FAT32 get a floppie with a DOS boot and reformat the drive then install WindowsXP.

It may be that the software that you used prior to make the partition is not that compatible because it may place some flags that are not standard. It may also be that the MBR master boot sector of the hardrive is corrupted and needs to be rebuilt. Maybe the BIOS settings changed and need to enter manualy Cylinder,Heads,Sector etc. Try installing Windows98 if you can then install WindowsXP.

What happens when you try to install XP that gives you problems ?

#29962

When my Windows is buggy I boot up from a Windows XP CD. Then Install XP then Repair Installation. Then when the WIndows XP Screen appears, the screen turns black. Maybe the computer is confused. Im using XP SP1 and attempted to replace with the old one so the result, the setup freeze.

I already backed up my files. I've decided to install Windows XP Freshly! Im using NTFS. But whats the difference between NTFS and FAT32? I have only single partition. 40GB (38.3GB to be exact). Im ready to format my drive and place a new copy of XP.

If someone knows how to do it correctly. Please reply. I don't need any partition. I just need to reinstall Windows XP Freshly.

Thanks :staffs here:

#29968

oops double post.

What am I experiencing difficulties and problems. I bought a new PC last December 27, 2002. That is what I am using now. The very first problem recorded on my PC was May 16, 2002. When I update McAfee, the PC needs to be restarted then when I restart, Microsoft ActiveSync needs TCP/IP. So I booted up from a Windows XP CD then I choose Windows XP Install then Repair. As what I have said on the 1st post.

Secondly, When I replace the system files, a popup error occur that my Registry was recovered. I didn't mind it. But inside of that prob, I lost the DLL Registries, File Associations, etc. That is a deep prob. I continue replacing system files. And I figured out that the shell32.dll is build 1145 while I am only using build 1106. Another prob, I can't anymore access the User Account Control Panel. It sats wrong number of arguments. Then when I click a link on IE, nothing happens, when the link should open a new window, the link doesn't work. Now? I am so mad at my PC.

I already backed up my 850MB Data. Including my downloaded progs, skins, Mac OS Emulation Files, My Documents. I deleted the trailers.

Do I have to tell more? Yah. On the first prob, We go to a PC repair shop, then Installs the Windows XP through a new Windows directory Windows0, so files are preserved but some settings still occur,

The only thing I want is to reinstall my Windows XP freshly. I want to reformat my 38.3GB hard drive and put the WIndows XP there.

If someone can help, please post a step by step procedure coz Im a ****ie on this thing. Also, I don't need partition. This is so delicate operation and maybe I completely destroy my PC.

Please also tell me some notes and warnings. Thanks!

I will start this procedure this evening. I hope when I started about 8:00PM, I hope it will be finished before 9:30PM.

-jed717ph

#29972

This is what I do.

1. Insert Windows XP CD

2. Then select "Press Enter to intall windows XP now".

3. Press F8 to accept the agreement.

4. Select the drive where the current windows installation is present.

---------------------------------

5. It tells that a windows installation was detected, that If you want to proceed with a new installation.

6. Accept

7. It will ask what fyle system you would like to format your HD (NTFS or FAT32)

8. Select the file system and it will format and continue witht he normal installation.

Since step#5 Im not sure what it textually says, but just read thorugh the options to get what I described.

This method is fast and is a normal installation. Im unable to give exact details cause I wont try to reinstall windows soon.

Hope this helps.

#29980

First, you need to back up your critical files: Documents, music, movies and anything you might value. Use a CD-R to burn files to disc or copy the files onto a smaller secondary drive. Personally, I keep all my non-system files on a second drive so I can reformat my boot drive clean whenever I like.

To reinstall WinXP you'll need one or two items:

A WinXP installation CD

If the CD isn't bootable*:

WinXP boot floppies (6) or

a bootable CD of Win98 or WinMe (extreme, but workable)

*One of the main things to keep in mind is you need to be able to start up your WinXP CD in some manner after you format the machine. Some older system ATAPI (CD-rom) configs don't allow a system to be booted from disc, although most do. Some WinXP CD's that are 'less than legal' aren't bootable either...for the most part, your standard WinXP CD should be legal and as such, bootable. If your system does not allow you to boot from CD, use the 6 WinXP boot floppies (PM me and I'll send them to you if you need them, with instructions on this method). If you have an older Win9x CD thats bootable, you can install it, using that cd's format features to clean the drive, then boot into WinXP installation disc inside Win9x and reformat a second time...again an extreme case, and very time consuming. PM me for this method.

To format and install WinXP: Back up your files off of the drive to be formated. Insert the WinXP Pro CD into your CD-Rom drive. Restart the machine. During the machines boot process, enter the BIOS...usually this is done through pressing the DELETE key during memory check. Most BIOS boot screens will tell you which key to press, and OEM systems document this key on their websites.

Look for drive boot order in the BIOS. Caution! Don't change anything but this option - you can fuxor your system if you dont know what your BIOS settings mean! Use the +/- keys on your keyboard to change the boot order of your drives to "CD-ROM, C, FLOPPY". This causes your computer to boot from the CD-Rom before anything else->basically your pointing the system to the WinXP disc sitting in your CD drive. Exit the BIOS and save the changes.

The system will restart. With a legal copy of WinXP you will immediatly enter setup. Follow the setup wizard closely - you will want to reformat the drive to either FAT32 or NTFS. Personally, I use NTFS...it's slightly better security than FAT32, however there are some reasons to use FAT32 if you corrupt your system files alot and can't boot from CD-Rom. Just choose a format system in the installation wizard. After that, WinXP will format your boot drive and install WinXP. Simple.

#29981

Well, the only time ive ever had XP freeze during installation was when I tried to format using the UPGRADE version of XP and format it with the full NTFS and not the NTFS (Quick) like I was supposed to. As for the diff between NTFS and FAT32, FAT32 is older and not as reliable, NT stand for "New Technology" which it is in terms of file systems by microsoft. NT just runs faster and gives your more security and stability. I would choose it any day over Fat32.

#29985

Well, how are you doing with the installation ?

Try installing it the way the other posters recommended.

You should keep FAT32 over NTFS. NTFS has better file recovery in case of deletion and allows single files bigger than 2MB but you don't need that unless you work with video in which case you need a second drive if you are serious about video.

If your OS is on a FAT32 drive when you hook a secondary drive it can be FAT32 or NTFS. If your OS drive is NTFS any other drive must also be NTFS. In otherwords an NTFS cannot see FAT32 drives.

I have my OS drive FAT32 and two additional drives NTFS. For most people NTFS has little advantage and in some cases are slower.

PS: The NT is because the file system first appeared in WindowsNT kernel, which then migrated to Windows2000, and WindowsXP. I'm not sure but NTFS may in fact be older than FAT32 because the NT kernel was implemented in servers first while there was FAT16.

#30008

The only reason I have found to keep a boot drive FAT32 is when a system doesn't support booting from the WinXP CD...in that case a simple WinMe boot disk allows access to any of the system files for quick repair if something goes terribly wrong. It also makes it easy for an inexperienced user to pop in a floppy and be at a command prompt when they start having problems with WinXP CD utilities...sometimes a basic DOS copy is all you need to get a system up and running.

Trust me, this happens to people more often than you'd think...not everyone keeps up with hardware like most of us do. Heck, even cruising through the System specs thread at AquaXP I was amazed at how many sub 1ghz CPUs people are still running...that just boggles my mind.

Of course Im the same guy that upgraded to an AthlonXP 2100+ 4 1/2 months ago, and is upgrading again to an AthlonXP 2400+ tomorrow...with my eye on that 2800+ in another few months. Of course, Im just sick.

As for the stability of MS New Technology File System: I would wager as many system files become corrupt under NTFS as ever did under FAT32. Remember, NTFS was designed with corporate interests in mind, thus the focus was on security. Todays NTFS system was completely revamped during MS's transition from NT4.0 to NT5.0 (aka Win2K) so it is a newer format. There is little in the way NTFS writes it's data to make it more stable...it does encrypt files rather nicely though. Most of the stability issues that arise are going to A.) occur due to hardware or B.) Occur due to user error. It is rare that an entire File Table just goes bad. So really, the choice becomes one of slight necessity for the end user.

I hope this install goes well...I hope I didn't confuse him with the deadzombie method of using Win98 as formatting tool. You would be amazed at what solutions you can come up with to install an OS when your original disc breaks and you're waiting for a replacement to be sent, or some other similar situation!!!

#30014

Well, not yet.

However this is my plan.

I will back up my files. boot on the Windows XP OEM Home CD, then choose Setup Windows XP, then fresh installation, and choose NTFS? And XP will reformat my hard drive. Is that ok?

But reformatting such a hard drive takes how many minutes? I have 40GB and I will just choose my current partition. I have only single partition.

Thanks.

Please reply. I will plan it this night

#30149

I dont think it might take more than 10~15 minutes. Actually when it asks you what file system do you desire, it says NTFS and in one of the last options says NTFS(FAST) I always choose fast, and it is a lot more faster than the one that says not fast, it takes liek 2~3 minutes, and the other like 10 minutes. Dont worry it will take more time installing the windows files than formatting. I think this should not take more than one hour.

good luck

#30150

Yehey! Wohoo! I will finally plan this now!!!

I already bought 2 650MB Imation CDRW. Yahoo!!!!

Kinda poor kid. Yehey!

OEM Problem, I already activated it 2 times. now is the 3, will Microsoft still activate it?

#30171

Im not sure how many time you should allow between activations, I think one month or something like that.

#30181

So you mean, every month?

Every month I can activate copies of the Windows XP? Damn. Coz I already cracked it with a Windows XP Activator. So I cannot anymore install SP1. If every month, Im gonna reinstall again. Damn, my Office XP installer is corrupted, do u know a cab creator?

#30219

Im not sure about the time you have between to install, cause I have a school license of windows xp, so I dont need to activate it. Try searching at google or perhaps windows help.

#30222

Ok, After I reformatted and installed Windows XP Home OEM, my PC is somehow and such buggy. So, I have a warez copy of XP Pro, and XP pro is much better than Home. Sorry about a warez post. You can delete this. But Im happy now, at least, Aqua Soft help me. Thanks.

I think I will reformat again on July 17. My B-day hehe

#30439