Tekforums

Hello.

Can anyone tell me how I can uninstall a new (i.e. not an update from previous version) copy of Windows XP? If I just need to format the disk Windows is on, how can I do this? I cant get to command prompt that will let me format.

Thanks for any help,

Jonathan.

- If its a borked install put the winxp cd in let it run, clicky (http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/software/windows/xp/Repair.htm) (this works well)



Or if you just wanna format:

- Put the disk in another pc and format & partition with disk manager (admin tools).

/

- Use a bootcd/floppy (google) http://www.ubcd4win.com/

hth

There is a problem that can develop where even though you computer boots and starts installing the install can repeatedly fail to finish installing. I have just sorted this out for a friend after it tried three times while I was there and each time failed at the same point. What you need is something like the Ultimate CD boot disk, a CD that will allow you to format your hard disk but includes a lot of other utilities. I have used a copy of hirens boot disk but it does contain a *lot* of warez and is thus not legal

I want to format the disk so its empty. I havent got another PC to put the drive in. And I dont understand that ultimate cd link.

/me waves at Faulky

Try this:http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm#71

Quote from: FaulkyI want to format the disk so its empty. I havent got another PC to put the drive in. And I dont understand that ultimate cd link.

It boots from the CD/DVD drive and you can format the hard disk using one of the utilities on it  :roll:

You used to be be to do the same from a floppy drive boot disk with format.com copied onto it

Okay, I tried making a XP boot disk (well, 6) but that just gets me into the setup program. I dont want to re-install XP; just get rid of it.

Any walk-through help? :)

iirc you have to add stuff to the xp disk.. really tired so its all vague.

The XP floppy is only really designed for when your pc wont boot from the XP cdrom - itll load the cdrom drivers and then the cd takes over afaik.

What you need really is a win98 floppy.

http://www.freepctech.net/files/WIN98SE.exe

Make sure you got the floppy set as first book device in the bios, reboot then format :)


edit: if youre selling the pc or sommink and aint got a floppy d just do a clean install of xp and stop where it asks for the license key.

Quote from: FaulkyOkay, I tried making a XP boot disk (well, 6) but that just gets me into the setup program. I dont want to re-install XP; just get rid of it.

Any walk-through help? :)

IF you have a burner download this http://downloads.littlbuger.info/index.php?dlid=165

burn it to a CD, boot from it and have a look through the menus  for something that will format your drive

boot from the windows cd and act like you want to re-install....

before it starts re-installing itll give you the option to format :)

format

then turn the computer off

job done :)

I tried that with one CD and it didnt allow it, got no idea why though :(

I dont want to turn the machine off mid-installation; it might wreck the drive.

sdp, I downloaded the Win 98 boot disk, made a floppy, but when I got to a prompt, I could get to drive c: but not drive e: (there are two drives: e: is the main one with windows installation on). And when I got to drive c: and tried to format e: from that (i.e.: format e:) I got a Invalid drive specification message.

Any ideas? Thanks.

If the drive your trying to format is NTFS then you wont be able to see it from dos.  I would try using the fdisk command from your win 98 disk to wipe the partition and start again using FAT32 (which you can see from dos) and then formating it.

If you are planning to install WinXP again then you can convert from FAT32 to NTFS if you like during the installation

Hirens would do it if you find it and so does ultimate boot cd if it has NTFS support but u could also try
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Thanks, Chuck. My drive is NTFS, so it makes sense that I cant format it from dos prompt.

I can get into fdisk easily enough. Ive got 1 partition of all the drive.

Should I create another partition? Or should I delete the existing partition?

Also, what is Set active partition? Do I need to set the active partition as a FAT32 one in order for format to work?

Thanks.

If you only have one partition and it takes up the full space of the HDD and thats the same partition that WinXP is installed to and if your planning to format it then I would just delete the partition and make a new one.

BE WARNED! Once you delete the partition it is quite difficult to get the data back.  I know people who can do but I have no idea myself how to recover the data.  Just be sure you really want to loose everything beofre deleting a partition.

You need to make the new partition active before you can format it.  I would just make it active and if you want to re-install windows, then let windows do the formatting.  If you dont want to install windows then after you have made the partition active, resart your computer, boot up into DOS and then format the HDD (note* if you do this in DOS it will format it to FAT32 format).

If you are unsure about using fdisk then take your time and read the on-screen instructions.

So, just to confirm...

I should delete the single partition the hard drive has, make a new partition, make it active, then use the Win98 disk to format the computer to FAT32?

Im certain I want everything to go.

Can I also just check... I want the hard drive to be clean and with nothing on, but will I, in the future, be able to install Windows or whatever by putting the CD in the drive and booting to the setup program?

Providing the CD you have is bootable, and the legal ones are, then yes.

The WinXP disk should offer to upgrade to NTFS automatically.

Good, thats all okay. Thanks, Serious.

I made a partition, but it only made it about 2gbs in size (its a 40gb drive). I tried formatting and it worked, but it only formatted those 2gbs. I made another extended partition and that allowed me to define the size (up to about 38gbs or whatever), but didnt give it a drive letter, so I cant format it.

Ideally, I want the drive to have only one partition, containing all of the size of the disk, and it to be formatted.

Can anyone tell me where Ive gone wrong, or why it hasnt worked?

Thanks.

At the start you get a message to treat something as large.  I cant remember off hand straight away.  but you should answer yes to that and then you will be able to input the full size you want in MB.

Perfect! Thanks very much.

right, what are you wanting to do with this drive?

is it going into another machine?

-just delete the contents when it is in another machine

is it getting a different operating system on it?

-use the formatting tools of that operating system

i cant see why you would want to wipe a drive apart from that, unless you are selling it, in which case why not wipe it with the computer you are posting on here from

if your deleating the old partitions, and making one new big one... and your going to put xp on it...

just boot up from the xp cd and it will let you do all of that before it starts to install :)

Sweenster, the computer I was using to post messages is a Mac.

Also, I wasnt putting another OS back on. I was selling the machine, but not the software.


Its all done now - thanks for the help.