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Reformatting problem

flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
in Off-Topic Discussion

Alright, so with all these new games coming out, i decided its finally time to upgrade to XP and reformat my comptuer. I installed XP over my win 98, then reformated. Everything works, but i dont think the reformating really worked, because my c: drive wasnt cleared of everything. Everything that was in my C: drive is still there.. I also tried to reformat again and the same thign happened. Anyone got anything to help me?

Comments

  • Amd64_FX_53Amd64_FX_53 Member Posts: 421
    thats really weird....Mabye u need to get a whole new hard drive.imageimageimage

    Imperium Acranum rapped me

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359

    how did you try and reformat? What you need to do is put in your xp disk and delete all partitions on the HDD. What you may have done is just install windows xp as an additional OS so you prob now have a dual boot system. Delete all partions then format if it asks, reboot pc with a win 98 bootable disk and use fdisk to create a partition for you, then reboot with XP disk and select new partition to install. You cant format your HDD when you are working in windows.

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    33.333333333333336% of me is a huge nerd! How about you?

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  • leiwengleiweng Member UncommonPosts: 9

    Hi.. are you try to Format the C: drive's only? if so email me leo_Gpg@hotmail.com i explain to you how to do it and tell me how many partition's you have.. example C: D: not include the CD ROM"S please..

  • elateelate Member UncommonPosts: 72

    You could also check out Microsoft's website which provides step-by-step instructions.

  • TaskyZZTaskyZZ Member Posts: 1,476

    You upgraded to XP, then reformatted? That is not possible. You have to reformat then install XP...

    I am confused, what did you do, specifically?


  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9

    I had Windows98 SE on my computer. I installed windows xp. Decided i needed to reformat, then reformated but i dont believe it worked right

  • XzaroXzaro Member UncommonPosts: 1,719

    You don't install another OS over your old one before you reformat...

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  • JustinJosephJustinJoseph Site Co-FounderMember UncommonPosts: 602

    You have to completely remove your old version of windows.  I suggest backing up your files if you want to keep any of them.  After you've finished you then install Windows XP on your computer.  The reason you still have all the same files is that you only upgraded from one OS to another without removing the original OS.  If you want to remove a weed from the ground, you pull it.  You don't throw grass seed over it and expect it to vanish, hehe. 

    I hope that helps image

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    Justin Joseph
    -MMORPG.COM Co-Founder-
    justinjoseph@mmorpg.com

  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
    well how do i remove my old OS now that i have winxp installed

  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
    bump

  • XzaroXzaro Member UncommonPosts: 1,719

    Err.. reformat everything? Then install it again.

    I'm not very good at these things, just suggesting.

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  • GalootGaloot Member Posts: 177

    As others have stated, you either made another partition (dual boot) Or installed XP over your Win 98 as FAT32 rather than NTFS. (you really want NTFS)

     

    Heres the good news. Start over :) with FDISK as you've already been told. And make sure when XP asks you wether you want FAT32 or NTFS choose NTFS.

  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
    well i dont have a win98 cd so does that matteR?

  • herculeshercules Member UncommonPosts: 4,925

    www.umt.edu/reslife/Reformat.htm

    Should help you as it clearly explained how to do it properly.U need a complete wipe.Remember when prompted to reformat pick ALL the hard drive otherwise it will only do a part of the partition.Ignore the warning about losing everything.

    This will make your HDD run like brand newimage

  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
    Okay well I do have a WIN98 Boot Disk, but i do not have a win98 installtion cd. If its possible, can i reformat with the win98 boot disk, then just install winXP with the cd??

  • BenjarroBenjarro Member Posts: 206

    got to dos (cmd) get to c (press cd.. a couple times)

    when you are at c: typ Format C:

    now everything will be gone from your harddrive even windows now try to re

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  • UmbroodUmbrood Member UncommonPosts: 1,809

    If you do not have a boot disc then you can create one as well..

    enter DOS
    Insert a clean formatted disc
    type: format a: /s

    This will create a bootable disc for you. This is crucial if you do not have a bootable CD, in wich case starting the install will be a bit rough.

    Any bootdisc from any win98 installation will work though, more or less so if it fails you can either make one at a friends or loan one. I have a emrgency boot disc that came with my gateway comp back in 98 or 99, it still works.. :)

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Originally posted by Jerek_

    I wonder if you honestly even believe what you type, or if you live in a made up world of facts.
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  • GruntyGrunty Member EpicPosts: 8,657


    You can not format the C: drive if you have booted the system from an operating system on the C: drive. It can't be done.

    You need to boot your system from the XP install CD or from a floppy boot disk in order to format your C: drive. If your system will not boot from the CD drive you will need to use a floppy boot disk.

    You can also go into your system's BIOS and select the CD drive as a bootable drive. While you are in the BIOS, be sure to place the CD drive ahead of the harddisks in the boot order selection

    If you do not have a Win98 CD /and/ it's Product Key you had better have purchased a complete version of Windows XP.

    If you don''t know what any of this means, take your system to a computer repair shop along with your Win98 CD Product Key and you Win XP CD and pay to have them do it correctly.

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    Wu Name? Misunderstood Menace

    "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
    Thomas Jefferson

    "I used to think the worst thing in life was to be all alone.  It's not.  The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone."  Robin Williams
  • flyingcashflyingcash Member Posts: 9
    If im going to be installing WINXP, should i use a winxp boot disk or, since i had win 98, a win98 boot disk??

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359

    before you do this, you say you don't have a win 98 cd, do you have the full version of Win XP or just upgrade? If it's just an upgrade your up shit creek ::::02::

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    33.333333333333336% of me is a huge nerd! How about you?

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  • GalootGaloot Member Posts: 177

    Just for the hell of it, restart your system with your boot disk in. When you get to the a:> type in fdisk and press enter.

    This will bring you to a menu, take choice (can't remember) either 3 or 4 where it will show you all of the partitions on the drive. Then you will know if your install was over your 98 or if you created another partition. Use the three finger salute to get out of fdisk after removing the floppy from the drive.

    You may be better off as has been stated to get some help with this.

    To do this right you should use fdisk and then format the drive. (XP will want to format the drive for NTFS rather than FAT32 which is what 98 uses)

    PS. Remember, if given the choice take the NTFS option as it is by far more efficient than FAT32.

    PPS. While in fdisk if you have installed another partition with XP in it (NTFS), DOS will not recognize it but rather say that it may be a non-DOS partition. ie: BINGO duel boot system.

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