Hi!
I have one HDD with two partitions.Primary C which had winME and
extended D which is free.When I installed winxp professional on C, I
chose "New installation" and converted FAT32 to NTFS.The problem is that
all my old programs are still there.Then I made winxp startup disk and
tried to format C but it did not work and my winxp installation cd is
not bootable.The only solution I see is to install winxp on D,format C
from D,install winxp on C and format D or just delete winxp on D.Is
there any better way and why winxp start up disk does not work?I just
want to format C and install winxp on clean partition.
Best regards
Nik

Hello nikenn,

I do believe that the following should solve your problem.

You mention a 'start up disk' but if you the installation disks there
should be more than one of them.

I recommend that you read through this article from the Microsoft
Suport Knowledge Base on how to make the six Windows XP Setup boot
floppy disks. Make sure that you download the right file if you have
Home or Professional version, and if your CD-ROM says 'Includes
Service Pack 1' to download the specific version for that.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310994

After you have the six Windows XP Setup disks, you should have no
problem formatting your C: because it will be able to see the NTSF
file system.

I hope that this is the answer you were looking for. If you need any
clarifications, please let me know and I will do my best to further
assist you.

tisme-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by nikenn-ga on 03 Feb 2003 08:36 PST

Thanks br for your time and thanks tisme for your answer.Are there any
detail instructions on how to use these Setup boot disks? And will
solution I described in my question also work?
Thanks again
Nik

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Clarification of Answer by tisme-ga on 03 Feb 2003 12:37 PST

Hello nikenn,

I do believe that if you installed Windows XP onto D:\ you would then
be able to format C:\ but you would have to make sure that you format
it with the FAT32 file system.

I recommend however, that you use the start up disks because it should
take much less of your time. All you have to do, is download the right
version for the version of Windows XP that you have and double click
the file after it has downloaded. The instructions are all on the link
that I provided in the original answer.

After you have all six disks, you will want to power down the computer
and insert the first floppy disk in the set. It will ask for all six,
and when they are all loaded into memory, you should be able to simply
type: 'format C:'

After this is done, you will be able to install Windows XP by going
into the CD drive and typing 'setup'.

Please let me know if you need any additional clarifications. Both
solutions should work, so you should choose the one you are more
comfortable with.

tisme-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by nikenn-ga on 03 Feb 2003 17:21 PST

Hi tisme,
Why do I have to format C with the FAT32 file system?
Thanks
Nik

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Clarification of Answer by tisme-ga on 03 Feb 2003 17:37 PST

Hello nikenn,

I apologize, there is no reason that you would have to format C:\
using Fat32. Not sure where I got that from, I was probably thinking
so your other boot disk would recognize C:

Please excuse me,

tisme-ga

hello hello

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=55820EDB-5039-4955-BCB7-4FED408EA73F

the link above will allow you to download the windows xp professional
setup disks.  you will need 6 floppy disks, the software will copy the
files there. (make sure you have good formatted disks ready).

after you have copied to the disks, stick them in the computer and
make sure your bios boots floppys first.  the disks will prepare your
system and ready your cd-rom for installation.

good luck :)

br, 

The link I provided in my answer will provide the proper download
address for the version of Windows XP that nikenn has. The link you
included is for Windows XP Professional (not XP Service Pack 1).

I just don't want the customer to download the wrong version so am
posting this comment.

tisme-ga