HArd disk Reformatting / Partitioning problem

[booj]

Hi all,

I decided to do a clean install of XP yesterday, and so started by reformatting my Seagate 80GB hard drive. Using a windows '98 boot disk, I have deleted all partitions (there was only 1 ntfs) and then creating a new one. For some reason when I format the new partition, the size is being read as 2034 MB or thereabouts. Can anyone explain this? I have tried setting the Large Disk Support option to 'Y' and 'N', but that doesn't change anything.

Also, after I tried to format this new partition, afterwards displaying the partition details in FDISK revealed the partition to be formatted in FAT16...Is this correct?

Any help would be much appreciated...I need to clear this up before I am able to reinstall XP.

thanks

[embj]

Why did you format it with FDISK? A new install of XP will give you the option of formatting it the way you want with partitons and so forth in FAT32 or NTFS. I believe the limitations of FAT16 only allow it to see 2034mb if I remember correctly.

[booj]

I am installing XP off of the 6 boot disks, as the version of XP I have will not run off the CD (Don't Ask!). The install is freezing on the last disk, and I assumed it would be something to do with the fact that the partition was incorrectly set up.

Should I just be able to delete the partitions and then install XP?

Thanks for the advice!

[paul9]

you can use fdisk to delete the partitions and install okay from a bootable cd, but i never have come across xp bootdisks, yet. probably have a corrupt one there. if you can make them yourself from a xp installation, then buy a brand new pack of quality floppies and make more, or if you just have a problem xp cd which wont boot, then borrow one from a friend, install from that and use YOUR license key, otherwise you could bork HIS install, or return the cd to ms and politely ask for a new copy (probably charge a fee for that) if your pc wont boot from any cd, even after you change the bios settings, then if you have more than one cd in the system, unplug some (the wide ide cable) leaving just one and try again.

[roley]

Have you tried burning a copy of the WinXP disc assuming it is just scratched or something.

In any case, FAT16 will limit your partition...so you will need to run FDISK and repartition. Do you have a copy of norton ghost, perhaps it came with mobo or something?

If so, there is a utility that comes with it called GDISK and it will enable you to do partitioning and formatting in one go:

Make sure GDISK is on the 98 boot floppy and then type in:

gdisk /?

that will give you the commands.

Do a web search to see articles on how to use it.

===========

Sounds like you have a fiddle on your hands in any case...

Good Luck

Rohan

[Gait_Keeper]

I just have to know, why the diskettes and not the CD??


so very alien to me

[booj]

Basically its a back up copy of XP pro, but i think the files that start the process from the cd are missing.... the cd works fine after the boot disks have kicked off the process.

Bizarrely, after making a new set of boot disks last night, and having them not work, I went into the BIOS (for some reason) and set the ACPI option to 'N'. Then when I tried it again it worked...coincidence?