System will not format hard drive

Windows XP Setup >> System will not format hard drive I know that there has been a lot of recent posts on this, but none of the instructions seem to be working.

I am trying to reformat my hard drive and re-install XP Pro. I have my bios set up to boot from my CD. I select the Windows XP Professional Setup option.

If I select R for Repair, the system finds my existing system partition (NTFS) and gives me a warning message that an existing operating system is in the partition.

I try to Delete the partition, and I receive a message that I cannot delete it because there are system files necessary.

I tried installing over the existing partition, and thought I was sucessful. However, when I viewed the properties of my C: drive, all of the "old" files were still in evidence. I have an 80 gig hard drive and the drive showed 43 gig used. Right where I started from.

I have gone to the C: prompt and typed FORMAT C: \FS:ntfs several times. The prompt immediately appears and all the files are still in place. I have typed this command from the C:\windows prompt also.

Can someone please explain to me (in very simple non-technical English) why this is not working or what I need to do it? I have read every post regarding formating, viewed the FAQs and the links to no avail.

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.

Windows XP1162

Windows XP Setup >> System will not format hard drive Hi

See if the following links help you:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

"Clean Install Windows XP"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Natalie" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:EMail@HideDomain.com...
| I know that there has been a lot of recent posts on this, but none of the
instructions seem to be working.
|
| I am trying to reformat my hard drive and re-install XP Pro. I have my
bios set up to boot from my CD. I select the Windows XP Professional Setup
option.
|
| If I select R for Repair, the system finds my existing system partition
(NTFS) and gives me a warning message that an existing operating system is
in the partition.
|
| I try to Delete the partition, and I receive a message that I cannot
delete it because there are system files necessary.
|
| I tried installing over the existing partition, and thought I was
sucessful. However, when I viewed the properties of my C: drive, all of the
"old" files were still in evidence. I have an 80 gig hard drive and the
drive showed 43 gig used. Right where I started from.
|
| I have gone to the C: prompt and typed FORMAT C: \FS:ntfs several times.
The prompt immediately appears and all the files are still in place. I have
typed this command from the C:\windows prompt also.
|
| Can someone please explain to me (in very simple non-technical English)
why this is not working or what I need to do it? I have read every post
regarding formating, viewed the FAQs and the links to no avail.
|
| Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.

Windows XP Setup >> System will not format hard drive
"Natalie" <EMail@HideDomain.com> wrote in message
news:EMail@HideDomain.com...
> I tried installing over the existing partition, and thought I was
sucessful. However, when I viewed the properties of my C: drive, all of the
"old" files were still in evidence. I have an 80 gig hard drive and the
drive showed 43 gig used. Right where I started from.

Natalie,
What brand of hard drive do you have?
( Just a query see my post "Overlay causes instability")
I had a heck of a time trying to get the new
HD partitioned,formatted and recognized by XP-Home.
Don't think I have the problem solved yet, good luck with yours.
Xeno

Windows XP Setup >> System will not format hard drive Why are you selecting the "Repair" option? If you want to format and
do a clean install, you should select the "Install" option. Then the
install process will ask you if you want to create partitions, format,
etc.

hawk

Natalie wrote:

> I know that there has been a lot of recent posts on this, but none of the instructions seem to be working.
>
> I am trying to reformat my hard drive and re-install XP Pro. I have my bios set up to boot from my CD. I select the Windows XP Professional Setup option.
>
> If I select R for Repair, the system finds my existing system partition (NTFS) and gives me a warning message that an existing operating system is in the partition.
>
> I try to Delete the partition, and I receive a message that I cannot delete it because there are system files necessary.
>
> I tried installing over the existing partition, and thought I was sucessful. However, when I viewed the properties of my C: drive, all of the "old" files were still in evidence. I have an 80 gig hard drive and the drive showed 43 gig used. Right where I started from.
>
> I have gone to the C: prompt and typed FORMAT C: \FS:ntfs several times. The prompt immediately appears and all the files are still in place. I have typed this command from the C:\windows prompt also.
>
> Can someone please explain to me (in very simple non-technical English) why this is not working or what I need to do it? I have read every post regarding formating, viewed the FAQs and the links to no avail.
>
> Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.