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I want to delete all reference to the existing preloaded stuff. IBM has informed me that they no longer support this computer - so no recovery disk available. Microsoft want a fee before I can even ask a question. So my question to you is: Is it possible for me to reformat this disk and start from scratch with another version of Windows? If so how. I tried loading a cd of Windows 2000 Pro and it wouldn't install. Am I missing something. I am not a techie and would appreciate some direction. Thanks in advance.
You can try to load the system from the Windows 2000 boot disks set(4 diskettes) or from a Windows 9x or ME setup already on the hard drive if you have an upgrade cd.If you have an upgrade the setup with diskettes won't work.
The following site offers the boot diskettes for Win 2000 Pro.You can also make the diskettes from the cd if you boot to dos with cdrom support(use a Windows ME or 9X boot disk).
D:
CD\bootdisk
makeboot a:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=54
Good luck.
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I think your problem is that 2000 uses FAT32 and XP PRO uses NTFS, try this..
1.Boot system from a dos disk
2. type FDISK
3. select delete active partition(to erase the old)
4.select create dos partition(to make a new one)
5.exit FDISK
6.turn off computer
7.Boot system from a dos disk
8.Type Format C:That will clear your hard disk.
You should then be able to install 2000
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You must repartition and reformat the drive to install an older version of windows.
Before you do this (hopefully you haven't done either yet), save all the current drivers on your system. That will save you a lot of work. There are free programs to do this.
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The Windows 2000 Pro boot diskettes can be found here:
http://disk.kulpa.at/
Additional info.
The site offers many programs like tools or utilities for hard drive maintenance that are difficult to find and MS-DOS 7.0 7.1 and 8.0 boot disks for 1.2 Mo diskettes as dsk *.exe files or images.The links to FAT 16 boot disks are all dead.
Good luck.
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Go buy windows xp full version. Change first boot device in bios to cd rom and boot to the xp cd and delete all partitions and recreate 1 and install xp. You didnt say what your computer model is.
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>> I think your problem is that 2000 uses FAT32 and XP PRO uses NTFS, try this.. <<
Windows 2000 can use NTFS as well. NTFS came with Windows NT, 2000s predecessor.
Stuart
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Thanks Stuart, dont have much exp with OS's other than 9x and XP, its always good to learn something new.
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Also, WinXP can use FAT32. That computer may have a non dos partition that was used for the recovery files. Fdisk may not remove it. Get Delpart and use it to delete the partitions. Get Delpart here: http://radified.com/Files/
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Hi
Follow OtheHill's advice. You may then install your own version.
Last message regarding this computer[The link in my reply was from a page current in 2002 ]
Wow! no supprt already. Sucks - how much would it cost em to keep a iso aka image of the recovery cd.
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions. The only problem is firstly, I am a neophyte when it come to the real techie stuff - and the computer a "netvista" 2257 model will not let me do anything when I boot up it goes to the blue windows setup screen - checks the system - gives me the error message and I can't seem to do anything else. I can get into the BIOS and the F8 screen if I hit the appropriate keys on bootup - but it doesn't respond to any commands - just jumps to the setup screen again. I will try some of the suggestions you have already given. Thx.
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HI
Now I have a model. IBM is forgiven, have just visited Netvista web support.
Got
Mightyem this wont help if you have already wiped the partition but a couple of days ago you could have
Tried this
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Good question Monarch. The only time it would be reasonable to use Fat32 with Windows XP is if you are running a dual boot system with Windows 98 and need to access the XP drives from Windows 98. Other than that there is no obvious reason.
Stuart
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I took the advice and used delpart.exe to clear all the partitions - now reads "no operating system." Do I have to load MSDOS before I try to install any Windows program - most of my later disks are upgrade versions only and it doesn't do anything?
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Might have been a good idea to say you only have upgrade versions of you OS, do you have anything full version?
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Can anyone help me?
After selecting fdisk, i tried to delete the existing active partition C: from my hard drive. I could not because the volume label is corrupted. It contain some signs instead of alphanumerics. Therefore i cannot delete it even though i manage to select the active partition that i want to delete. Pls help. Thanks
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Hi
First what sort of computer do you have. Compaq and IBM like this one discussed in this thread have another partition other than the partition used to store windows.
What I generally recommend is to visit the hard drives website for diagnostic and setup utilities.
When you are booting up the brand of the hard drive should be displayed somewhere.
Anyhow procedure:
Test / diagnose / confirm drive is ok using floppy diagnostic disk.
If it is a computer that doesn't need a special partition to operate, then wipe the drive. You will see features in the diagnostic disk either labled "low level format" or "zeroing".
Select - it will blank the drive - all data is gone.
Then reboot with the setup utility. Have a previosly created system disk ready. [a floppy that has been formated to include the system] You can use a startup disk or download an image of a boot disk.
Follow the instructions and after that you should be ready to reinstall your system.
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