In need of SERIOUS assistance..

[Garabaldi]

I will be concise and too the point - I have buggered up my computer, bad.

I'm no computer whiz, but I'm competent. I decided to re-install Windows XP today, since I was due for a reformat. So, the installation starts fine, and all is okay. It then comes to the part of the installation process when it asks me what partition I would like to install Windows on. Now, it said I could delete the partitions (FAT and FAT32) to free up space, and I decided I should do this because that is what the aim of reformatting was - a fresh install of Windows.

Keep in mind, all I did to install a fresh copy of Windows was insert my CD and begin the installation, hoping to simply overwrite me old files.

So, I delete the two partitions (keep in mind, I don't even think I know what a partition is..) and begin installing Windows on the NTFS partition (the biggest one). From the begginning, it tells me it is unable to install a bunch of files - I would say about 20 or more - I have the option to simply "Skip" these files and proceed with the installation, which I do.

It warned me that installing Windows on the same partition twice could cause problems, but if I remember correctly, that's what I did the last time I reformatted.

The installation finishes, and the computer reboots.. then I get a fatal error and a blue screen with the message..

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer

{...}

Run CHKDSK /F {...}

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:

***STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7A2D524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Now, when Windows starts up I get the option to choose from 3 installations of Windows - the 1st one prompts me with this error - the second (same name as the one above - Windows XP Home Edition) and the third one (TuneUp Utilities 2006 backup) both present me with a different error:

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem

Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware

And Now when I boot the computer it read "Floppy diskette seek failure - strike F1 to continue and F2 to run the setup utility).

So, as you can see, I really ****ed up, and am in need of help. Please, refrain from diatribes and insults for now - after the problem is fixed (if it can be) you can mock me and belittle me as much as you please.

Thanks in advance!

[megawhompertoo]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

ugh. sounds like windows thinks you were trying to put multiple installs on your system.

you need to:

1) boot from the cd (you may need to go into your bios and tell it to use the CD as the first boot device) and boot to the windows setup menu

2) do a low-level format (not a quick format) of the hd--wipe out all the partitions

3) reboot using your windows cd and install as normal (this step is not absolutely necessary; you should be presented with the option to install to format and then install windows to the partition--but I like to be safe and do them sequentially)

edit: the "non-bootable disk" is nothing to really worry about; doing a low-level format should restore a working boot sector and the format process will elimnate file errors, and it will check to make sure there are no bad sectors on your hd.

it sounds like that utilities tool may be mucking things up, though. never heard of it being offered as a boot option.

[Garabaldi]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

ugh. sounds like windows thinks you were trying to put multiple installs on your system.

you need to:

1) boot from the cd (you may need to go into your bios and tell it to use the CD as the first boot device) and boot to the windows setup menu

2) do a low-level format (not a quick format) of the hd--wipe out all the partitions

3) reboot using your windows cd and install as normal

Thanks very much for the help!

I'll need some assistance though, as I tend not to fool around with the Bios.

How do I access the Bios and boot from the CD?

Low level format? Where will I get this option? How do I wipe all the partitions? Simply by deleteting them?

(When I tried deleting the largest partition (NTFS) the first time, it said it oculdn't (or something to the same effect).

Thanks so much.

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

Complete with pictures. And only format the partition that you want to install Windows to (should be C).

[Garabaldi]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsrein...exfullpage.htm

Complete with pictures. And only format the partition that you want to install Windows to (should be C).

Thanks. I would do that, but I can't boot from the CD, as whenever I reboot my computer (with the CD in the drive) I get:

Floppy diskette seek failure - strike F1 ot continue and F2 tp run the setup utility.

[Heavy552 AWG]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

Did you accidently format the boot disk in the floppy drive too?

[Garabaldi]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

Did you accidently format the boot disk in the floppy drive too?

No idea - I did exactly as I stated in my original post.

Heck, I didn't even know I had a floppy drive..

[megawhompertoo]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

turn on your pc, and immediately press and hold the "delete" key. this will bring you to the bios menu. you should have options (probably under "advanced setup", but maybe under "basic settings") that will say "boot sequence". Make the first device your CD (if you have two, then select the one you put the windows CD in), and the hard drive you're installing windows to the second, disable the floppy as a boot device, escape to the bios main menu, save your settings, and quit the bios menu.

it should reboot, and the computer will read the cd and boot into windows setup, giving you all sorts of options for reinstallation, including a format option.

select (if memory serves) "format hard drive". once the format is complete, you will be brought back to windows setup menu, where you can install windows xp.

edit: fyi, the "boot sequence" is the order that your computer looks for drives that have an operating system installed. you may need to enable a boot search (or something that sounds very similar) in the bios, but having your bios set to search the CD first, and the HD second will always have the computer "look" for the windows disk (for troubleshooting) before it tries to boot off the hd.

it sounds like you tried to reinstall windows from the hard drive...where windows was installed...creating an imbalance in the cosmos. no wonder your having problems. :)

[Garabaldi]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

Well, all is well now.

I can't thank you enough for the help - without you, I would be throwing out the computer in frustration !

Thanks again!

[Venomous]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

Cheers =D

[megawhompertoo]

Re: In need of SERIOUS assistance..

one last thing--after you get windows installed, it will boot a hair or so faster if you go back to your bios and make the hard drive the ONLY boot device. you can always change it later if you need to do another reinstall.

like ^ said, cheers.