XP won't let me format on install?

[ManOman]

Am I missing something? I'm trying to install XP Home on my girlfriends' family computer, but all I get is the option to delete the old Windows installation, no mention of formatting anywhere that I've seen.
They've got a bunch of crap on here that they don't need so I just want them to start fresh. Do I need to start with a 98 boot disk to format? I thought it would give me the option from i's intall menu but I've yet to find it.
Help!! :)

[mdcomp]

Did it boot to the windows xp cd? If it did there should be an option that says delete partition, delete the partition and then format. Thats the way to do it. More details would help.

[ManOman]

It will get to the point in the Setup where it says Setup is loading Windows then it'll freeze.
I thought I saw a thread about that around here somewhere <looks around>
Btw they've got a Dell 733 P3 with a 20gig hdd, a SB Live, 256mb ram and a DSL conection that was just put in yesterday.

[mdcomp]

Strange, very strange...I remember having that problem, I just forgot what I did to fix it though. Maybe a faulty windows cd? I will think of something else soon, I won't leave you hanging my friend. Just have to remember how I fixed it. Gimme a few minutes...

[mdcomp]

Just found this....
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310760
Maybe good 'ol MS can help you. Probably not though. The only good idea in that article is to remove all the devices that are not crucial to set up and after installation is done, put them back in. Devices that might be causing the problem are usb devices, sound cards and other devices like that. That may be tough with a Dell. Companies like that usually set up the hardware in a way which is hard to remove things and add things.

[ManOman]

I'm thinking it might be the NIC I installed yesterday for their DSL.
Here's that thread I was looking for (http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199557)

Looks like rudkik68 had similar problems and the NIC is the same I think
Originally posted by rudnik68
I've got this same problem running on different hardware. I've tried installing Win XP twice ( this weekend and about 18 months ago ) and have had the same lockup at the "Setup is starting Windows" everytime. The common hardware has been:

MB: KT7A no raid
Video: GF2 MX
NIC: Dlink 10/100
RAM: 2 128MB sticks Micron PC 133
HD: IBM 60 GXP
CPU: Duron 750 @931

Problem remains with CPU downclocked to stock speed and when upgrading or performing fresh install. After reading this post, I'm going to try installing without the NIC. Anyone else have a guess why the installation is hanging? PSU is 400W AMD Approved.

DeathONator - do you have any of this hardware?

[mdcomp]

Well, there you go. Try that. If not I am sure we can figure it out. Some one here, if not me, will be able to help if this dosen't work. Good Luck!!

[ManOman]

Thanks much for the quick replies :)

[mdcomp]

Hehe...No problem. I have no life, lol.

[ManOman]

BLARGGHH! :mad:
So I can't even get this machine to boot from the CD (sorry I didn't mention that before.)
I've even gone so far as to disable every other boot device except the CD Drive, and it will still tell me
Invalid Boot Disk
Please Insert a Floppy into A:

I looked to disable the Bootup Floppy Seek, but it's nowhere to be found. Tried running setup from a Win98 Boot Disk just to see if I could format(which I didn't do yet) from there and then install, but it says that Setup.exe can only be run from Windows :cry:

[ManOman]

Anybody have any more ideas?
I just want for them to have a nice clean install


**EDIT** Ok I found the MSKB Artical that I need (I hope.) Hopefully now I can let this thread die away. I won't be able to get over there until much later, maybe even tomorrow so who knows :)

[verbatim]

Are u trying to wipe everything when u say fresh install?

If u are and can boot win 98 startupdisk (must have fat32 part.)
Run fdisk at the dos promt and delete your partitions! Then reset the ol cmos bat, set cd as boot and put winxp cd in. Will load drivers then allow u to create and format any partition u want.

This process will kill any info on yourhdd.

U said "fresh install"

[deeman]

from you cmos you have to get your cd to boot first, before the floppy and before the harddrive not sure whether a dell will allow you this option but if it reads the harddrive it will not allow you to load xp as it is already trying to use previous os.Ive installed xp pro on at least 200 machines and never had any problem with nic as i also use the d-link on my home rig and it gets a windows xp refresh and reformat at least once a month.

[ManOman]

It turns out that the NIC wasn't causing the freezing problem. Not sure what it was but it just seemed to disappear for the next few trial set-up runs.
Yep, when I say "clean install," I mean that I want to reformat the drive for them so they don't have all the extraneous programs and files that the kids decided to install, not knowing what they were or did.
Mostly all of those "You must install <insert program here> for you to get the most out of our website" type of program. Plug-ins, demos etc.
I think one of them even mentioned something about "Bonzai Buddy" but I'm not sure. I hope not hehe... :)

[mbentley]

Originally posted by ManOman
Am I missing something? I'm trying to install XP Home on my girlfriends' family computer, but all I get is the option to delete the old Windows installation, no mention of formatting anywhere that I've seen.
They've got a bunch of crap on here that they don't need so I just want them to start fresh. Do I need to start with a 98 boot disk to format? I thought it would give me the option from i's intall menu but I've yet to find it.
Help!! :)

you hit the nail right on the head (sorta). :D you need to delete the old windows installation. it will then ask you about the whole formatting thing from there, i believe.

[ManOman]

Well, it's all done. Computers up and running now with a nice clean install :D
I finally just said screw it, popped in a 98 boot disk and used delpart to get rid of their old partition, partitioned with FDisk, formatted and installed from the I386 folder.
Everything is much better now except for their Snet DSL...but that's for Gripes and Moans I think ;)