Fdisk Xp
 

Im trying to wipe out my hard drive, to install a fresh OS, but it seems I cant Fdisk, or format the drive.

How do you wipe out your harddrive with XP on your machine ?

I had to get program disks from IBM when my hard drive blew two months ago. What machine do you have? Do you have an XP disk or disks?

Its a Gateway 450, Pen 3. It had XP Home addition, but im upgrading to Pro edition.

My Pen 4, of which im typing on right now, had the Pro edition transplant last night, it also was running XP Home, but i got a prompt screen that asked if i wanted to format my c drive, to totallt clear it, and have a fresh install. But the Pen 3 isnt doing that, its just installing over the home edtion, and leaving all of my exsisting files, that I just want to dump.

Now my Pen 4 comp`s hard drive is set up in the NTSF config. My Pen 3 is set up in the Fat 32 config.

Usually, a prompt will show up that asks you if you want NTFS or Fat 32. I'd go with the NT. I don't think it matters to the hard drive which is which. Clean installs are always preferable. That way, hard drives get defragmented, etc., and the machine usually runs faster.

Usually, a prompt will show up that asks you if you want NTFS or Fat 32.

Well, this didnt ask with a prompt. The other one did though, so I know what your saying.

Hmmm...we were having computer problems all day today at work. One guy's machine completely hosed when he tried to open Word. My suggestion was a clean install. I think you should do the same if you can. Just hose the whole hard drive and start fresh. I've never needed an Fdisk BTW for either Win 2000 or XP. Just insert the CD and let it load the drive.

You are in for a challenge but you already know that. First I would set the bios to boot from the CD. Then if your hard drive is big enough, create a new partition from the XP Professional disk once it starts to boot. Install your new O/S on the new partition. Then after from Windows XP, wipe your old XP home out with a format from Windows. It can be a PITA but if you do it right you should have no problems in the future or go buy yourself a new hard drive, I have seen 80 gig for $39 this weekend and start over and keep your second hard drive for more data (Porsche videos.)

If you leave XP running long enough, it will wipe your hard drive all by itself.

Just had to do it.

Never thought I'd be saying I am running W98 and am glad I am.

Well, its up and running, and running good.

Now, a new problem.

I was told by the idiot salesperson at Comp USA, that I didnt need to buy 2 XP pro`s, that I could install one copy on 2 machines.Come to find out, you cant. I have the first install activated. But trying to activate the second is telling me that I already used this program on a different machine, and that I need to buy another licence, or else after 30 days, I cant use XP Pro on my second machine.

Is there really a way to use the same XP Pro on 2 machines ?

Yes, all it takes is money. Buy the second license.

$300 for another program, sickning.

Microsoft's got us by the nads, my friend. And with good reason. They've been ripped off for hundreds of millions for years with illegal installs.

Remedy: a Mac or Linux. That'll be my next move...

You can get the XP Pro Upgrade for less than $200. You are only upgrading, so you don't need the full version.

Do you have any children that are college students? If so, have them get you the student version. It's the same exact OS, but it sells for about $30.

You can also just buy the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) from places like Pricewatch.

Basically, you just use the same CD, because the COA is just another OEM Code...the number you enter during the install. Much cheaper than another full version.

Randy

What happens when you can't use the software anymore? I bought my Dell laptop and the motherboard got fried and it won't let me install my XP Home Edition on another computer unless its exclusively a Dell machine. Doesn't that make the consumer the one who is ripped off?

Do you think that they would lower the price if all hacking of the software and illegal installs disappeared? I have seen programs (illegal Microsoft software in the US) in other countries for sell on shelves.

The simple way to clear the drive when you are upgrading / installing Windows XP (Home or Pro) is to boot from the CD, select to install windows (not repair), when it comes up with where do you want to install Windows, highlight your old partition, select delete (and confirm with 'L'), select the new free space, select create, select the newly created partition and select install. All windows XP systems can only format NTFS. I allways select a full format (rather than a quick format) to give the system a chance to look for bad sectors.
Hope that helps.

Standared WinXP Licences are a per install basis and will work with 1-2 processors. Add Hyperthreading and you get a technical 4 processors.

Hey, you agreed you weren't buying software, you were just licensing it. Even if it was just a license to run it specifially on one particular model of Dell computer. As a bonus, you get to deal with crashes, exploits, bugs, spyware, and adware, which often necessitates the purchase of *more* software. Have you considered switching to Free stuff?

Well, the one I was doing was set up as a Fat32.

Could you go into more detail please.