error while partitioning hd..?

Question

Boot to OS cd (XP)and when I choose delete partition, it tells me that it cannot delete it b/c it has files needed for setup...I have FFR'ed many times and have never seen this. There are no other partitions on the HD and only one OS install on the partition. However, now when I restart it gives me the option of where to boot to XP Home Edition or XP setup (even without the setup disk in).....can anyone tell me how to get around this?

I don't think some of you understand....I am reinstalling windows (called an FFR in the old days). I have done this many times, but have never had this problem. I can't delete the partition while in setup like you are supposed to be able to do....delete partition, recreate partition, format and install OS....Even going to recovery console and using it to format the partition before trying to delete doesn't help. I have tried "disk cleaning" utilities, and can't seem to get the system to boot to the disks.

Answer 1

Suspect you are seeing the small partition that companies place on hard drives, that they use to restore the operating system.

If you really want to get rid of it, check the manufacturer of your hard drive, go to their website. Get the hard drive install software, usually its called DiskManager or a similar name.

Make sure you have bootable XP CD and all necessary drivers on hand before you attempt this. This may void your manufacturers warranty as well.

Answer 2

I think Afraid of Flu is on the right track. If you are trying to do a complete reinstall and do not want to save anything, go the the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their disk utility, read the directions for preparing a new hard drive or for doing a low-level format, this will kill the info off the drive and put it back to a state that should let windows set up reformat it and load.

I have seen two situations where this happens, one is when there is a disk recovery partition, or the manufacture has created a boot partition named c, then put the actual stuff on a drive letter like d. The other is when a virus gets into the boot sector, the only way I know to get that out is to low-level format and reload.

Answer 3

You have two choices to partition your hard drive. If you want to keep all information and just create a partition, you must acquire a software to do that.

Your other choice is to reinstall the operating system. Then you can delete and create partitions.

You cannot create new partitions on the C drive while you are in WINDOWS. You may partition other drives, but not C.

Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer management, disk management.

If you have other drives and want to partition them. from this place you can.

Computer Help Page

http://www.diskgenius.com/

http://www.pcbeginner.com/tools/pcdoctor.htm

http://www.pcguide.com/byop/index.htm

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/ntfs-boot-iso.html

http://www.disk-image.net/products.htm

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

http://www.winternals.com/

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,25181-order,1-page,1-c,alldownloads/description.html

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Windows-XP-PowerPacker.shtml

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,674406,00.asp

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
•http://www.bootdisk.com/utility.htm
•Chapter 1: Purchasing Components
•Chapter 2: Component Overview
•Chapter 3: Installing the CPU, Heatsink, and RAM On The Mainboard
•Chapter 4: Installing The Mainboard In The Case
•Chapter 5: Installing Drives
•Chapter 6: Connecting Components
•Chapter 7: Installing AGP and PCI Cards
•Chapter 8: Testing the System and Completing Assembly
•Chapter 9: Installing Windows XP
•Chapter 10: Configuring Windows XP
•Chapter 11: Installing A Dual Boot Operating System (Linux And Windows XP)
•Chapter 12: Home Video -- “So, You Want to Be the Next Steven Spielberg?”
•Chapter 13: What’s Next?

Answer 4

there is a program out called ghost that will completely wipe out any and all and I mean all information on the hard drive and you can reset it like new with this But you also need a windows 98 setup disk to format it as windows 98se to start with but that is how I do it I put windows 98 in first then from there I goto windows xp prof.
and that asks me if I want to convert the whole thing over to winndows xp and file system I say yes, and it does it and enters windows xp setup and I go through that and then I am done windows xp prof. is on the hard drive.