Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP

LAST EDITED ON Mar-18-02 AT 04:30 AM (EST)

I have Windows XP and Hard-Drive is formatted by NTSF system. What if my computer crashes and I have to format my computer. How can I format the NTSF Hard-drive? I installed XP Starting from Windows 98, so before I install windows XP I can format hard-drive with windows 98 start-up disk (since hard-drive is formatted by FAT 32) if I had any problems. Now with Win XP, I can't format the hard drive. I tried to do it; however, it keeps telling me that it can't format the hard-drive because now my hard-drive is NTSF. How can I format the hard-drive and install win 98 or win XP? Even if I format the NTSF hard drive, How can I install windows 98? I heard windows 98 only can be installed by Fat16 or Fat32. Also, I heard that you can't just install windos XP (you must install windows 9.X series and can instll winodws XP because it's upgrade).
Also is there anyways to convert NTSF system to FAT 32? If I can conver my hard drive FAT32 to NTSF, then I can just use windows 98 start-up disk and format my hard drive. And after I can install windows 98 freshly and install or upgrade Windows XP top of windows 98.
Last question. Is there start up disk for windows XP?? Or can you make one from the XP program?

1. RE: Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP
lbyard Mar-18-02 12:30 PM
In response to message 0

LAST EDITED ON Jun-02-02 AT 10:21 AM (EST)

>How can I format the NTSF Hard-drive?
Backup your data, etc. (http://duxcw.com/digest/guides/hd/rules.htm). Use fdisk on a Startup floppy (http://duxcw.com/digest/Fromshop/software/windows/startup/startup.htm and http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/software/windows/winme/startup/page1.html) to remove the NTFS partitions. Create FAT32 partitions and format them. Install XP from the DOS prompt (http://duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/clean.htm and http://duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/oeminst.htm). The FA32 partitions can then be converted to NTFS during the XP install. Convert C:, don’t format it again.
>Is there startup disk for windows XP??
Yes, sort of… “It” is really six floppy disks, which is not an easy way to boot a computer in my opinion… Just Microsoft’s little way to make things a whole lot easier for the user—grrrrrrr!
>Or can you make one from the XP program?
No. You can download them. Microsoft’s way to make things easier for the user… especially when the computer has been formatted, etc. and there is no way access the Internet. I would not do it this way. See http://duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/clean.htm. Larry

2. RE: Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP
tockert Mar-19-02 05:32 PM
In response to message 1

Could you set the CD-rom drive as a bootable drive. The XP disk will boot. I think it will ask you how you want to start your computer: IE: cd-rom, or hard drive.
If this is like the win98 boot disk, it creates a ram drive to load some utilites. If, not, I am sure you could boot to the cd-rom, and then find the utilities on the cd-rom to format the hard drive with ntfs?
Just a thought
Todd

3. Formating Hard Disk Drive For Windows XP
groucho May-05-02 03:40 PM
In response to message 1

LAST EDITED ON May-05-02 AT 03:41 PM (EST)

Hi Larry, your post is very helpful. I would add some more detail for less experienced users, such as "Use FDISK to delete the NTFS partition on Disk C:, being very careful to select the correct disk and partition and using the Non-DOS Partition option in FDISK's Delete Partition function" and "Create new FAT32 partition(s), restart your computer, then format your new partition(s)."
You say that you would not use Microsoft's six-floppy-disk Windows XP Setup Disk set. Why not? Thanks.

4. RE: Formating Hard Disk Drive For Windows XP
lbyard May-06-02 10:03 AM
In response to message 3

Well, just download a set, make the floppies, and boot your computer from them. Then you will become a believer. Larry

5. RE: Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP
fsuszka Jun-05-02 12:40 PM
In response to message 0

Well, I read al of the advice and was a little disapointed that most of what I read didn't work.
The "six" disks that Microsoft wants you to make are nothing more than disks that allow the CD to function so you can install Windows-XP. The "boot disk" that you can make by going to My Computer and right clicking on the "floppy" icon and making a "MS-DOS Start Up Disk" will in deed get you to the so called DOS prompt but you will have no access to anything of use...
If you want to format your drive when XP is installed, please try the following:
Set your BIOS to boot to the CD-Rom or hold down the "F8" key to access the system. Perform the following.
1. Start Computer booting from CD
2. Choose Recovery Console (R)
3. At the dos prompt type: "format C:" (without the quotes)
4. If it asks for the "Administrator Pass Word", Type it in if you have one or just hit "Enter" to continue. If you use a password...
Remember it. "WRITE IT DONE AND PUT IT IN A SAFE PLACE!"
5. Commands that you can use, format (drive)/ Q (quick) FS/ (File system fat/ntsf)
This may work and then again it may not. If it doesn't, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Frank Suszka
netTek Computers
f.suszka@gte.net

7. RE: Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP
lbyard Jun-05-02 01:01 PM
In response to message 5

If that doesn't work, do it my way with a Windows 98 Startup floppy (see our Windows XP FAQs in our Windows FAQs, which also describe how to install the XP Home upgrade on a bare hard disk and XP OEM). That is the way I do it in my computer shop and it is the easiest for me. Of course, if you have problems, post them here. I’ve responded to about 5,000 of them. And our expert forum members are quite active in these forums. Larry
Owner/Editor
Dux Computer Works/Digest
http://duxcw.com/

8. RE: Formating Hard-Drive For Windows XP
DJ Net2Infinity Jun-05-02 04:04 PM
In response to message 7

Some people I swear, its odd though where is his website and forum?