Hello. Got a complicated problem. My windows xp crashed so i tried to install a separate xp system.. this did not work because i had the wrong product key(don't ask) So fine bought a brand new xp system. Problem is I have one operating system on my computer and half of another. I want to totally wipe everything and start over. the computer will not start in safe mode.. what do I do now?

Curlyben

OK boot to your new XP disc and follow the prompts to install.

One of the options that you get during this process is to format your drive, hence completely wiping it clean.

Hope this helps

Sandyczall

not getting that prompt
the second system never totally loaded and it's when I try to load my disk I get an error and it says that I need to erase the the other operating systems by booting up in safe mode . When i try to do that it says Windows Setup can not run in Safe mode...

Curlyben

OK here's some simple instructions (may not be exact as I'm working from memory)
*Look for message "booting from CD" usually located at the bottom of the screen. If you have a factory splash screen, press ESC to unload it.
*Press any Key when you see the prompt to 'Press Any Key"
*Setup will start copying files, if you need to install any third-party or RAID drivers press F6 at this time. the copying of files can take awhile.(leave this one)
*Next you will get the option to repair or enter setup, choose to enter setup. Press ENTER.
*Press F8 if you agree to the license.
*Setup will scan for previous Windows installations
*If you are using the upgrade version of XP on a computer without any version of Windows currently installed, this is where you will replace the XP CD with your qualifying CD, XP setup will scan the qualifying CD and instruct you to replace it with the XP CD to continue XP setup; otherwise, you will not see this screen.
*Choose the location to install.
a If this is a clean hard drive, you can choose to create a partition in the un-partitioned space. At this point, you can allow Setup to use all the space or set a size for the partition.

b If the hard drive or partition has a previous installation of XP you want to remove, choose to delete the partition by pressing "D". You will then be prompted to create a new partition in the empty space. This will remove all data from the deleted space. (**BEST OPTION TO CHOOSE**)
*Choose the file system from this screen. If dual booting and you created the small 100 meg partition, make it a fat partition. NTFS is configured at the optimal file size during the initial setup.
If you have more that one partition or hard drive on your system, make sure you are formatting the correct partition/drive.
*Press Enter to continue.
*Setup will show a progress box and reboot when copying files is complete.

Job done

This should solve your issue.

Sandyczall

Hi I am really appreciating all of your help. I have to admit sonme of it sounds like Greek.
When i got to the checking for previous versions of windows prompt this is what came up after:

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


if this is first time restart computer..Check to make sure of any new hardware...software If probles continue disable or remove any newly installed softward . Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadows. If you need to use safemode to remove or disable components restart your computer press f8 to select advanced startup options and then select safe mode.

technical Information *** stop: 0x00000051(0x000000003,0x000000003,0x00000000,0xe1 18e000

Curlyben

Now that doesn't sound good at all.
You'll need to boot from a boot disc and format in 'DOS'
then follow the instructions again.

You can get a Boot Disc Here
The Windows 98 one will be fine, no need to use the XP one as all we want is the format command.
Once at the A:> prompt you want to type FORMAT c:
This will wipe your drive clean.
Then reboot and boot on to CD again and complete the above operations, including the format again

SESaskDFC

Howdy:

Unfortunately, if your XP system was formatted NTFS, CurlyBen's last suggestion probably won't work as DOS (format command) won't recognize the non-DOS (NTFS) partition..

If this is the case, you will need to use the bootdisk he directed you to and run the fdisk option first.. You will need to use the option to "Remove all non-DOS partitions" first..

Once that is done, you don't need to format anything as the XP cd will do it all!!

Murray

Sandyczall

Well I think my computer hates me. I downloaded the boot disk to two separate floppy disks. both the w98 and 98.

When I first placed the floppy in it gave some kind of error message saying something in Line 5 was wrong.
then it gave me options
fail ignore retry?access denied_
so i kept trying to but in ignore or retry..finally it just kicked me to a A:> command prompt
So I tried putting in what u guys told me.. fdisk....format...delete
finally i was kicked out...
so fine I try to restart the friggin thing and guess what? Can't do anything. the thing says
Non-system disk or disk error
replace disk and hit any key_
this happens with both the disks

Now i just want to say that I do appreciate all the help u guys are trying to give me.. it probably would work for other computers.. mine is just out to get me..
i am typing on my laptop by the by...

This laptop has a version 1 windows 98 system cant do squat on it as you know.. do you think it will be better to just load the system on here and make due with that..I don't really want to though i want to fix my desk top

Curlyben

Are you getting this messge when you try to boot on to the floppies or boot normally ??

Have you tried to reinstall XP yet ?

SESaskDFC

Did you just download the file itself to a floppy?? That's NOT what you are supposed to do..

The file you downloaded is a self-ectarcting file that needs to be run to extract the necessary files..

Download the file to your c: drive.. Make sure you have a clean formatted floppy in a: drive.. Double click the file you downloaded and let it install/extract the files to the floppy!!

Murray