Can't reformat, partition, orerase my hard drive.

[BenBooth]

I am running Windows XP, SP2. Got a mate to reinstall it so it's all new and fast and there are no programs installed at all.

I want to erase/reformat/wipe the (only) harddrive so there is nothing on it at all.
I'm having trouble.
I can't delete it, and I can't create a new partition to allow me to delete this one.
See link below for screenshots
Any ideas?


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v220/meisha_ben_double/?action=view&current=diskmanage.gif

[Broni]

It's listed as formatted already.
Get Windows CD, and reinstall OS.

[BenBooth]

Maybe format was the wrong word.
I want to wipe everything off it, including all the windows XP stuff and all the system data.

I don't own a windows XP cd.

[Broni]

...and the reason for wiping off? You wanna give the computer away, or....what are your plans?

[BenBooth]

I bought a laptop with Vista, and the guy gave me a copy of windows 7 on a CD with it.

I wanna keep Vista on my laptop, but I want too check out this windows 7, so I figure I will put it on here. But can't do it with XP on it.

[Broni]

You lost me totally.
What is installed right now? Vista, or XP?

[BenBooth]

XP is currently installed.
I want to wipe the data and XP files from the harddrive so I can then install windows 7, which I have a CD for.

[Broni]

You realize, that current Windows 7 version is a trial only, and it'll expire on August 1st, don't you?

[BenBooth]

Eh, I realised it was a trial. I didn't know it expired...
I'll go look it up, but what do you mean by expire? It wont... work? >_<

[Broni]

Yes. It won't work.

[Tranc3r]

the guy gave me a copy of windows 7 on a CD with it.

Did he charge you for that CD? If he did, you got scammed. Slap him in the face and get your money for the CD!

http://windows7news.com/tag/windows-7-final/ <--- this site shows the release date for the Official Windows 7 which is October 23rd 2009. So Windows 7 hits the markets in October 23 2009.

[BenBooth]

I just had a look at the windows site, I now actually understand what its all about.
It appears I was a bit nieve.

In any case, if I purchase windows 7 in october, will I have the same problem I am having now? Or will I be able to upgrade from XP to 7 just like any other OS.

And no, he did not charge me for it. He just gave it to me and said to try it out.

[Broni]

No, you can't upgrade from XP to Win 7.
It has to be a clean install.
You'll have to back up the data, boot from Win 7 DVD, and it'll let you remove XP partition, format it, and install Win 7.