Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: linkkon on August 23, 2009, 05:08:24 PM
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Hi. I am trying to install XP onto my computer which has 2 HDs, 1(drive D which is for data files) which I reformatted to NTFS and drive C which had Windows on it.
I reformatted D when I still had XP installed. Now I am on the blue screen during the XP instalation and it is asking which drive to install XP to. I deleted the C partition and recreated it hoping I could install XP there but now it is RAW and says "This disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition"
So I tried installing it to drive D, hoping I could make C NTFS after and then install there but I get the same message when trying to install it to D which is already NTFS.
What should I do?
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I would recomend repartitioning your HDD's.
<edit> Then reformat them. </edit>
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I think I already tried that. I deleted the partition so it was listed as Unpartitioned Space and then created the partition which it now shows as Raw.
I didn't delete the drive D partition because right now it is the only one that is NTFS and I was worried that its my only option for installing.
Either way, both drives say "This disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition" when trying to install.
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Then just reformat the RAW partition to NTFS.
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That's what I can't figure out how to do. The only options I see are:
ENTER=Install
D=Delete
F3=Quit
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try booting with a dos boot disk
and typing format C:
replace the C with the partition to format
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That's what I can't figure out how to do. The only options I see are:
ENTER=Install
D=Delete
F3=Quit
Go with ENTER=Install, just format the drive to NTFS.
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When I do hit Enter=Install that is when I get the "This disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition"
what it says fully is
"To install Windows XP on the partition you selected Setup must write some startup files to the following disk:
476938 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
However this disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition.
To continue installing Windows XP, return to the partition selection screen and create a Windows XP compatible partition on the disk above. If there is no free space on the disk, delte an existing partition and then create a new one."
One thing that seems weird to me is that my C drive is only 152626 MB and drive D is 476930 so I don't understand where the 476938 MB came from.
& if I do need to boot to dos, can someone direct me to a link for a boot disk I can burn on a mac? That's my backup computer, AKA my "emergency computer help forum" computer
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try booting with a dos boot disk
and typing format C:
replace the C with the partition to format
www.bootdisk.com
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When I do hit Enter=Install that is when I get the "This disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition"
what it says fully is
"To install Windows XP on the partition you selected Setup must write some startup files to the following disk:
476938 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
However this disk does not contain a Windows XP-compatible partition.
To continue installing Windows XP, return to the partition selection screen and create a Windows XP compatible partition on the disk above. If there is no free space on the disk, delte an existing partition and then create a new one."
One thing that seems weird to me is that my C drive is only 152626 MB and drive D is 476930 so I don't understand where the 476938 MB came from.
& if I do need to boot to dos, can someone direct me to a link for a boot disk I can burn on a mac? That's my backup computer, AKA my "emergency computer help forum" computer
List the steps and options that you are using to partition the disk.
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The D drive I formatted on XP using the format option after right-clicking then I shut off my computer, pushed F10 when I turned it on and selected to boot from the CDrom. Windows setup started and then the menu came up asking me which HD to install to. I went to drive C and hit D to delete the partition, C to create it another then Enter to install which didn't work. I did this a few times but everything went the same way.
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Okay, you just didn't finish partioning it.
If you are using Vista click here (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/d9a4d35e-efdf-406c-a049-0860180129a71033.mspx).
If you are using XP click here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348).
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Thanks for the guide but this is what I can't figure out
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Select the format option that you want to use to format the partition. You can select from the following options:
* Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick)
* Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick)
* Format the partition by using the NTFS file system
* Format the partition by using the FAT file system
* Leave the current file system intact (no changes)
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I don't see a list to choose from at all. I press enter and get the error.
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again i would say boot from a dos 6.22 bootdisk
format your drive to FAT16 there
and you should beable to reformat to NTFS when installing XP
and if not oh well you have XP installed on FAT 16
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I would pull out the HDD assigned as C, change the jumper on D, and try to install to D alone. Then add the other drive later and check it.
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Wow thank you so much, it's working now.
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You're welcome. Come back any time at all.