Format Old Harddrive XP/Install New OS Vista

[chad c]

So, is my only option to format the HDD?   and buy a new version of XP?

[fgdn17]

OKay that was easy....    So, is there a way to keep the old OS and just repair it with no XP disks?   Like I stated in the 1st post they were lost?

you could use an w98 floppy/CD on the old machine, then check if there is and i386 folder on
the drive...if there is you could cd to the i386 folder and try winnt....that would start the xp install and when you select install it should find the existing version and you can tell it to repair it...

Good Luck

erm- windows 98 can't read NTFS, which precludes this method.

This may explain your stance on having to format a drive before it can be seen, as well....

correct..need to use ntfsdos

[patio]

So, is my only option to format the HDD?   and buy a new version of XP?

I suggested another option above...it does not say format and re-install.

[killerb255]

OKay that was easy....    So, is there a way to keep the old OS and just repair it with no XP disks?   Like I stated in the 1st post they were lost?

you could use an w98 floppy/CD on the old machine, then check if there is and i386 folder on
the drive...if there is you could cd to the i386 folder and try winnt....that would start the xp install and when you select install it should find the existing version and you can tell it to repair it...

Good Luck

erm- windows 98 can't read NTFS, which precludes this method.

This may explain your stance on having to format a drive before it can be seen, as well....

correct..need to use ntfsdos

Or Windows PE 2.1:

Info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment

Required WAIK if you don't have a Vista disc to make PE out of:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en

Instructions for creation:
http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t83722.html

From the PE environment, cd to the i386 folder and find winnt32.exe (winnt.exe won't work--PE is a 32-bit enviroment and has no 16-bit emulation to run winnt.exe, a 16-bit executable).

[fgdn17]

OKay that was easy....    So, is there a way to keep the old OS and just repair it with no XP disks?   Like I stated in the 1st post they were lost?

you could use an w98 floppy/CD on the old machine, then check if there is and i386 folder on
the drive...if there is you could cd to the i386 folder and try winnt....that would start the xp install and when you select install it should find the existing version and you can tell it to repair it...

Good Luck

erm- windows 98 can't read NTFS, which precludes this method.

This may explain your stance on having to format a drive before it can be seen, as well....

correct..need to use ntfsdos

Or Windows PE 2.1:

Info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment

Required WAIK if you don't have a Vista disc to make PE out of:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en

Instructions for creation:
http://www.msfn.org/board/lofiversion/index.php/t83722.html

From the PE environment, cd to the i386 folder and find winnt32.exe (winnt.exe won't work--PE is a 32-bit enviroment and has no 16-bit emulation to run winnt.exe, a 16-bit executable).

also a BARTPE here:

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

[patio]

He doesn't have an XP CD and the Vista is liscensed to another machine so i don't understand where this is going....
He can borrow an XP CD to re-install provided the other machine is legit...

[killerb255]

The idea is to get to the i386 folder on his machine (which has the Windows XP source files on it).  PE discs (Bart, Win, etc.) allow this.  From there, he can run winnt32.exe and start a repair-install from it.

No need for an XP disc this way and it's legal because:

1) Win PE 2.1 is free, provided that the user makes their own disc using the WAIK or a Vista disc (the WAIK in this case).  Distributing a Win PE 2.1 pre-made ISO, on the other hand, is against the EULA.

2) Many manufacturers of factory-built machines (not all, but many) stick the XP source files in an i386 folder.

I use PE all the time to do unattended installs of Windows XP from a network share.  Starting it locally shouldn't be any different in this case--in fact, it would be treated like an in-place upgrade.

[patio]

Got it.

[chad c]

OKay I looked on the comp and I found the I386 folder...  Now what is the process from there?   Remember to you some of this is like riding a bike.. To me its like speaking Korean.. SO please if someone could do a step by step.  I know its alot to ask but it would be helpful..
Thanks Chad

[killerb255]

Open up the i386 folder you found.

Double-click on winnt32.exe.  That'll start the install (repair).

[chad c]

KillerB:
Found the file, and clicked on it.  Came back with a Error of 1722.  Problem with installer package?  any more Ideas?

Thanks Chad

[killerb255]

One of two things:

1) That file is corrupt (and most likely the rest of the i386 directory you found).
or
2) You're running that winnt32 from an environment that doesn't support it (DOS, 64-bit WinPE).

I'm thinking #1 myself, since you're not "double-clicking" anything in DOS, and it's unlikely that you're using 64-bit PE.  If you're running it from inside Windows XP, it should work for an in-place upgrade, but since it's not...definitely #1.

In that case, we could rewind back to Patio's suggestion and borrow Windows XP OEM disc from someone to do your repair-install...

However, after re-reading the thread (which I should have done earlier...DOH!), given the following:

1) The machine has a virus
2) You do not have an XP disc.
3) The i386 folder is accessible, but it may be corrupt. 
4) We don't know if your machine has IE7 or WMP11 on it.

Repair install = BAAAAAAD idea.  Repair-installing a system that's infected with a virus is just asking for trouble (as someone said earlier).  Same goes for repair-installing a system with IE7 or WMP11 on it without uninstalling the two first.

So, keeping that in mind (and knowing that you already backed up your data), you will need to do one of these three options:

1) Borrow a Windows XP OEM disc from someone.  See attachments for what the Home Edition and the Professional Edition OEM discs look like.  Follow these instructions to install XP:

http://tweakhound.com/xp/installxp/installXP1.htm

Use the product key affixed to the side of your computer when asked for one.  Again, check attachments to see what it looks like (the attachment itself DOES NOT have a product key on it!)

2) Purchase an XP OEM disc.  Places like Newegg and Tigerdirect sell them, as well as local computer stores.  Use instructions in Step #1 for installing XP.  It will come with its own product key, so use that instead of the sticker on the PC.

3) Purchase a Vista OEM disc if your computer can handle it.   I would only advise this suggestion if your computer has the following:
- AT LEAST 2 GB of RAM.
- AT LEAST an 80 GB hard drive.  Yes, I know it'll work with a smaller one, but Vista alone takes up 15-20 GB on install...you want room for other stuff, don't you?
- AT LEAST a late Pentium 4, Pentium D, AMD Athlon 64 X2, or similar dual-core processor.

If in doubt, stick with XP on this machine...

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