[Mumps]

I am installing XP Pro on my windows 98SE machine. I boot the PC from the CD drive (only way it is working) and I get as far as the partition select screen. It prompts me to install over active partition, create a new one, or delete the partition.

Installing over top would effectivly give me a dual boot machine (not what I want)
Creating a new one, I don't want.
And Deleting the current one prompts me that I may have files on there that are important to the installation.

I have installed XP before, but never like this...
what should I do?

thanks!

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Are you wanting to remove 98SE and have XP as the only version of windows

[Retired Tech]

Are you wanting to remove 98SE and have XP as the only version of windows

[Mumps]

yeah. we do not want to use 98SE anymore.

[Retired Tech]

As long as you don't need any data which is on the drive, back it up first if you do

This adds a few hours to the job as it will format the drive at 25GB per hour approx, but you end up with a clean drive

To completely erase all data on the drive(s)

Click this to download Boot and Nuke

Click this for a guide to using Boot and Nuke

Use the autonuke option, which could take 8 hours or so, then when you run Windows set up, check it is creating a RAW1 partition on C, if the drive letter is different, restart the PC and it should default to C

XP Pro should install as shown here

http://www.theelderg...l_-_graphic.htm

[Mumps]

8hours?
Is that the price to pay for using an old windows 98 machine?

This HD is only 40GB, and only had about 15GB used up.

Edited by Mumps, 08 August 2006 - 03:05 PM.

[Retired Tech]

You can go for delete the existing one, however, if it is referring to XP Files, you will spend an hour installing and it may not run properly

Boot and nuke will give you a clean drive, and you can run it overnight and install in the morning

As for 40GB it should be done in a couple of hours, worth it in the long run IMO

[Mumps]

That makes sence, thanks!

[Retired Tech]

I have an XP machine which blue screened at the slightest upset, used boot and nuke on it and it has never blue screened since, so that's why I have a preference for it, or a programme which clears the drive

[Mumps]

well, that nuke program worked like a charm. Well, it errored the first time. But went to 100% the second.

Windows installation however is really screwed up...

I get to the point where it says "Saving Settings" only about 6min left in the GUI portion of the installation, and I get a stop error... I don't understand!

[Retired Tech]

Did you use the default NTFS format, not quick in XP set up?

[Mumps]

I guess that would be my problem... Yes, I did use that option..

Can I restart the windows Inatall? Or do I have to nuke it again?

[Retired Tech]

The default is better, should have been 40 minutes or so

XP may be stuck in a loop of wanting to resume set up

Does the PC meet the minumum requirements for XP

[Mumps]

It is stuck in a loop...
And the PC does meet all the requirements. It was built for XP, but they guy who ordered it didn't want XP...

[Retired Tech]

Boot and Nuke should have an interactive option, also one which is quicker, you can use either of those because you have already done the thorough one, still use the long NTFS format in XP set up

Another option is to use the hard drive manufacturers set up utility

[Mumps]

Boot and Nuke keeps failing now... either soon after it starts

Before I did this wipe, the computer had started failing right after turning it on. Producing a HORRIBLE siren sound. Now, I have worked with many computers before, but none have ever made that aweful noise before..

Now, about 75% of the time we boot it up, it does that again!
This is combined with Boot and Nuke failing when I do get a chance to load it.

anyways, for tonight I am finished with the machine. It is my friends computer, and I can't live at his house until it is finished.

I think there is something wrong with the harddrive. I am good with hardware, I can do hardware toubleshooting, only I don't have any of the tools for it...