[edkila]

after reinstalling the NT server 4.0 software, in order to attempt to create a single drive after deleting the partition, the system will not boot as it goes into a memory dump and reboot at each try. Does anyone know how to get the system to boot into DOS so that I can fix the problem which was created when I mistakenly deleted a seperate drive in an attempt to have one large C drive? Is that what I need to do?
I do not need any of the data on the computer as I am changing it over to a workstation and would like to load another OS onto it. I have an upgrade CD to XP, but the system will not upgrade from NT server to XP. Suggestions?

Edited by edkila, 08 January 2004 - 07:30 AM.

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You should be able to put your XP CD in your drive and reboot your computer. "Press any key to boot from CD ROM" dialog will appear. Press any key and Windows XP setup will load. Then you'll have the opprotunity to reformat and do a new installation of XP (don't choose upgrade). It may ask you to insert media from a previous version of Windows (CD/floppy) to qualify for the upgrade.

If you don't see the press any key to boot from CD, try this:
Configuring Your Computer to Boot from CD

Many computers are not configured to boot from the CDROM. If you cannot boot from the CDROM, this is probably due to the boot order of your devices being incorrect. You can change this in the BIOS.

You enter the BIOS from the first screen you see when you turn your computer on. To enter your BIOS, most users here will press the DEL key.

Most Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony & HP systems will press F2.

Compaq users will usually have to press F10.

IBM typically uses F1 or F2.

Other brands may have different keys to press to enter setup, F1, F2, Del, Tab and CTRL+S. If possible see the manual for your computer or motherboard. Also, the BIOS will usually display which button to press to "enter setup" during POST (if it flashes by too fast, press the Pause key).

When you enter the BIOS setup, you need to change the boot order. The CDROM should be setup before the Hard Drive. Each BIOS is different, but here is an example:

[admin]

You should be able to put your XP CD in your drive and reboot your computer. "Press any key to boot from CD ROM" dialog will appear. Press any key and Windows XP setup will load. Then you'll have the opprotunity to reformat and do a new installation of XP (don't choose upgrade). It may ask you to insert media from a previous version of Windows (CD/floppy) to qualify for the upgrade.

If you don't see the press any key to boot from CD, try this:
Configuring Your Computer to Boot from CD

Many computers are not configured to boot from the CDROM. If you cannot boot from the CDROM, this is probably due to the boot order of your devices being incorrect. You can change this in the BIOS.

You enter the BIOS from the first screen you see when you turn your computer on. To enter your BIOS, most users here will press the DEL key.

Most Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony & HP systems will press F2.

Compaq users will usually have to press F10.

IBM typically uses F1 or F2.

Other brands may have different keys to press to enter setup, F1, F2, Del, Tab and CTRL+S. If possible see the manual for your computer or motherboard. Also, the BIOS will usually display which button to press to "enter setup" during POST (if it flashes by too fast, press the Pause key).

When you enter the BIOS setup, you need to change the boot order. The CDROM should be setup before the Hard Drive. Each BIOS is different, but here is an example:

[edkila]

Thank you for the reply. It worked just as you had explained! Thanks again.

I am having an additional problem though. Since I have returned the disk to its original configuration, I am now stuck with a "C drive" of 2GB. I have loaded XP and went to the microsoft website to update windows. The first service pack I tried to add stopped with an error message stating that I did not have enough disk space to complete the installation.

Is there a way to reformatt the disk to become one large disk? The lat time I tried I ran into the previous original problem.

Do I need to upgrade DOS (I have never heard of that)?

How do the new versions accomodate large disks? Can I do the same?

Please let me know as I am once again stuck in this process! Thank you.

[admin]

Sounds like you used an old version of fdisk the partition. It would limit the size to 2gb.

There are a few ways to remedy this. Maybe the easiest is to run Windows XP setup again. When choosing to create a new installation of XP there will be an option to delete existing partition, then setup will aid in creating the new partition. Just follow the prompts.

Another way is to select the first repair option in Windows XP setup. Then open the recovery console. At the command prompt type diskpart and you'll open a command line interface similar to fdisk that will allow you to edit the partitions on your drive. If your comfortable with fdisk, this may be a good option.

After the new partition is created with either of the above methods, you'll need to reformat and reinstall Windows XP.

Finally, if you have Partition Magic or a similar program, you can resize the partitions "on-the-fly" without having to reformat, reinstall, or losing any data.