[darqblue42]

Hi all,

I'm starting to get fed up with this:

All I want to do is access the blue screen that lists my current partitions (and lets be delete them by pressing "l" and create new ones by pressing "c").

I've tried booting from my XP CD multiple times, but it skips the above-described screen and goes right into installing windows.

How do I access this partition manager thing before Windows begins installing? I've done it before, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it again.

Thanks,
darqblue42

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What kind of Install CD are you using? It doesn't happen to be slip-streamed does it?

makai

[makai]

What kind of Install CD are you using? It doesn't happen to be slip-streamed does it?

makai

[darqblue42]

I'm using a CD which came with my Alienware laptop. It's labeled "MS Windows XP Home Recovery CD-ROM".

I don't know what "slip-streamed" means, so I couldn't tell you whether my CD has such a problem.

[makai]

Being a Recovery CD, then I guess it is "sort of" slipstreamed... by Alienware. What you have is not a typical XP install CD.

Slipstreaming is when you take an OS and "automate" the installation. Sometimes adding drivers, and applications, etc. It makes installation go faster as the installer doesn't have to sit there and answer all the prompts.

Sorry... I have no idea what to do to help your situation. You might want to call Alienware support?

makai

[darqblue42]

Makai,

I understand what you're getting at.

But the peculiar thing is...I *have* seen this seemingly elusive partition editing screen before...using the Alienware CD; so I'm baffled.

Is there a certain key I need to press before Windows starts to load or something?

Thanks.

[makai]

Second attempt at posting this!!!!!

I really don't know what to do. Most manufature recovery cds I've dealt with run straight through once they're started. They are meant to recover the "factory" installation... which includes partition/formatting, if the cd is set up that way.

One option you might try is to pull the Hard drive, and visit the HD manufacture's site and download their partitioning/formatting software. Most offer iso images which you can burn to a cd and boot from. Once you partition the hard drive, you might try to use the recovery cd.

No guarantee it will work though as the cd may just redo what you just did and overwrite your partition information.

makai

Edited by makai, 11 July 2005 - 07:59 PM.

[Murray S.]

Howdy:

Boot into BIOS and make sure your first boot device is set to the cd-rom.. Make sure you save the change and then exit BIOS..

Put your cd in the drive and reboot now..

Murray

[darqblue42]

I set [ATAPI CD] as the FIRST boot priority, to no avail.

This is so puzzling because at one point in time I was looking at the screen with the list of partitions. grrr

Thanks for your help, though.

[Murray S.]

What are your boot options in BIOS (all of them) ??

Murray

[darqblue42]

Let's see...

1: [ATAPI CDROM]
2: [Hard Drive]
3: {Removable Dev.]
4: [Realtek Boot Agent]

Is that all you need to know from BIOS?

Thanks.

[darqblue42]

UPDATE:

I booted from the same Alienware CD on my desktop computer, which has only one partition, and the partition menu I've been looking for on my multiple-partitioned laptop showed up!!

Could a single partition HD make the CD act differently?

Edited by darqblue42, 11 July 2005 - 09:44 PM.

[Murray S.]

Uhh.. ya.. Are both systems Alienware systems??

Murray

[darqblue42]

Yes sir. And both have been reformatted in their "lives"...so this is no factory settings issue.

[Murray S.]

Well, if Alienware is anything like Dell, HP or Compaq, you need the cd that came with the system in order for it to work on the system..

Murray

[makai]

I agree with Murray. I'm actually surprised it loaded that far. Alienware has always been another animal, so maybe it's not so surprising after all.

makai