Be quick. Once POST passes control to the OS, you'll have to reboot again.
Posted on 12/30/2004 5:02:15 PM PST by jonboy
I am trying to erase my hard drive and start over. I have done nothing but transfer one hard drive's info to the next for the last 8 years and now have an opportunity to wipe it clean and start all over. I have backed up the files that I needed to. My problem is that I have Windows XP and cannot get to a DOS prompt. Plus I cannot change my BIOS settings for some reason to boot from disk. If anyone can help me I would be most appreciative.
Start>Run> Cmd.exe will give you the DOS prompt.. good luck :-)
I thought Start > all progs > accessories = a dos command prompt?
Be quick. Once POST passes control to the OS, you'll have to reboot again.
That's one way to do it. Typing "cmd" into the Run dialogue box gets you there, too.
You need to nuke it. Follow the instructions here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q255867/
Set your bios to boot to the CD. Put your XP disk in the drive.
Boot into the Windows XP installer. Delete the partion. You can re-create it and install XP or don't do anything and let whatever OS you intend to install do the creation for you.
Go here and download an FDISK/DOS floppy.
http://fdisk.com/fdisk/
Reboot the PC with the floppy in the drive and follow the instructions.
You may have to set your PC to "boot from floppy" in the BIOS. [usually accessed by hitting the "delete" or F2 key as soon as the PC starts up]
What oem/model and system specs do you have? If you don't know these particulars, say so and we'll go from there.
Half the time that doesn't really delete the partition and you get 2 installations of the OS.
Been there, done that numerous times.
An FDISK floppy will utterly, absolutely "nuke" it....:)
You need to boot from a CD or floppy.
A windows install disk will be able to do that.
Uhm, if you delete the partition, it's gone. I've installed XP hundreds of times. Not once, EVER has a deleted partition hung around. Certainly if you don't delete it, you can have two installations listed. If you delete the partition it's gone. Period. End of story. No ifs, ands or buts. You also can't create an NTFS partition with Fdisk.
You have to hit the L key to delete a listed partition. If you didn't do that, certainly it'll still be there.
Get GWSCAN program at Gateway and make a floppy disc from it. 7514539.exe - GWSCAN 5.09 for all Gateway hard drives.
http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?param=gwscan&st=kw
You will need to first use a a floppy boot disk. Win95, 98, Dr. Dos, what have you. When you get the "A" drive prompt put in the gwscan floppy, type in gwscan and push your keyboard's enter button
Write zeros is the option you want ..... full erase is what you want. It's very fast, improved and faster than it used to be, and works on all hard drives.
I did a 40 gig hard drive in 12 minutes.
My machine didn't come with the original disk. The OS is Windows XP and the machine is an HP Pavilion 522N. If there are other system specs that would be good to get, please let me know.
I create no partitions with FDISK.
I just blank the drive.
The CD then creates the NTFS partition when I reboot with it the drive.
I've had the "double installation" happen several times even after "deleting" the partition via the WinXPPro CD..
YMMV.
After fully erasing you should make an install and partition floppy for your drive. Every manufacturer has one. If you tell me what brand hard drive, I'll tell you what to get.
MAXTOR--maxblast
WESTERN DIGITAL- data lifeguard (2003 version, may be a newer better one)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2855.html
If have just one computer you can make the floppys I mentioned at the public library
What OS were you planning on installing?
Windows XP Home Edition
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