Installing windows Problem. - unsolved

Hi guys.

I think i got past the PSU problem so i was installing windows and it was formatting my new hdd and it was still on 0% the power of the house cut out so i thought it's cool it was only on 0%.

I boot the pc back up alls working but it comes up with operating system cannot load. I put in system disk try again same message. Why is it saying this when the system disk is in ready to load windows again?.

Btw. the power cut didnt break anything.

VisualAid-

 

So now you have a huge psu that blows the street power (joke)

Were you formatting as part of the installation?

I normally format at least c: from a 98se bootdisk before installation, you can always change to NTFS if you wish later.
It may be that because the partition had been started formatting, you need to use fdisk or similar utility to delete the active 'corrupt' partition, then recreate it before trying to reformat.

 

try checking the boot order. you want eaither

f/d
cd
h/d

cd
f/d
h/d

f/d
h/d
cd

cd
h/d
f/d

 

You are booting from a CD i take it?

 

yeah.

it's a new 80gb and it had started formatting been on for 30 mins and done nothing then the power went. now this. Is the boot order in bios?

 

yes it is.

 

hey guys how long does it usually take when first formatting a hdd it's been on %20 for an hour now........................ . it's on quick formatt.

 

i cant go to sleep with the pc on.!

 

nah mate, sounds like something fishy going on with the hdd, or possibly other hardware, like the controller or somethin....

shouldnt take that long at all... i say about 10mins max for one of my 80gb partitions....also, how can you do a quick format if you are installing?

could have screwed the mbr slightly while trying to format when it cut out the first time, but sounds like it was dodgy before then...maybe put it into an existing pc and try formatting there...or get a low level formatting utility...

 

Um, just by choosing quick format?

If there is nothing wrong with the drive, then you are often fine just choosing to quick format, however in the case as described above, his next step is to try and normal format - after that its the manufacturers bootable cd/floppy tools format and diagnostic facilities... or even plain old chkdsk.

Quick formating times can vary from drive to drive, but you are talking <1 min usually.

 

Yeah, don't do a quick format on the first format. I've also had a few problems using quick format on an installation that has gone wrong previously.

My suggestion is you download the seagate/maxtor/WD utility from their website to initialise and format the disk. Then run windows setup again but don't format.

 

is that a windoze xp thang?

 

no, 2k could quick format as well... just had to have a decent drive and have it be no partition to get it to work right....

XP can quick format in NTFS & FAT32.... 2k would only do NTFS

 

so i D/L seagate tools slap that in drive (i hope it's a cd i aint got floppy) boot up it'll gimme some options do a standard format. When thats finished reset pc and slap in windows xp install disk?

 

Yes, however you know you get an option to normal format when installing XP on the same menu that the quick format options are, ya?

 

neither work

 

I wish people would still put floppy drives onto computers as it simplifies trouble shooting no end. Any cd that you wish to use you will need to make bootable.

I suggest removing any existing disk partition and making new partition(s)

Download a copy of improved fdisk from bootdisk.com for drives above 64Gb

if you can get to a command prompt with windowsXP install disk then just copy fdisk onto a cd and run it from the dos prompt type fdisk from D:\ where D is the cd drive letter

If not you need to make a bootable cdrom using nero or similar with the fdisk file on it. Download an image of the 98se bootdisk from bootdisk.com and copy onto bootable cd, rename fdisk as fdisk2 or similar and also copy onto cd.

run fdisk

view partition information.
delete existing primary partition.
make new primary partition and set as active
if you want multiple partitions leave space and set up an extended dos partition.
make logical drives in the extended partition.

reboot the computer and install again. This method will remove the existing MBR and create a new one. It also gives you options to have multiple partitions.

There may be a windowsXP utility that does the same tasks, if so use that.

 

k i'll do what you said it comes up 8mb partioned and the rest isnt so i'll dll what you said and try in a bit.

 

if its showing 8mb as partitiond thendelete it and recreate it the right size then try formating

 

it is installing windows xp now (the proper bit) i d/led fdisk and used my mom's floppy drive to boot it and make a new partition. hopw all goes well. report back soon.