Help on reformatting please

Kerioak

Kerioak

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Christine
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I have been trying to fit a new hard drive into a computer (1)(as only hard drive, but could not get Windows to load on it as it did not get past "verifying pool data" and if I did manage to persuade it to load from CD it wanted me to load system disc as the one I was trying was "wrong" - cannot remember exact wording..

I then tried it in a different computer (2) and managed to load Windows XP but the first computer is still not recognising it.

I would like to reformat it and try it in computer 1 again as that is where it is required.

Can give me details on how to get to the command prompt and reformat the hard drive please?
 
Kerioak said:
I have been trying to fit a new hard drive into a computer (1)(as only hard drive, but could not get Windows to load on it as it did not get past "verifying pool data" and if I did manage to persuade it to load from CD it wanted me to load system disc as the one I was trying was "wrong" - cannot remember exact wording..

I then tried it in a different computer (2) and managed to load Windows XP but the first computer is still not recognising it.

I would like to reformat it and try it in computer 1 again as that is where it is required.

Can give me details on how to get to the command prompt and reformat the hard drive please?
Click to expand...

once you get the command its fdisk I think. but no doubt some geek will come along and tell you properly!! ;)
 
is computer 1 set to boot from CD drive in bios? If so, start computer up with windows disc already inserted in drive and when asked, accept booting from cd, then when set up asks, you can format the drive again reload windows. If that makes sense?
 
Thanks Janice and Yv.

Computer 1 is different to ones I have dealt with before as I cannot find a way of setting it to boot from CD in the Bios - only Auto but it does try and then tells me there is a problem so I can't actually get to the reloading stage which is why I want to start again from scratch now I know there is not a problem with the hard drive - or computer 1. As a last resort I might have to take the dvd drive from 2 and put it in 1 to see if that solves the problem but other CD/DVD's work in it so I am stumped.
 
If its an IDE, it might be the HD jumpers as suggested by Tulipone, some puters are a bit funny, try it set as Master and then if that doesnt work, as drive select. :shrug:


edit: oh, and I pressume you have left the cables connected to both HD and DVD exactly as they were? Not swapped them or anything?
 
Yes, all I originally did was take the existing drive out and put the new one in.

I just want to try it from scratch again which is why I want to know how to get to the command prompt and the exact command for reformatting it

Edit: I am no expert - put both these computers together 9 and 4 years ago respectively and have upgraded them since but very much trial and error :)
 
Kerioak said:
Yes, all I originally did was take the existing drive out and put the new one in.

I just want to try it from scratch again which is why I want to know how to get to the command prompt and the exact command for reformatting it
Click to expand...

well its a bit difficult if you cant get a disc to work, because you need it either running in repair mode from an xp disc, or a boot floppy. Can you fit it to computer 2 as a slave and format from there, either via windows, or through command prompt? [or indeed, stick it in a usb caddy and do same] The problem as I see it is not being able to format it, your XP disc will do that for you, its actually getting computer 1 to recognize it in the first place and allow the install disc to run :bonk:

if memory serves, in command prompt the command is simply 'format D:', or whatever the drive letter is :shrug:
 
Ok, if you cant plug it into 2 as a slave and therefore format via windows, plug it in as master on 2, boot up with XP disc in drive, and once its loaded the files, and you get the option to run either repair or install, select repair. Follow the onscreen instructions, it will basically take you to command prompt. If it asks for a password and you didnt add one, just enter through it.

Typing in 'help' will list all commands available.

I honestly can't remember if you can format from repair console, but assuming you can, that should do the trick. The command will be something like format c: if I recall aright... :thinking:
 
If you can get into XP to get a command line you go: Start - Run - CMD

To format from the command line (as above) type: format c:

If you can get the Windows CD to boot, it will give you the option to reformat and partition your drive.

If you can boot a CD but it doesn't see the hard drive, check that the BIOS is looking for the right device in the right place, that the cables are correct and that the jumpers are set right. Does the BIOS see the drive?

The drive may need to be low level formatted but the computer needs to see it to do it (CMD Line as above fdisk c: - or see http://www.ariolic.com/activesmart/low-level-format.html)

Chris
 
When the new hard drive is fitted to pc1 when you go into the BIOS can you see that drive in the Standard CMOS features section?
 
If the computer is quite old, there is a possibility the bios might not recognise a new larger drive. I once had this problem with an old Dell 2.4 GHz P4 I was given. It wouldn't install on a 250 GB or 160 GB ATA drive, but XP did install on an 80GB drive.
 
I think you're struggling with the 'wrong' problem. You should format from within the OS installation utility. Your problem is being unable to successfully boot from the CD. Can you tell us more about your bios settings and the exact error message you get.
 
Have a very, very careful look at the BIOS.

There is bound to be a setting for the boot order.

Once you have set it for CD first, then your XP disc is all you need for reformatting etc.
 
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