Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Windows XP Pro Upgrade Will NOT Format Drive

0 helpful
10 replies

by ggreenwood4

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I've run into a problem I've never come acrooss before. I'm trying to install Windows XP Pro Upgrade on a new computer, New MSI Motherboard, New case, New 450 Watt Power supply, NEW HARD DRIVE,Used memory, Used DVD and Used CD players. I boot the Windows XP CD from the CD player, it loads all inital files, askes to verify an older Version of Windows (ME) which it does. Then It asks to format the hard drive, (Quick or full Format)....it doesn't seem to matter as it formats the drive, when done a sceen appears and says Windows Can Not Format the Hard Drive, and that the drive might be bad. I've installed 1 New SATA drive and two New New IDE Hard Drives and STILL get the same error message. What can posibly be the matter? Please HELP Me!!!

10 replies

by toivo talikka

Did you run the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor from the XP installation CD - details in http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=316639 ?

I assume you have gone through the usual elimination of faults caused by faulty IDE cables and CD players. What about RAM? Or trying a different CPU? If you get the same error on three different hard drives, perhaps the CPU or the motherboard is faulty. But they run ME all right, do they?

Have you tried a full install of XP, instead of the upgrade?

by shantie

You seem to be having the same problems I just had, except I was using a full version. Have a look at my question under PC troubleshooting posted 26/1/06 Master Boot Record. You will notice in my last comment how I FINALLY managed to fix the problem. Hope that helps Shantie

by shantie

sorry, Shantie again, I did not mention that my question is closed so you will need to look in Closed Questions

by korgmeister

before you assume any failure possibility, please check and BIOS setting and make sure it detects your new hardisk when it is boot. (BIOS screen)

if there is no hardisk detected from the BIOS screen, make sure you installed the hardisk properly, check the jumper setting.

only then use a copy of Win XP (Pro/Home) and boot the cd, DO NOT use Win XP Upgrade edition cd. it is not mean for fresh installation.

by jim.myler

This is kind of simple but I have had problems before similar to this and it might help. Have you tried another CD?

by wlbowers

Get the software from the drive maker and test the drives. New equipment fails too.

Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp
Seagate http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/utils.html
Hitachi/IBM
http://tinyurl.com/wb0f
Maxtor
http://tinyurl.com/ie1h
Fujitsu
http://www.fcpa.com/download/hard-drives/
Samsung
http://tinyurl.com/3h74k
Toshiba Toshiba does not have a utility for drive testing. Use the Hitachi/IBM. It will perform almost all of its test on Non-IBM drives.

Lee

This discussion is closed to new replies.