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Format / XP Help

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by mikep

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Hello,

Please can you help me with the following:

I want to do a complete format of my H/Disk. I am running Windows XP. I have backed up all the files from Windows/I386 directory to CD ready as I never got an XP CD when I purchased my laptop as this was the only way I could save my XP instalation files. I have tried a dummy run with my XP CD by booting into dos and then typing 'Win32nt'at the D:\ but all I get is the following message saying, 'Will not run in DOS' so how do I install windows XP once I have formatted my H/Disk? I would like to make a dual boot system running XP and maybe Win98 or ME. Do I have to make 98 or ME as my primary operating system and then install XP? or can I install XP first and then 98 or ME? after partitioning my H/Disk?

I hope you can give me some advice on how to do the above.

Thank you

Mike

8 replies

by thechas

IOf you are comfortable that you have all the XP install files, and have the product key.
What I would do is download the floppy boot file from Microsoft.
Remember, your product key and the serial number are not the same thing.
The XP product keyis not stored anywhere on the system.

It expands to 6 or 7 floppies. Just make sure that you get the correct version of the file for your version of XP.

I am curious as to why you want to clear the drive and start over.
I strongly recommend looking for alternate methods to correct whatever problem is causing you to desire to re-install XP.

Keep in mind, that you may need to;
re-activate,
download all the updates over again,
install all of your applications,
reset all of your personal setings.

by thechas

I do agree with soulriders response to the other posting of this question.
This likely won't work.

If your laptop mfg will not sell you a CD, I suggest you purchase an OEM CD from one of the many re-sellers.
www.bigclearence.com is one I have dealt with.

I read that HP, in response to complaints from users is setting up a program to sell XP CDs on request to their PC purchasers.

For your own benefit, bug the laptop mfg for a CD before you wipe the partition.

by thechas

Re-read the second half of your question.
Have a seperate partition for each OS.
Install the oldest OS first.
Remember that you will have the best performance if you only share data between OS's. Sharing application software installs doesn't work well.
For further details, check out the dual boot section at www.aumha.org
or www.bootdisk.com

You may be able to work around the XP install problem using software like partition magic and partition commander.
This way, you wouldn't need to wipe the disk first.

by mphoffar

From the way you're talking, you need to just winnt.exe, not winnt32.exe, from the i386 directory.

If you want, winnt /s:d:\i386 will point setup to the right place where it'll get the files from, but if you don't use the /s switch the first thing setup will ask you what directory to use and default to d:\i386.

A normal 98 bootdisk should be all you need. You'll also want a copy of smartdsk on there because setup will be like molasas if you're not running it (you'll get a warning if you don't have it running).

As as the dual booting, you're better off installing 98 or ME first and then installing XP over the top of it. If you do it the other way around, it'll be easier to just use something like bootmagic or partition commander to boot the two.

Good luck to you

Mark

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