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Need to re-install WinXP

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by markcconcept

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I want to format my drive, and do a totally clean re-install of XP, but don't seem to be able to. I'm the Administrator on my home PC, running WinXp, with 512MgRAM, on an AMD Duron Processor at 1.2gHz. I have a 20gig and a 40gig hard drive. The 20 being the system drive, and the 40 being brand new (formatted to NTFS). I want to install XP on the 40, and make that the system drive, keeping the 20 as a back up drive. ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Also, if Donovan Marsden is out there, could you PLEASE contact me? I've lost your e-mail address again!!!

5 replies

by willcomp

The 40GB drive needs to be primary master drive. I recommend that you disconnect 20GB drive until XP install is finished.

You final configuration, assuming both drives are on same IDE channel, would be 40GB drive master and 20GB drive slave.

Dalton

by thechas

First, boot up and run the file and settings transfer utility on the XP CD to set up your existing drive to be a source for file and settings recovery.

Then, as Dalton stated, your best option is to set the new drive as a single drive and have just it and your CD drive connected.

Boot off of your XP CD and install Windows.

Pay close attention to the drive letter assigned to the installation.
The installer should assign C: to the 40GB drive.
However, it may assign the existing drive letter.

If the drive is assigned a letter other than C:, step back through the install process to the option to delete the existing partition.
Delete the existing partition. (All data on the drive will be lost)
Then, create a new partition for XP.

Once you are done installing XP, you can install the 20GB drive as the slave drive.
(Change jumper settings on both drives as needed.)

Then, boot up and run the files and settings transfer wizard to recover your files and account settings.

Chas

by hrhold1

the other techs have given you good advice ,but, if you dont want to do a complete install of all software also as well as the OS. Borrow or buy a copy of Norton Ghost, leave the drives as you have them (20=master,40=slave) and image the 20 onto the 40 gig drive. All your applications will be the same, all your OS updates will remain. Essentially you will have a 40 gig drive set up the way you had your 20 gig, with all the added storage.
Good Luck ... H

by markcconcept

Poster rated this answer.
Thanks for that. Much appreciated. Couldn't get a copy of ghost tho, so I've been re-installing all the software, (VERY time consuming!!)
Don't suppose you can tell me why the system keeps crashing now? I keep getting the message that Internet Explorer has generated errors, and the system will shut down!!

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