Hardware or WinXP problem?

[Megamorph]

I have a system with Win98 on it and want to do a clean install of WinXP Pro. When I boot from the cd, it will only give me the option to basically install XP over the existing OS.

In the past, I have always installed it on a new, fresh hard drive. How do I get it to reformat the HD so I can start fresh?

 

[prosaic]

Read those screens in the Windows XP setup program. You can repair the current installation, delete the current partition(s) on the hard drive, create new one(s), format, install. It's all there if you read the screens.

- prosaic

 

[Megamorph]

It will not let me delete the current partition which contains the Win98 OS. It gives me an error message saying that it can't be deleted b/c it contains files that are needed.

 

[NumbaJuan]

format it using a win98 boot disk, althought your xp cd should let you delete, recreate and then format

 

[prosaic]

Originally posted by: Megamorph
It will not let me delete the current partition which contains the Win98 OS. It gives me an error message saying that it can't be deleted b/c it contains files that are needed.

There is no way that the Windows XP setup procedure will refuse to delete that partition -- if you are booting from the Windows XP CD and making the appropriate choices.

It is not appropriate to use the old Windows 98 fdisk utility. You want to do this properly using NTFS as the file system, right? Just boot from the setup CD and follow the prompts.

- prosaic

 

[mrwiseguy]

well, are you sure you don't have the XP upgrade pack ?