HELP, i am having trouble re formatting my harddrive, I have two operating systems installed at once???

Question

I tried to reformat my harddrive, but now I have both XP media center and XP Pro on at the same time, but neither works correctly (resolution cant be changed etc) When I boot up the computer, it gives me the option which to boot from.   When I run an operating system install CD, i have two unpartitioned parts, and one unpartitioned part, part C.....this is where the two are, but if i try to delete this one, it wont let me, and if I overwrite it, nothign changes, how do i fix this

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The reason you are having problems reformatting is that you have two OSs installed, you need to uninstall both OSs first you can not just reformat your HDD until you have done this.

The process you need to go through is too long and complicated to post on Yahoo answers (not that I am for one minuet suggesting that you computer efficiency is lacking) simply that its too long to post.

I would suggest taking this to a computer repair shop and getting it fixed by them

purdygoode · Answer

you need to have them on separate partitions, one on "C&#92;" and one on "D&#92;", or any two different partitions. You may have to have a computer shop ZERO the  hard drive and start over. 


op. system install / re-install steps  



print a copy of this file  

print a copy of computer  notes 

back-up files, programs ;  

power down  

disconnect  network  and external drives  

power up 

delete tif files ( temp internet files ) and cookies;  

un-install  programs; 

delete folders;  

delete  accounts  

empty recycle bin  

restart computer  

Go to BIOS and set boot order with CD boot 1st  

place O.S. CD in CD drive, 'cept don't close it

power down    

close CD drive with O.S. CD in it 

restart computer 

format primary HDD; 

( Fn + F10 ) = disc eject   ( DELL )  

install op. system;  

adjust screen resolution;  

load software for external drives and hardware; 

test for internet connection;    

install additional programs as necessary  


If your computer is several years old, consider buying a new hard drive for the fresh install of the op. sys.. 

When re-installing the o.s., allocate 15gb (15000mb) of space for the op. sys.. Format in NTFS. Then, after you boot, you can allocate / format the rest of the hard drive under disk management;

>(r-clik) my computer 
> manage 
> disk management 

Allocate +/- 15 to 20 gb of space for each partition, format in NTFS.

Install additional software (printer, wireless adaptor, office suite, web browser, widgets,etc.) to a partition. AVOID installing to the partition that host's the op.sys.. 

download to a partition, install software and all other files to another partition 

With only the op. sys. on the hosting partition it will be easier for your computer to run the op., and easier to run everything else. 

And, with your files and software on other partitions, your stuff is already in back-up, and the next op. Sys. Re-install will be already half done and much easier to do  and you will only have to format the host partition and not the whole hard drive  



pg

Trending News

HELP, i am having trouble re formatting my harddrive, I have two operating systems installed at once???

2 Answers