Re: Crazy XP reinstall...what does this all mean???

Create a DOS boot disk in Windows XP (using 'format' and checking the
'create MS Start-up disk') then download a floppy-sized copy of the program
'pqmagict.exe' which is rather an old version of Partition Magic for DOS but
works very well (and because it is old it is free). Booting with the DOS
disk, put in a second floppy with pqmagict.exe on it and type

a:\pqmagict

....to start the program. Using the program create two fat partitions (if
you make one 'NTFS' XP SETUP will only want to re-format it anyway). Do
this by re-sizing your Win98 partition and creating another fat partition in
the space you have created (Give Win98 about double the amount of used space
it occupies for the value of the new size).
Put the XP Installation disk in and reboot to it. You will then have an
'empty' partition in which to install XP with no issues of overwriting
anything.
Using Pqmagict.exe is relatively simple affair of using 'option keys' to
go through lists of available operations like resize; delete; make new. and
can create and format the partition in one go (unlike fdisk) and select any
partition as 'Active' (the one that tries to boot) (unlike fdisk).

link for pqmagict.exe:-
http://perso.mediaserv.net/ganja/softs/tools/Bin-2000/PQMAGICT.EXE

--

Cheers, Tim Med***, Peckham, London.


"kim42" <kim42@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:EE59C99F-D839-4AE5-9512-75D0C7D4AD97@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-- I am at my wits end! I have been trying all day to do a reinstall of
XP.
It should not be this hard to do, but I am running into all kinds of
problems. I have a Dell xp reinstallation cd that Dell sent me. I have a
Dell
dimension 4600 computer.
I started the installation this morning and I cancelled the install after
I
received this message: "You chose to install xp on a partition that
contains
another operating system. this may cause the other operating system to not
function properly. It is not recommended to install multi systems on a
single
partition."
The only choices available for me to choose were Fat or NTFS...I chose
NTFS.
I was told to delete the windows partition and recreate it. after that I
will be given the option to reformat the drive. Well that didn't work
either. here is what I got when I tried to delete the partition:
"Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on the selected
partition. This partition contains temporary setup files that are required
to
complete the installation." I Had to cancell the installation once again.
So, I decided to do a restore using F11 even though it wouldn't be a clean
install like I originally wanted...by this time I was getting desperate
and
willing to settle. Guess what? That didn't work either! It just took me
back
to the same place that the Dell cd had me.

My question at this point is: what good is the darn Dell reinstallation cd
or the restore thru F11 if it won't let you reinstall!!!!? I guess you can
tell I am not too happy right now.

My next step was to put the reinstallation cd back in and try again with
the
unrecommended choice of selecting the NTFS partition again with the
warning
coming up "It is not recommended to install multi systems on a single
partition." But it does give the option to go ahead with the install
anyway,
so I chose that option. This what it said after I chose it "A windows
folder
already exists that may contain a windows installation. If you continue,
the
existing Window installation will be overwritten. All files,subfolders,
users
accts.,applications, security & desktop settings for that Windows
installation will be deleted. The 'My Documents' folder may also be
deleted.

To use the folder & delete the existing windows installation in it, PRESS
L

To use a different folder, PRESS ESC.

F3 to quit setup

Guess what I chose? Yeah F3 again! Oh woe is me, I can't believe this day!

Should I have just selected L and deleted the existing Windows? I almost
did, but I chickened out and decided to come here first for advice.

Anyone...tell me what to do? Besides throwing this computer out the
window!
Thanks for all your help!!!

kim


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