cannot format / install xp

I assembled my own system a few years ago, biostar M7NCD motherboard, Athlon
2.6ghz processor, about 750mb memory and 160gb hard drive, split into three
partitions C-D-E.

I had a problem with XP last week and could not re-install. I tried to
format partition C but then had the error - Invalid Partition, and this
occurs everytime at start up. I have tried to install XP from disk and
managed to format partition C, but cannot get any further, as even though it
has formatted, the error message - invalid partition has now returned. All
three partitions show up to choose, when I format though.

I purchased a new drive to format, install XP, recover the lost data on
Partition E of the old 160gb drive, then try to format the whole of the
160gb drive to start a fresh and use for XP only and some data.
Unfortunately I cannot format the new drive. It is 320gb, but I use a
slipstreamed XP with XP2, so I dont see the size should be a problem. The
big problem is that any option page is only shown for a brief second (
milliseconds really ) then the blue error screen appears - irql not less or
equal and the system freezes. I have managed to slect several options after
many installations, and progressed to format, it formatted 31% then the blue
error message, the next time it got to 14% and stopped. What options do I
have to try to get this formatted completely ? Even though 31% was
formatted, it showed up as not being formatted the next time. Pressing C to
partition a particular sizxe has no effect, I have to format the whole
305gb. I could ask how to correct the error, but it gives no clues so could
be anything. Although the system was working ok last week and I have not
installed any new hardware.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: reformatting xp
    ... to do a low level format just to delete one partition. ... In order to do a very clean install you may want to download and ... format your primary partition and install XP. ... drives) and i just want to format one of the partitions. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: How do I label a disk?
    ... now I am going to definitely install solaris but I have this ... > to a dead disk. ... I tried to label it with the format command: ... format> partition ...
    (comp.unix.solaris)
  • Re: MS Whistler Personal
    ... You've not done this the right way, start again and format the C: partition to the NTFS file format and install XP on it. ... One thing for sure is that the partition on which you installed Windows is is way too small for an XP installation, you may as well delete the partition C: & F: and then create one large partition with the free space and format it NTFS. ... After you create and format the new partition exit the Windows setup program and reboot the computer and start the installation again and select to install XP on the new partition that you just formated earlier. ... The Windows XP CD is bootable so I don't know why it doesn't boot the computer, check that again and make sure you select the right boot order in the BIOS and then pay attention when the computer boots, you may have to press a key to boot the cd, you may see a message telling you to press a particular key to boot with the CD. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: cannot format new drive or re-install on old one
    ... format partition C but then had the error - Invalid Partition, ... I have tried to install XP from disk on both ... partition C and D, and managed to format and install a few files from disk, ... developed a problem with one of the DIMM sockets, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: MS Whistler Personal
    ... One thing for sure is that the partition on which you installed Windows is is way too small for an XP installation, you may as well delete the partition C: & F: and then create one large partition with the free space and format it NTFS. ... After you create and format the new partition exit the Windows setup program and reboot the computer and start the installation again and select to install XP on the new partition that you just formated earlier. ... The Windows XP CD is bootable so I don't know why it doesn't boot the computer, check that again and make sure you select the right boot order in the BIOS and then pay attention when the computer boots, you may have to press a key to boot the cd, you may see a message telling you to press a particular key to boot with the CD. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)