Can't find C:/ with boot-up disk

[Steam2002]

I am trying to re-format my current hard drive so I can get rid of W98 and load Windows XP. I used Windows98 to create a start up disk. When I re-boot with the start up disk, I can't find my old c:\ drive. When I type in C:, it changes to C:\> but when I do a DIR, I realize that it's reading my 2nd partition on my 2nd hard drive (which is usually my e:\ drive.) It's reading both the a:\ drive and b:\ drive as my 1.44 floppy, and my d:\ as RAMDRIVE?!?. It reads my e:\ correctly as my cd-rom drive. Why can't I find my c:\ correctly to allow me to reformat?

 

[cdogg]

What partitions did you have originally? Win98 was on your C:\ drive correct? What's normally on your e:\ drive?

Sounds like the startup disk is loading the default partition (which in this case appears to be e:\)

~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- Albert Einstein

 

[Steam2002]

Yes, Win98 is on my c:\ drive. That was the only original partition on the computer. When I purchased a new HD I split that into two partitions (e:\ and f:\). How can you change the default partition?

 

[dakota81]

If all you're doing is destroying the harddrive to start over - don't worry about any of that stuff. Just format a disc and make it bootable (i.e. copy system files option). From the windows\command directory there's a file called fdisk.exe. Copy that to the floppy disc. Reboot, run fdisk, and destroy the partitions you don't want anymore. Then boot from the WinXP CD and begin installation.

 

[cdogg]

Yeah, since you already have a Win98 startup disk, you can use the format option from there. I agree it's best to start from scratch.

- Just type fdisk from your DOS prompt, hit enter, and blow away all partitions

- Reboot using the startup disk, type format c:\ and hit enter


Now you're ready to install XP

~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- Albert Einstein

 

[gpalmer711]

You shouldn't need to use a boot disk at all. Change your Bios settings so that it looks at you CD first then the Harddrive and Floppy Drive at startup. You can then boot from the Windows XP CD-Rom.

During setup WinXp asks you if you want to Format your HD.

Hope this helps Greg Palmer

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Any feed back is appreciated.

And remember if it doesn't work just flush it down the toilet.

 

[Steam2002]

Alright, I was able to reformat the hard drive. No problem there. I then was able to boot with the setup disk and started the Win XP install process. After copying over the files, my machine re-booted. After the initial start-up but before getting into Windows, I get the following error:

Windows could not start becuase of the following ARC firmware boot configuration problem:
did not properly generate ARC name for HAL and system paths. Please check the Windows documentation about ARC configuration options and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

HUH?