hmm..

Started by Zairyn Arsyn, October 10, 2009, 04:19:35 PM

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Zairyn Arsyn

2 things:

1. i am trying to format my hard drive (by formatting it through my computer) and install Win XP Pro x64.
but i can't seem to format it, i keep getting the following message listed below:

2. earlier this week (Wednesday) my computer was attacked security tool, i just thought i would mention that if it helps.

Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive, and make sure that no window is displaying the contents of the drive, then try formatting again

i'm confused ???... i was certain that there was'nt any other programs or utilities running, and i'm not exactly sure what to do.

thanks,

zlain
WARNING! WIZARDS! DO NOT PREDICT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTTERS UNLESS YOU OBEY BIG HAPPY TOES.

i7 2600k 3.4GHZ|G.skill 16GB 1600MHZ|Asus P8P67 EVO|Evga 770GTX 4GB|SB X-FI|Antec 750W
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PG

Are you doing it from Windows or from the XP installation disc? The installer gives you 3 options when installing windows. Wipe the hard drive quickly (make windows think it's blank and just write your data over the top), completely purge all data from the hard drive, or install windows over the top of the existing copy (if you want to keep your documents, wouldn't recommend it to be honest).

If you're doing it from windows I don't think it would work as formatting requires that the hard drive is completely free from any access. So just whack the XP disc in from boot, then choose quick format. I think it's the top option.
Figured out how to do clicky signatures

Zairyn Arsyn

thank you for your reply.

from windows.

I'm not trying to keep my documents, I'm trying to go from win xp 32bit to win xp pro 64bit

WARNING! WIZARDS! DO NOT PREDICT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTTERS UNLESS YOU OBEY BIG HAPPY TOES.

i7 2600k 3.4GHZ|G.skill 16GB 1600MHZ|Asus P8P67 EVO|Evga 770GTX 4GB|SB X-FI|Antec 750W
http://zlain81.deviantart.com/

Henry Blewer

The best way to install Windows is to do a fresh install. Boot from the DVD/CD rom drive. The install program should ask how you wish to proceed. Tell it to do a clean install. The installer should ask if you want to format your drive. Tell it yes, it will take more time, but will be worth it. When the format is finished, the installation should begin automatically.
http://flickr.com/photos/njeneb/
Forget Tuesday; It's just Monday spelled with a T

Zairyn Arsyn

I'm back now.

formatted & installed. :)

i did'nt realise it worked that way...
WARNING! WIZARDS! DO NOT PREDICT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTTERS UNLESS YOU OBEY BIG HAPPY TOES.

i7 2600k 3.4GHZ|G.skill 16GB 1600MHZ|Asus P8P67 EVO|Evga 770GTX 4GB|SB X-FI|Antec 750W
http://zlain81.deviantart.com/

Henry Blewer

http://flickr.com/photos/njeneb/
Forget Tuesday; It's just Monday spelled with a T

PG

Nice work, enjoy the 64 bit goodness
Figured out how to do clicky signatures

Zairyn Arsyn

now i have another problem.

it appears my DVD/CD-Rom Drive isn't appearing on my computer, but it wasn't like this from the beginning.

windows cant seem to load the load the driver, it thinks it's either corrupted or missing..

i tried installing a new driver for but it did not work.

any ideas??
WARNING! WIZARDS! DO NOT PREDICT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTTERS UNLESS YOU OBEY BIG HAPPY TOES.

i7 2600k 3.4GHZ|G.skill 16GB 1600MHZ|Asus P8P67 EVO|Evga 770GTX 4GB|SB X-FI|Antec 750W
http://zlain81.deviantart.com/

PG

Go into device manager, right click the DVD drive and goto uninstall. If it gives you an option to delete the driver don't check it. Then when it's done refreshing (a lot) press the scan for hardware button on the toolbar. If that doesn't solve it then try again but delete the driver (if it gives the option) and use a driver from the web. Device manager should tell you what it's called. If it doesn't or is generic and you have a prebuilt machine, look on the manufacturers website. If you built it yourself, well I'd imagine you'd know what DVD drive you have then. :D
Figured out how to do clicky signatures

Zairyn Arsyn

thank you, I'll try that.

it's a pre-built machine, but I chose all the parts. :)
WARNING! WIZARDS! DO NOT PREDICT THE BEHAVIOR OF OTTERS UNLESS YOU OBEY BIG HAPPY TOES.

i7 2600k 3.4GHZ|G.skill 16GB 1600MHZ|Asus P8P67 EVO|Evga 770GTX 4GB|SB X-FI|Antec 750W
http://zlain81.deviantart.com/

Henry Blewer

A friend of mine had this problem back in the XP days. I used the device manager just like PG. The difference is I did not do anything except scan for a new driver. This worked. Download.com has a program called TechTracker. It is a freeware program they wrote/had written to check for new versions of all sorts of stuff. It may help.
http://flickr.com/photos/njeneb/
Forget Tuesday; It's just Monday spelled with a T

TheBlackHole

The "XP days"? People STILL use XP. A lot of people. A lot of people even downgraded from Vista because they thought it sucked. And you think that the Age of XP is over?! I have three computers, one is the one I have Terragen on, one is the one I usually post from, and the third is just sitting there, under my bed. If one of my other computers dies and my laptop is broken, I just use the one under my bed.
Computer 1: desktop, XP, TG0.9, TG2
Computer 2: laptop, XP, IE, FireFox
Computer 3: desktop, 98, found at garage sale for $3, previous owner didn't wipe hard drive, I got a lot of freebies...
They just issued a tornado warning and said to stay away from windows. Does that mean I can't use my computer?

otakar

Just getting a new machine at work to replace the currently leased one. OS: Windows XP 32 bit. Gonna be at least 2012 till we see Windows 7 around here...

Henry Blewer

I use Vista. I like Vista. He's using Windows 7 RC. He loves it. He had many problems using XP. My friend is not very computer savvy, and his kids don't listen and mess up his computers. 'Windows 7', he says, 'makes it easy to correct things my kids do.'

Also, XP is around nine years old. In computer 'ages' this is quite old. Good luck.
http://flickr.com/photos/njeneb/
Forget Tuesday; It's just Monday spelled with a T

TheBlackHole

Really? My friend tried Windows 7 Beta, and he said it crashed all the time and it sucked becuse of it. He switched back to XP after that.
They just issued a tornado warning and said to stay away from windows. Does that mean I can't use my computer?