Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize (
More info?)
Colin,
>"Boot off your windowsxp cd to install, and partion/format the WHOLE
>drive.
>When given the option, delete all previous partitions (created with
>MaxBlast) and create and format one large partion. (if you have a
>large drive-over 120G, windows may not recognize the full
>ammount---this is OK)."
Do Not create one large partition on the drive. if you do you will 'not' be
able to create further partitions using windows xp. You will need something
like Partition magic. Just create a partition of say 15 to 20GB for windows
xp. As scallyway say's, by all means delete all the other partitions. If you
create a partition the full size of the drive you will have no unallocated
space in which to create further partitions. By simply creating one
partition of 15 to 20GB and installing XP on that partition you will hace
approximately 140GB of unallocated space left. You can then use computer
managment in control panel to create further primary or secondary partitions
from within windows. Please note you can only create 4 primary partitions on
any drive.
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.freelanceit/index.htm
"§kullywag©-" <skullywag@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5rdd41pmvmbaedh3toqcaeo87518rin3qf@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 12:51:59 GMT, me@privacy.net wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 20:16:43 GMT, me@privacy.net wrote:
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>I have just bought a Maxtor 160Gb hard drive. Using the beautiful
>>>Maxblast3.exe I have formatted it to 7 partitions, the first one being
>>>primary and using ntfs. FAT 32 is on all others.
>>>
>>>XP won't install. I made the mistake of starting to install and
>>>realised I wasn't ready, so pressed ESC to cancel setup. Since then
>>>it has recognised that some files were already on the drive and I have
>>>taken the option of using the same partition and the same folders, but
>>>still no good.
>>>
>>>Is this because I have used more than 4 partitions? I really want 7
>>>if I can.
>>>
>>>Colin
>>
>>
>>I feel let down and humiliated.
>>
>>The old drive that took the XP installation in its stride then lost
>>the lot when I transferred it to my good computer has taken another
>>install. This morning it has booted up as though nothing had happened.
>>
>>I wonder what will happen when I connect up my new Maxtor? Will it
>>still want safe mode?
>>
>>Colin
> I'm not sure I'm following your process........ but from what you've
> recently added, I would think MaxBlast did not handle the
> partitioning, and formatting of the drive properly.
> Let's try a CLEAN start here.
> Connect your new Maxtor drive to your good pc in Primary/Master HD0
> position. Do not connect any other hard drive.
>
> Boot off your windowsxp cd to install, and partion/format the WHOLE
> drive.
> When given the option, delete all previous partitions (created with
> MaxBlast) and create and format one large partion. (if you have a
> large drive-over 120G, windows may not recognize the full
> ammount---this is OK).
>
> You can then create/resize partions AFTER installing windows.
> There are plenty of free tools for creating partitions in windows, and
> this will allow access to ALL your HD space no matter what the size of
> the disk. I personally use Partition Magic (pay).
>
> TIP: If windows setup does not "see" the other partitions you
> previously created with MaxBlast, simply boot off a win98 bootdisk,
> and remove all partitions via fdisk, and format the whole drive with
> FAT32. WindowsXP will later give you the option convert the drive
> into NTFS during install. And remember on a NEW drive, never use the
> "quick format" option. (this is ok to use on later reinstalls, but
> you want the disk fully formatted the first time you use it).
>
> It has been my experience in the past to never use a utility disk that
> comes with a new drive to partition/format the disk before OS install.
> Sometimes windows doesn't see the "quick formats" as valid NTFS or
> FAT32 partitions. Better to let Windows to reate/full format first,
> and then use the tool of your choice after windows is up and running
> to make/resize partions (and convert the ones you want to FAT32) .
>
> If you get frustrated.........give it a break, and enjoy some of this
> fine Easter Sunday.
>
>
> §kullywag©-