Need Help Quick, Windows setup and partitions...

[samst0r]

Hey,
Well the other day my computer completely broke down for some unknown reason, leaving me with the BSoD everytime it started booting into windows, i tried all the F8 settings to boot into windows and still had the same problem.

So i decided to format the C: drive and start over, I formated the C: partition and ran into a problem, this is how it came about:

I inserted windows xp disk, and booted.
Pressed f6 for my RAID drivers, selected both and then continued.
Pressed enter again to install windows,
Pressed F8 to accept terms and conditions
I am now at the screen where it says choose a partition to install windows.
I went to my C: partition and pressed enter.
I got an error saying this:

"...However this disk does not contain a WindowsXP compatible Partition...". So I went back deleted the partition and recreated it, and still had the problem.

Later I remembered that i created some norton partition magic rescue disks (which allow you to boot into partition magic). I had a look at the RAID drive and deleted the C: partition yet again, and recreated it again in NTFS and then formatted it. I then activated it.

I then returned to windows boot cd and went through the process described above and got exactly the same error and now I don't have any sort of idea what to do.

Please help....
Sam

 

[sturm]

If you have access to a windows me computer make a boot disk from it and run fdisk. Delete all partitions and go ahead and format it. When its formatted go back into fdisk and delete the partition.
Reload off the windows xp disk and see if you can get thru it then.
Also check out bootdisk.com if you cant find an me computer.

 

[samst0r]

Ok thanks for the help but...Is there not a way of doing this without formatting all the other partitions on the RAID, because starting from scratch sucks...

Sam

 

[sturm]

Its possible when you made the other partitions that you made them as an extended parition. Do you remember?
You can boot to partition magic right?
If so boot to partition magic and delete the c drive. Dont make a partition or format.
Reboot to the windows xp disk and have windows xp make a partition from the free space on the drive and format from within the xp setup program.
Try that and get back.

 

[samst0r]

As far as i know the partitions were as follows...

C: Primary, active

Extended
Y: - Logical
Z: - Logical

I shall try what you said too, haven't tried that, I will reply back soon with the result. 😀

Thanks for reply's

 

[samst0r]

Okay I've tested what you said in your 2nd post and it doesn't work 🙁 Still gets the same error...

Anymore ideas?

Sam 🙁

 

[hollett]

Have you tried to use fdisk/mbr from a boot disk?

This will recreate the master boot record and may allow you to install windows.

 

[samst0r]

Hmm is using a boot disk the same as doing it through the recovery console?

I will try this either way, but its just more convenient if it is 😛

Sam

 

[sturm]

Sorry to say but I think your at a last resort with this. I noticed that the y and z drives are logical on an extended partition. When you deleted the main c partition I believe you made it where y and z wont be accessable, not totaly sure though. I have done this before and had problems when I just deleted the main partition and left the logicals intack. If possible I would get any info off the y and z drives and use a boot disk to completly wipe the drive. Dont make any partitions and let the windows setup make and format them during setup.

If anyone else has a better idea let him know asap.

 

[samst0r]

Well, i'm going to completely start again on Thrusday if I don't get inspired and suddenly think of the fix... When I get to setup and i press enter I get this error which might have something to do with something lol. I had this problem with my old motherboard but I can't remember what the fix was so its extra :x

The whole RAID is 305251MB
well the C: partition is 199997MB
when i press enter to install it says
"152626 MB Disk 0 at id 2 on bus 0 on Nvatabus"

^^ might just be aload of rubbish...but I thought i was abit strange.
Oh and I get a message when i do fixmbr saying
Its a non-standard mbr and then asks me if i want to continue.

Thanks for the help peoples

Sam

 

[samst0r]

Okay, I've tried deleting all the partitions on the RAID and starting again...and i STILL have the error 🙁 🙁 🙁

I noticed that in the setup the RAID drive which is 305251 MB has "id 1"
and then once I try and partition It says its "id 2" and only 152626 MB,

When you RAID doesn't it combine the harddisks in which case the line above doesn't make sence...

Sam

🙁

 

[samst0r]

Okay I managed to fix this problem now and i have windows on my computer.
(Fixed it by unplugging the 3rd harddisk that wasn't part of the RAID)

But now, I have another problem with windows, when i download certain files (Nvidia drivers for there website) i get a this file is corrupt message. I have tried downloading these drivers from over places and different versions but there all apparently corrupt, this was also the case when i downloade ie7 beta 2.

Does anyone have a fix for this because using windows without display drivers isn't fun

Sam