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Thread: New XP install

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    New XP install

    After getting a virus I thought it best to install xp again and format my drive. Went through the procedure and when I tried to delete the partition where my OS was I got a message saying I couldn't because system files were present. So I carried on thinking I could still delete the OS folder and then get prompted for formatting but again no luck. After deleting the OS folder the installation backs up all your files and programs and I got a new XP install but the virus is probably still here.

    I even tried installing a second hard drive which i had laying around and ended formatting it and installing windows on it too but still can't format the old hard drive where the virus is. So now I got 2 drives each of them with a windows xp in it. So I though I'll completely remove the old hard drive and just keep the drive I added on, since it doesn't have a virus. I got a message saying: NTLDR is missing and it wouldn't boot into xp and won't boot from the XP CD either. So I'm stuck with using the original hard drive which is infected.

    I know it's a bit long-winded but would really appriciate your help guys.

    Thanks in advance.

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    Kirstie Allsopp Theo's Avatar
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    Bloody adverts deleting my text. Fat load of use they are when you're trying to help someone.

    Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted:

    When you turn on your PC with the XP CD in, are you not getting either:
    a) A prompt asking for you to press a button to boot using the CD.
    b) Automatic booting into Windows installation

    If there is no acknowledgement of a CD being in the drive before Windows boots up, you will have to change the boot order in your BIOS.

    Turn on your PC, and immediately press the appropriate button to enter the BIOS. There will be an option where you can select the primary boot device - make sure that the CD drive is first/at the top of the list, and the hard drive is below it.

    You should then be able to boot into the XP CD installation when you turn your PC on.

    I hope that helps a little.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fisnik View Post
    After getting a virus I thought it best to install xp again and format my drive. Went through the procedure and when I tried to delete the partition where my OS was I got a message saying I couldn't because system files were present. So I carried on thinking I could still delete the OS folder and then get prompted for formatting but again no luck. After deleting the OS folder the installation backs up all your files and programs and I got a new XP install but the virus is probably still here.

    I even tried installing a second hard drive which i had laying around and ended formatting it and installing windows on it too but still can't format the old hard drive where the virus is. So now I got 2 drives each of them with a windows xp in it. So I though I'll completely remove the old hard drive and just keep the drive I added on, since it doesn't have a virus. I got a message saying: NTLDR is missing and it wouldn't boot into xp and won't boot from the XP CD either. So I'm stuck with using the original hard drive which is infected.

    I know it's a bit long-winded but would really appriciate your help guys.

    Thanks in advance.
    erm Cant you connect the two drives, the infected one as the second, then format it from the first. Alternately boot up from a floppy disk and format from that.

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    I can boot from the cd-rom as normal but I'm not able to format the infected drive due to it saying partition cannot be delted because it contains system files.

    Also if I take the infected drive out so I'm left with just one drive, Windows won't boot. It says: NTLDR is missing. Even from the CD-rom it still won't boot and I've set the cd-rom as the booting device in the bios. I still get NTLDR is missing.

    So I'm stuck with having to use the infected drive or I can't boot into Windows.

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    Maybe booting from a floppy is the only way but my floppy disk got knackered a few months back and I don't have one at the moment. I'm annoyed at why it won't install as normal and am wondering if there's anything else I can do before I'm forced to go and buy a floppy drive.

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    check the jumpers are set correctly on the cdrom. also make sure that the cdrom is set as the first boot device in bios and hard disk as second. On boot, the computer should say "Press any key to boot from cdrom..." (or words to that effect. Press enter immediately and it should boot to the windows cd. If it doesnt, the cd might be corrupt - if thats possible. Otherwise, I don't know. Maybe borrow a cd from someone and use that and your windows product key to install.

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    plan B could be a low level format by paying a visit to the hard drive makers website and grabbing there diagnostics tool ?

    no way is XP going to argue with (as it see's) a brand new drive

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    Quote Originally Posted by fisnik View Post
    Maybe booting from a floppy is the only way but my floppy disk got knackered a few months back and I don't have one at the moment. I'm annoyed at why it won't install as normal and am wondering if there's anything else I can do before I'm forced to go and buy a floppy drive.
    Well if you have a virus and can't remove it with an anti virus program, you have to get to your system before windows loads, so that means booting in linux or basic C prompt from a clean floppy.
    Can't remember if you can boot to the C prompt from an old win98 CD if you have winxp installed, but it's worth a try if you have win98 lying around.
    A floppy drive is about a fiver if there is the right sort of shop near you.

    E.g.
    http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products...mentID=93&MID=

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    When you boot from the CD in the first few minutes of the install you should get the option to delete any partitions before you get to the format drive menu. Its the L key to delete if I recall. I do this fairly often to wipe out installs to do a reinstall

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    Thanks for the help guys. As I said booting from the CD-rom doesn't help as I can't delete the partition that windows is on. Some message saying that it contains system files so it can't be done.

    I think what Gonzo and Excalibur2 is sugesting is the only way out of it. Didn't know that there was special programs from the hard drive makers so thanks for the tip-up Gonzo.

    Here's what seagate sugests:

    http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.js...00dd04090aRCRD

    I still need a floppy drive as the program runs from a boot disk but I'll be able to get hold of one soon, so we'll see how this works out.

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    u must have missed the tick box for the bootable ISO download http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...ds/discwizard/

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    Can I just confirm what process you are actually performing when you try and reformat and get this message? The reason I ask is that is what happens when you attempt to reformat when trying to reinstall by running the CD from within windows which isn't the way to solve this

    Are you definately rebooting, booting straight to CD (not windows) by pressing a key and then within the blue screen text based setup procedure for Windows pressing the letter D and then L when instructed to delete the partition?

    Using this method does still give you a warning about the system partition but its the next screen that gives you the choice of pressing L to delete

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    Quote Originally Posted by GoNz0 View Post
    u must have missed the tick box for the bootable ISO download http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/sup...ds/discwizard/
    Yea must have missed that.

    Thanks again. I will try and sort this out tommorrow as I have the whole day free.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prism View Post
    Can I just confirm what process you are actually performing when you try and reformat and get this message? The reason I ask is that is what happens when you attempt to reformat when trying to reinstall by running the CD from within windows which isn't the way to solve this

    Are you definately rebooting, booting straight to CD (not windows) by pressing a key and then within the blue screen text based setup procedure for Windows pressing the letter D and then L when instructed to delete the partition?

    Using this method does still give you a warning about the system partition but its the next screen that gives you the choice of pressing L to delete

    I think I'm booting from the CD-rom. Unless I have the wrong impression somehow.

    What I do is this:

    I put windows xp cd-rom in.
    I turn off my pc.
    I turn it on again.
    I get 2 options. Windows xp, or windows xp setup.
    I chose set up.
    Normal blue screen setup continues.
    When I get to the partition part, pressing D to delete gives me the mentioned message.
    I carry on anyway and press enter to continue as there's no other way.
    Next screen I can press L to delete the windows installation and it does delete but it still copies the programs and files that are in my drive.

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    That sounds fine

    So after you delete with L then the next screen lets you create a new partition and then it starts copying files. At this point it is copying the clean xp source files from your xp CD onto the new clean partition it has just re-created. It sounds like a normal reinstallation to me and your virus will be gone. Its not backing any of your existing files up like you mention in your first post - they have been wiped at the point you pressed L

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    Well the thing is after I pressed L, it said, deleting Windows installation and after that it said copying existing files or something to that effect. It never asked me for a new partition or for format options. It just carried on with the installation.

    After it was done all my programs and files were still in the drive. Obviously they didn't appear installed but the program files folder was still there with all my old programs present.

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