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View Full Version : Installing XP Pro on a brand new comp

Mateo
12-03-2005, 11:42 AM
I've been helping a friend build a new computer, we finally got the whole thing together (had an issue with the original CPU and whatnot, but now we're good.) However, we go to install Windows XP, we get to the part where it wants to format the hard drive. We selected Format for NTSF. It freezes at 0%. I tried QUick Format as well, that one instantly flew to 20% and then froze there. We left both attempts on for about 2-3 hours while we were out. The hard drive is a western digital 160GB hd, no partitions on it, but this shouldn't matter, should it?


Any help or suggestions would be great.


Thanks
Jiggy
12-03-2005, 12:22 PM
Hi Mateo Welcome to PC Guide.

I take it you created a main partition before you tried to format ?

Download and run Western Digitals drive Utilitie from link below,
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp - use in IE.
Paul Komski
12-03-2005, 05:41 PM
The hard drive is a western digital 160GB hd, no partitions on it, but this shouldn't matter, should it?
The size could be of relevance depending on the version of XP and the hardware. If you try again use a partition less than 127 GB and see if that makes any difference.
Jiggy
12-03-2005, 06:03 PM
"If you try again use a partition less than 127 GB and see if that makes any difference"

Hi Paul whats your thinking behind this ?
Erik
12-03-2005, 06:34 PM
Windows sometimes has trouble with drives over 127 GB.
Paul Komski
12-03-2005, 08:23 PM
Windows sometimes has trouble with drives over 127 GB.To be complete (a) the BIOS may not support this size barrier - though that is unlikely on a modern motherboard and (b) Windows XP 48bit LBA must be available and this didn't appear until the first service pack was introduced.
Sylvander
12-04-2005, 06:03 AM
"The hard drive is a western digital 160GB hd, no partitions on it"
The meaning I take from this is that the HDD has not been partitioned, so naturally the attempt to format a partition fails, because there are no partitions.
Paul Komski
12-04-2005, 06:33 AM
The meaning I take from this is that the HDD has not been partitioned,
Under Win2K/XPSetup's DiskManagment one is given options for formatting only after the relevant portion of the hard drive has been chosen. Partitioning and Formatting an area of free space on the drive take place as part of the same linked manouvre.