[Usrn]

I got this machine to boot from the Windows cd, but it want to install Windows XP in addition to the copy that's on there now. How do I get it to just install. Do I have to format the drive first?

[ElfBane]

What OS is on there now?

[Rommel]

Usrn, on 07 April 2012 - 09:21 PM, said:

I got this machine to boot from the Windows cd, but it want to install Windows XP in addition to the copy that's on there now. How do I get it to just install. Do I have to format the drive first?

No, generally.

Partition the drive then install XP on the new partition.

As ElfBane asks, whats the OS on it now?

I've done this installing XP then w7.

Not sure if other scenarios will be an issue with the MBR so ElfBanes question is important here.

[coastie65]

Hi. In addition to what the others have said, the easiest way would be to add a second Hdd and put it on there. From your post, I am assuming you already have XP on there maybe just want a clean install w/ drivers for a back up just in case. I have run Vista and Windows 7 on seperate drives ( dual boot ), but ended up mostly using Windows 7.

[Pilege21]

If you want to dual boot with one hard drive, you have to install the oldest first. So, if you have Vista or 7 you would have to format your drive and then create partitions before re-installing them. After that you would re-install XP then your OS that you have on it now. Always backup your data, so you don't lose anything.

[Usrn]

Thanks! I'm REinstalling XP, which has been on there for 9 years. When I first booted from the original disk, it said you have a newer version than the one on this cd, and didn't seem to be able to go any further. I tried it again and it asked for partition information which I don't know anything about and don't want to deal with any partitioning if I don't have to.

The original drive is 30 Gb and I have another 80 Gb drive installed cable select. I moved all personal data to 80 Gb drive and figured I'd just reinstall Windows on C: It's not used all that much, but is needed as a backup and using older hardware I can't find Vista drivers (my new machine) for.

Will I have to spend hours updating XP again, incl. SP 1 2 3 as I did the first time?

[LiveBrianD]

Boot from the windows disc, then delete all partitions, create a new one, and install on that. (do NOT mess with your other data drive) Unfortunately, yes, you will need to reinstall all the service packs (I recommend downloading the network install packages of those in the meantime and putting them on a thumb drive, so you can install them more quickly).

[Usrn]

Thanks again. I would have never thought that what was listed as F: drive in Windows would be listed here as a C: 'partition'. Now, my 80 Gb drive is formatted and Windows is installed on it. I was previously using that as a data drive. All my precious videos of my baby that I spent hours on end to edit are gone.
What was previously C: drive is now D:, and what was F: is now C: Totally backwards from how I had it and wanted it.
I installed all the drivers but can't get online for some reason. IE says "no connection to the Internet is currently available". This was online yesterday.

[LiveBrianD]

Make sure you look at it by the volume label (if none is set, it'll appear as "Local Disk") and the drive size! Try using Recuva to see if you can get those videos back, just in case. (note: I STRONGLY recommend restoring to a DIFFERENT drive)

Does the computer see the network connection at all?