Clean install of Windows 2000 (XP is current OS)? 4

[markbamford]

In desperate need of some help. Started a thread previously about the graphical pauses after installation of Windows XP on my PIII 550 xeon with 256 MB and a RIVA TNT2 Pro card. Now just want to do a clean install of windows 2000. Just cannot do it! Have been into the setup BIOS and changed my computer to boot from CDROM,A,C but then on reboot my computet asks me to 'Press a key to boot from CDROM...' but despite pressing a key and having the windows 2000 Pro installation disc in the CDROM, my computer just ignores me and boots back into XP!!! Please help if possible! How do I do a clean install of 2000 Pro on a machine that already has XP Pro installed? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks guys. Mark Bamford. ww.histopath.co.uk mail@histopath.co.uk

 

[mithrilhall]

Go back into your BIOS and make sure you have the boot up sequence correct. Like you said, you will need CDROM first.

Make sure you save your settings apon exiting the BIOS. When the computer reboots press your 'any key' (spacebar or whatever). W2k should boot from the CD. ====================================
I love people. They taste just like
chicken!

 

[linney]

You only have a couple of seconds to press the "Any Key" if you blink you miss the chance and have to reboot again.

Also I'm not sure if your talking about a dual boot set up or getting rid of XP totally. You might not be able to load 2000 Pro until XP is gone (XP being the later version operating system).

A Format of the hard drive may be the first thing to do to clear the way for 2000 Pro.

 

[markbamford]

Thanks mithrilhall and linney. Much appreciated. Despite saving the BIOS settings and being speedy on the press key to boot from CD, XP still appears. Linney - I was just trying to get rid of xp altogether. I am hoping formatting the hard drive will be the way to go. I'm not really very experienced in such matters. I know all my data will be lost but will it be easy after formatting the hard drive to install windows 2000? Do I just format the hard drive first then install windows 2000? For my own education I thought without an OS (ie. after formatting the hard drive) nothing works on a computer. I assume it still has basic functions? Sorry to be so ignorant of such matters. Thanks again guys. Mark.

 

[destructa]

there are 2 ways to delete win xp partitions.

1. boot using your windows xp cd, then select setup and agree to the licence (press F8) then follow the prompts to setup windows xp. When you are at the screen that asks which partition/drive you want to install to select delete partition, and follow the steps to delete the partition, once that is done you'll return to the screen asking you to select the partion/drive to install to, quit setup then by pressing F3 (i think, it says at the bottom of the screen). reboot with your win 2k cd in the drive and you should be able to install it ok.

2. in win xp insert your win2k cd, goto the folder bootdisk and run makeboot or makebt32 (you'll need 4 floppies) once done, reboot using the floppies and it'll start the win2k setup (ensure the win 2k cd is still in the drive) you'll have to delete the partition or format it when asked which drive you want to install to.

ensure that your floppy drive is the first boot device in your bios for option 2. If it annoys Microsoft then it's worth doing, and doing well!!

 

[wolluf]

If your bios is set to boot from CD rom & you have win2k install CD in drive, then you should get a prompt telling you to hit any key to boot from CD. If you don't get that prompt, either your CD is not bootable or your bios is not set up to boot from CD (first). If the problem is the actual install CD, you can create the 4 floppy disk set to start install from floppy rather than CD (Bootdisk folder on the install CD - run makeboot from command prompt or makebt32 from windows). Once you have got the install process going you can remove XP partition and create new 2k one as part of the process (you will be prompted).

 

[markbamford]

Destructa and wolluf - thanks very much.

Destructa - I like the sounds of option 1. Does this mean reformatting my hard drive is not necessary? Sorry to display my ignorance yet again! Mark.

 

[wolluf]

Mark,

You will need to reformat after removing the XP installation/partition - but the win2k install can do that as a matter of course. Destructa's option 1 has an unecessary step - once you've removed existing XP partition you can just either create a new one or select unformated space & 2k install will prompt you for how you want this space formatted (FAT32 or NTFS) - you don't have to quit & restart install process. 2k install is quite clever and has all the tools you need within it.

 

[markbamford]

wolluf - I really appreciate your help. Thanks again. Mark.

 

[HAK]

Hi Mark... I have read all the advise you have received and obviously it has not helped. I have a GREAT Idea... take your PC to COMP USA and for a reasonable fee they will do the install for you and you can be reasonably certain they will do it right and if you still have problems at least you can bring it back to them until they fix it....

 

[mithrilhall]

No need to go to Comp USA and waste money. If he doens't mind loosing what's on the drive he can reformat and install the OS of his choice.

If he wants to keep his existing data he could pull out an old HD and put that as the primary one and his main one as the slave. Grab the files he wants to save and swap the hard drives and do a fresh install on the new hard drive.

It's not a complicated task and I feel he would be wasting $$$. ====================================
I love people. They taste just like
chicken!

 

[destructa]

If you use the bootdisk option (create the setup floppies) you can choose whether to delete the partition or just reformat it as part of the win2k installation. You won't be able to just install win2k over xp, it won't work as win2k doesn't recognise windows xp and can't upgrade. Obviously if your bios now is setup to boot from cd don't create the floppies (although they may come in handy one day!)

If your still having problems booting from cd it could be that you have an older cdrom drive and it can't boot. If you have access to another drive that is newer try it. I had an old 32 speed drive that would work as a boot drive even with XP. Now i have a 52 speed drive all is ok. Also if your copy of win2k is not legit (hopefully it is) it may not boot (and some win2k cd supllied with pre-built systems were not bootable, which is why the makeboot option is there).

Hope it helps
If it annoys Microsoft then it's worth doing, and doing well!!

 

[markbamford]

Thanks Guys. Can't tell you how helpful these instructions have been to a novice like me. Hak - Would gladly have gone to comp usa but unfortunately air fare would be around £600! Yes I'm English - thought you would have guessed that from my lack of knowledge! Anyway, finally did the XP cd boot. Got to the part where it showed the current installation of xp on my hard drive. Offered me choices of c to format disk space (pressing c key gave no response!) d to delete current installation (pressing d gave a screen saying could not delete current installation as it required some files needed for setup!) and some other key which installed xp over the top of the original installation. Despite swapping cds to 2000 at various points, Microsoft were having none of it! Now have a clean install of XP - which is actually much better. Would love to get back to 2000 though.

Could anyone help me with a few questions again please (sorry guys):-

1. Am changing back to windows2000 because all graphics on XP are jerky (have PIII550xeon 512MB and Riva TNT2 pro and latest NVidia drivers). Even serenescreen is jerky!

2. If I reformat my hard drive will I be able to install windows 2000 or would this not really help?

3. Shall I buy Partition magic - would this help?

Thanks again guys. I'm on holiday this week and believe it or not the weather here in derbyshire is beautiful!

Mark. ww.histopath.co.uk mail@histopath.co.uk

 

[destructa]

If you reformat the hard drive you will be able to install win2k. If you can boot from the win2k cd or use the boot floppies then you'll have the same option as xp to format the partition.

You don't need partition magic, unless you want to create a few partitions (and you'll need windows installed to use it), and if you're a novice then it's not worth playing with, as it can erase your data if you don't use it properly.

If your hard drive is formated using FAT32 then you can format it using a win 98/me bootdisk (format c alternatly just use win2k to format the partition. (select the partition and delete it, then when prompted select the new type of partition you want (NTFS, FAT (don't use) or FAT 32 (which is compatible with win 9x/me)) during the setup.

If your drive is currently formatted with NTFS you will still need to delete/format it (use win2k setup) as win2k won't install over xp, but it will delete the partition and format it.

If it annoys Microsoft then it's worth doing, and doing well!!

 

[mithrilhall]

1. Am changing back to windows2000 because all graphics on XP are jerky (have PIII550xeon 512MB and Riva TNT2 pro and latest NVidia drivers). Even serenescreen is jerky!

-I'm not sure what the problem would be here but I'll take a look into it.

2. If I reformat my hard drive will I be able to install windows 2000 or would this not really help?

-Yes. If you do a reformat you should be able to get 2000 in with no problem. I've done this many times.

3. Shall I buy Partition magic - would this help?
-I'm not sure on this one as well since I've never had a reason to use it. I think you can download a trial version though. This might save you some money if you want.
====================================
I love people. They taste just like
chicken!

 

[markbamford]

Destructa and mithrilhall - really appreciate your help again guys. Regards, Mark.

 

[markbamford]

Guys, I am actually starting to see the funny side of this now. Have just made the 4 boot floppies for win2k. The computer booted from floppy 1 and entered win2k set up. It then asked to insert win2k setup disc 2 and press enter. However, despite pressing enter, the computer froze! Repeated process over and over - same again.

I also tried using a win 98 cd with the bios set to boot from cdrom. The win 98 cd gave me the option of 1. boot from hard disk or 2. boot from cd. Despite pressing (and holding) 2 the computer ignored me and booted from hard disc! I subsequently checked to see if the keyboard was being recognised by pressing DEL to enter setup - that worked just fine!

Tried inserting the win2k disc direct and the computer said this is an older version of windows and install functionality has been disabled!

Does ANYONE have any other ideas???

PS. The only reason I am switching back to win2k is cos all graphics are jerky under xp - including serenescreen screen saver and the bliss screensaver [PIII550xeon 512MB ELSA erazor III pro and latest NVIDIA drivers]

I really am getting absolutely desperate for some help!

Mark bamford. mail@histopath.co.uk ww.histopath.co.uk

 

[petermeachem]

Mark,

You may possibly have found the wrong video drivers. My son's pc has a geforce something and we (I) downloaded two or three files all of which purported to be the correct one before never winter nights or whatever the thing he has his head stuck into worked.

I would seriously consider popping the computer down to your local shop (not pc world though!!) and asking them to fix it. It may cost you a few quid, but you aren't getting anywhere and your blood pressure seems to be suffering.

I used to do the Edinburgh Trial in the Peaks every autumn, Bamford Clough, Litton Slack, lovely stuff. I only recall it actually being sunny once though!

Yes I'm English - thought you would have guessed that from my lack of knowledge.

What's that supposed to mean then? Peter Meachem
peter @ accuflight.com

 

[markbamford]

Thanks Peter,

Yes, been down the driver route a few times. I curently have the Xp drivers for the ELSA erazor III pro. But previously tried the NVidia detonator drivers. It doesn't bode well that ww.elsa.de is off line! I have come accross lots of problems listed on the internet (e.g.

http://www.game-cheatz.com/guides/gta3.php)

with respect to xp and nvidia graphics cards but CANNOT find an answer. (Glad you like the Peaks. We live there so are rather biased.)

Mark.

 

[wolluf]

Mark,

You've got a hardware problem - not drivers or operating system. Could be your graphics card (or mobo, memory, etc!). As you were having graphics problems, have you another card you could try to see if you can get 2k or 98 CDs to boot?

PS. I'm English too! Used to drive through the Peak District when Contracting in Leek (I live in Leeds).