Correct partitions and drives, help with reformat.

[pocketboysean]

I've come to bit of a problem. So I have a Western Digital JB1200 HD with 120 gigs. First I had a 30gb hd, but then bought the WD and made it the Primary, with the 30gb being the secondary. Then I removed the secondary 30gb. One problem I have is that my computer recognizes two processors, ex. when i load my comp in the bios it shows two processors, one with an asterix* mark. Also I've tried reformatting before and i screwed something up. I did an fdisk and the reformatted but the only way i can reformat again is by fdisking, ex. I can not go into command prompt from the boot disk and type format: c. Also my comp recognizes two logical drives, one being c: /r (primary) and one c: /s (secondary), shouldn't there only be the primary if i have one drive? So the basic question is, how do I make it so that only 1 processor is recognized and make it so that my c: drive is recognized with just one logical drive and that I can reformat normally. Thank you.

 

[wolluf]

Bit confused!

If your machine only has one processor, then its only got one processor. You're possibly misinterpreting info on the screen. If the machine is working, don't worry about it.

You don't mention operating system - but if using fdisk, presumaby 98 or ME?

Don't understand 'Also my comp recognizes two logical drives, one being c: /r (primary) and one c: /s (secondary)'

If there were 2 logical drives, they would be different drive letters - eg, C: and D:. What are the /r and /s? And where do they appear?

If you boot from 98/ME boot floppy, and run fdisk (with large drive support enabled), you can see what partitions are set up. You can then delete them (if there are more than one) and create one new one, if that's what you want.

If you're using win98 boot floppy, you might need this fdisk patch -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;263044&Product=w98

 

[pocketboysean]

I am using Windows XP Pro. Before when I used to reformat I would use a windows 98 boot disk to access command prompt and then type "format c:" and it would work. Then I would load the 6 windows xp boot disks and install windows xp again. I guess things got messed up when I started switching around hard drives. When I enter in the windows 98 boot disk it shows Drive R: = Driver Banana Unit 0 and Drive S: = Driver Banana Unit 1. When i try to format by typing "A:\>format c:" it says Invalid drive specification, even though on my desktop right now it shows it as drive c: I'm not sure how to completely wipe my HD so that I can start fresh with it partitioned correctly for a 120 GB HD and only having drive c:.

The second problem being that my bios screen (the first screen that loads when starting) shows that there are two cpu's it says CPU1* and below it says CPU2. Even though i'm only using one processor. Even when i load task manager it shows that there are two processors, though the activity line is the same for both of them.

Thanks for the help.

 

[happydownloader]

To clear your hdd's instead of format use fdisk
just insert the floppy in the drive and boot from the floppy
at the command prompt after booting type fdisk
type "Y" to support large drive support
Once in fdisk you can then pick what drive you want to clear ( believe it's #5 to pick drive )
You can then clear the drive and do a format on it after

As for your dual processer what Motherboard do you have

 

[rclarke250]

First off sounds like you are using a boot disk from bootdisk.com? Right? Anyways,that's what the cd rom drives are set too...Are you running xp on fat32 or ntfs? And why are you loading the xp boot disks? That is not for installing the OS...All you should have to do is boot from the XP cd. press ESC when it prompts you, follow the prompts to delete the partition, (L)...Then install windows on the unpartioned space,it will ask if you want to format in fat32 or ntfs and quick or standard...choose ntfs/quick..unless you want to check hard drive,then choose standard. Let windows install.

Like Wolluf said, Don't worry about the second cpu, * usually means only if present.

I shall use google before asking stupid questions!

 

[BVHPF]

Hello, I'm also having a formatting issue. First off, I work at a non-profit == not the best tech resources. So, that said, one of our donated computers came with XP. That system has totally messed up, to the point that you can't even get safe mode to work. Now my only option - and please don't throw cans and bottles at me - is to wipe out the XP and install ME. When we receive donations, they usually DON'T come with the disks, so if something happens we're left to our own devices (no pun intended). The only disk we have around is, sadly, ME. So, do I use fdisk from a ME emergency disk? Or format c: ??
Thanks for your help, and if this is in another thread, please direct me that way.
--Basenji

 

[wolluf]

Basenji - you should really have started your own thread.

If the XP machine is using ntfs filestore, you will need to run fdisk and remove the non-dos (that's how fdisk sees ntfs) partition, then create new fat32 partition to install ME onto. Reboot and then run format c:. If its using fat32, you can just run format c: /q - the /q is for quick - it is a lot quicker but only works if drive is previously formatted fat32 (both from dos prompt after booting from ME boot floppy).

pocketboysean - are you sorted now? (you've been given some good advice by happydownloader and rclarke250)

 

[pocketboysean]

Thanks for all the help. Yeah Wolluf i guess i have things figured out. I'm going to wait until this weekend to try and format again.

-Sean