Reformat Hard Drive with Vista

I have 2 computers. One with XP Pro the other with Vista Home. Tried to install visual studios on the Vista computer to later realize that it would not allow me to install the web design parts of the Visual Studios.

I'm trying to clear Vista from the hard drive and was wondering if I would be able to plug this Hard Drive into my XP computer as a secondary hard drive. Then just reformat from there. I tried to reformat the hard drive with a windows XP OS disc but it would not let me.

Any Suggestions? Will I even be able to reformat the Vista HD from the XP computer?

Figured I would try and get a little bit of input before I wipe the HD clean :confused

 

XP doesnt support SATA Drives natively/ during an install (im assuming its a SATA)

If you can connect the HDD you want to wipe to your PC then you will be able to format it through XP yes.

You could also boot the PC with a Vista or Windows 7 disc and format it with that as they do support SATA.

 

So I would not be able to install windows Xp on this system at all? Would I be better off trying to install Windows Vista Pro or Ultimate? (Though I can't stand windows vista)

Also. I have another computer that is brand new and runs on Windows 7. If I plugged the Vista Hard Drive in to this computer would it be easier to format from there rather than trying to get my hands on a vista or 7 OS disc?

Guess it won't matter though if windows XP won't work on this system either way

Thank you for the help. Appreciate it

 

Sorry i dont think i made myelf clear...


You CAN format the drive from a computer that is *running* XP.

but

You CAN'T use the XP install disc to format a SATA HDD.

But you CAN use a 7 or Vista Disc to format the HDD



If you want to install XP on a SATA Drive you need to find the SATA Drivers for your motherboard.
(do you know its make and model?)

 

Not sure off the top of my head. Will try to post that information after work today. Am just sitting in my office and was very frustrated trying to figure out a solution to the problem.

Thanks for the help. Maybe you can check back later and i'll post the make/model?

 

yeh if you can come back with the make model of the board (or the PC if it is store bought) and i'm sure we can get it sorted.

I'm almost certain you can get XP on ther if you want it


edit: you will either need a floppy drive & disc or you will have to burn a new install CD with the SATA Drivers Slipstreamed
(it's actually quite easy to do, just takes a bit of time)

 

So I got a hold of a Vista Ultimate OS and as I go to reformat I keep getting an error saying that it is unable to find drivers. I tried to copy drivers on to another cd and use that but still won't work.

Any advice?

Would I be able to burn the drivers onto the same cd as the ISO?!?

Hope some one can help

 

Hopefully you can help me out Q

Seem to know quite a bit, appreciate it

 

So you tried booting from a Vista Discs but you can't format with it?

(how far through the set up are you getting?)

 

It is right at the beginning. I click install Windows then it says that it is not able to find drivers. I pointed it to the windows/system32/driverstore file but still no luck. I then downloaded an app that backs up drivers. Got all those in to a folder then burned the drivers directly to a cd and tried using that. No luck again. Have never had this much trouble reformatting/installing an OS. A little frustrated on this end :confused

Any suggestions?

 

I think the best thing to do now [to narrow things down] would be to connect the HDD you want to format to your XP PC and see if it formats ok inside windows.