Windows ME to Win XP upgrade.. Format?

Hello people, im in a very depressing situation.

I bought a custom built PC from my mate a while back and its all been in working order. When he bought the PC it was installed with Windows ME then Windows XP SP1 was put on as an upgrade to ME. Problem is i must format.

Heres what i done:

Put my Windows XP SP1 into drive and started the installation.
I chose Full install
The computer restarts and comes to the Partion screen that has 3 stages.
Stage 1 :
Press "Enter to Install" a fresh copy ( Obvious Choice )
Press "R" to Repair current
Stage 2:
Press Enter to install ( On same space that the other OS is on )
Press "C" to create new Partion with unpartioned space ( It Wont let me )
Press "D" to Delete Selected partion ( It wont let me delete because there are system install files on it )
Stage 3:
This part tells me that installing another os on the same Partion can affect files. the first time i did this anyway without thhinking about it.

So now i am on a Windows XP but none of my drivers work, everything is recognized as Windows 2000. I have the same C:/ just new system files.

i was told that i can use the format c:/ drive, so i tried that but it says that there is a program that is using the C:/, but i find that i tried closing everything i could in Task manager and safe mode but it wont let me.

My problem is getting my PC scrubbed and able to install Windows XP

Hope someone can help
ty

 

It seems as if you're using an upgrade disk. If you format the drive, you won't be able to install the upgrade unless you have the disk for a previous version of Windows. Do you have the WinME disk?

 

Yes i have the disk. but when i put it in and run setup it closes with an error im not sure what it was tho.
i cant run much or install.
i have a Windows XP SP1 that i got recently. and want to put that on and scrub the rest thats on it now but it wont let me.

 

First off, let me say, if you have (or had) ME installed, there is NO problem what-so-ever with formatting and getting rid of that mess of an OS.

The driver problems are typical when upgrading from ME... probably typical whenever upgrading an OS. I'm sure you could spend the time getting all the drivers, but that wouldn't be any fun and would take forever.

It sounds like your best option, as you've established is formatting. Typically you should be able to do this directly from the XP cd. Since it's not letting you, you have a few options. Probably the easiest one is to boot from the XP disc again. This time, at "Stage 1" press R for repair instead of enter. This will take you to the recovery console. You will proabably select "1" when it prompts you which drive. Then it will ask you for the admin password. If you don't already have an admin password set up, just hit enter. From here you should be able to use the format c:/ command and be on your merry way.

*edit: my understanding, is once you've formated, go ahead and put the XP upgrade cd in and install it. It's all there. At some point, you will need either a valid ME serial or the disc itself. So have those handy. But DON'T reinstall ME and then upgrade to XP again.

Questions, comments, concerns? Cramps?

 

Ok thanx i will try this and get back to you.

 

Hello again.
Ok i went into the Recovery Console and typed:
format c:
it says this will clear the drive of files (Y,N)
I say yes.

Then the command line (C:/Windows*mytext ) apears almost instantly and no format.

i think it might be the code im typing so i tried to type "Format C:/fs:nfts" and other combinations but im new to dos so i dont know how to put the syntax together.

Andeh

 

You are trying to make a mountain out of a ant hill.

Boot to the CD, if it asks for qualifying media, insert the WIndows ME CD, and the next screen, will be for partitioning/formatting.

If it goes to a repair screen instead, simply press ESC to get to the partitioning screen.

 

So true. I was going the same route as Adrynalyne. Make sure that the Win XP cd is in the drive and reboot. You should get an option to boot from the CD. Do that, choose install, pick the same partition that has the original install, and choose format partition. It should format, and then begin the XP install. If your Win XP disc is an upgrade disc instead of a full version, it should ask for a disc for a previous version of Windows (your Win ME disc). Then just follow the yellow brick road.

 

how do i boot to cd ??
i think thats what i been doing.

 

When the computer boots, and it says press any ley to boot to cd....

well...press any key

 

i will give it a try thanks

 

if you've been getting to the blue screen to install windows, you've been "booting from", "booting to", or simply "booting" the cd. Don't let the terminology confuse you

 

Yes i have been going to the blue screen
thats where i have the stages problem.
i cant delete or create new partion

 

What do i type at the recovery screen ???
format c:

cause i done that and it just asks me ( Y,N )
and when i say Y it jsut says :
C:/windows :
again
whatis the full command i type?

 

I'm guessing you skipped my post altogether. Please go back and review it. You should not be using the recovery console for this.

 

OK, I wrote down all the replies and tried them all.
At no point does it ask for Previous versions This is everything it says once ive booted CD and Blue screen apears.

::Screen1::
Welcome to Setup
This portion of the setup program prepares Windows XP to run on your computer.

• To setup Windows XP now, Press Enter
• To repair XP Installation using recovery console press R
• To Quit press ESC

::Screen2:: (When pressed Enter)
If one of the following installations is damaged setup can try to repair it.

• To repair press R
• To continue installing a fresh copy without repairing, Press ESC

These ^^ are the two OS' on it because of my failed attepmts.

::Screen3:: (When Pressed ESC)
The following list shows the existing partioned and unpartioned space on this computer.

• To setup Windows XP on selected item, Press ENTER
• To create a partion in the unpartioned space, press C
• To delete the selected caption, Press D

When i press D it says: Setup is unable to perform the requested operation. This partion contains temporary setup files that are required to complete the installation, Press ENTER to continue.

::Screen4:: (When pressed Enter)
This sreen warns me that if i proceed then i will be installing a second OS and this will affect files on other OS'.

And if i continue any further it will do just that. these are the steps ive taken all all times as they are the only options available, Delete does not work and Create new partion does not work so its straight forward options.


::Other information might be usefull:: (Maybe not)
Pheonix Award BIOS v6.00 PG 1
ASUS-A7V8X-MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1006

:: Computer History::
The PC was custom built about 2 years ago so it did not have anything on it. my mates dad installed a illigit copie. I have no clue why he installed it using ME first.

Hope this gives you more help.
Ive been tempted on crashing the monitor in
Thanx again

 

You are not booting to CD, but setup on the hard drive. Check your boot order in the bios.

 

OK finaly got it formated and running again but now i ran into another problem, well i had it before.

After format and installed XP and drivers.
i went to install my Speedtouch Dial up modem, and during the installation The popup for Send error to microsoft thing, saying Cannot install windows 2000 drivers. but besides those errors it still installs but when i click on the icon t connect to internet it says "" + Cannot Create Entry + ""

 

Sounds like you need updated drivers.

 

New drivers?? for what?

 

Uh, the modem?

 

but it was working before all the palava