well if there's no cd in the drive, then that's what you'll get! you can't change to a removable drive if there's no media in the drive..

But if he's loading up the boot CD which is mapping the drives using MSCDEX, then one would assume that there was a CD in the drive. On the other hand, if he's getting that boot process without such a CD, then he REALLY has problems .

Well I have put 2 game disks into the drives (they are deata, no?), went to command line and typed N: and O: and i still get same message..."invalid drive specifications"

As for Boot CD, which one is that??

Recovery CD
XP installer CD

Thise 2 are only ones that are system related

The boot CD is the "Recovery CD" usually, but don't worry about it. Your HDD is so badly organised (and probably fragmented) that a complete re-install is what you need. I suggest that you backup all of your important data (triple-check), and then download a Win98 boot disk from the link that I've given you. Then try the disk out and, if it works, let us know. After that, it's FDISK time!

Edited by - esquilax on 4/27/2004 5:16:00 PM

Don't mean to step on your toes Eskie, but why not just boot from the XP installation CD and format and partition it that way? It's a lot simpler than using fdisk, plus the XP setup.exe won't run from a 98/DOS boot.

EDIT: Hang on, the installation CD isn't a boot CD? Well that's a bit silly. It should be law that all OS disks are bootable.

Edited by - Mustang on 4/27/2004 5:35:29 PM

That's ok Mustang, I don't mind . The XP Installation CD should be bootable, but I cannot recall being able to remove partitions with the setup program. I remember being able to format them, and choose the one that I wish to install to, but that's it. Admittedly, it's been a while, so try my esteemed colleagues' suggestion before you play with FDISK Leon.

XP setup allows you to delete NTFS and FAT partitions. "D" and "L" and if you only want to use part of the disk for your partition, it's much easier than fdisk (well i think so) and yes the legit ones are bootable. When you think about it, a recovery disk has to be bootable really, doesn't it?

Ah yes, now I remember. Thanks Taw, Mustang . I have my nice clean XP image for when I wish to reinstall XP, so I haven't installed it from the CD for ages.

no prob, my young padawan,

So...what should I do now?

What do you tihnk, Master ()? Should we have the little tacker backup his files, boot from the XP Installation CD, remove all partitions, create a new NTFS parition, and install a new copy of XP to that?

yes, that's exactly right. Your powers are indeed impressive, as the Emperor has forseen..

Your Honors!

All files are backed up, waiting for further asistance on how to boot from CD and remove the partitions and install a fresh copy of XP

Taw - That was a good one, my friend .

Leon - My Master has foreseen the following; That you will setup your BIOS to boot from one of your CD-ROM drives (there should be a menu somewhere in there). You will then boot into the setup program and then use the in-built partition tool to delete ALL partitions. After this, he has foreseen that you will create a new NTFS partition using all available space, and then reinstall Windows XP.

Wait! My Master also foresees that you will require clarfication on one or more of these steps .