XP ISNT INSTALLING UNABLE TO FORMAT PARTITION

[ryan842]

Hello everyone

im a new user here and i seek some help on a problem i am faced with while installing windows xp proffesional on an netbook which usually ran windows 7. i am installing windows xp from a 8gb usb flash drive. i have been researching all day on ways to solve this problem but to no success. well here is the problem

i have placed the windows xp files onto the usb using wintoflash . on my laptop i went into the bios settings and chose to boot from the usb. i then boot the usb from the laptop and choose to install windows xp, i have to choose which drive i want to install windows to and i choose my c drive i then have to format the partition that is on c drive. and i get an error " setup cannot format the partition. your computer may not have enough memory to perform this operation, or your windows xp cd-rom may contain some corupt files. set up cannot continue. to quit set up press f3

please help as i really need to fix this ASAP

thanks for your time

Edited September 30, 2012 by ryan842

[Ponch]

Can you list the partitions you see with relevant details (order, Active/not, Primary/Extended). Also the exact version of your XP source (SP level).

[ryan842]

thanks for the reply

im using xp pro sp3

information regarding partitions:

305243 mb disk 0 at id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [mbr]

c: partition1 [new <raw> ] 305235 mb

unpartitioned space 8 mb

7374 mb disk on disk [mbr]

d:partition 1 [fat 32] 7381mb < 6377 mb free >

when i go to install windows on the c partition it asks me to choose

format the partition using the NTFS file system <quick>

format the partition using the NTFS file system

no matter which one i choose i still get the error which i stated above

thanks

[jaclaz]

I don't want to seem grumpier than I normally am, but if you use Wintoflash:

http://wintoflash.com/home/en/

you should probably ask for help on their support forum:

http://wintoflash.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3

If you use any of the methods in the stickies on this forum:

http://www.msfn.org/board/forum/157-install-windows-from-usb/

you ask for support here.

It is only logical , here it is likely that you find people more expert with the tools used here, and there you will fnd more people familiar with the tool used there.

A "generic" thing to check:

Since it is a netbook that came with windows 7, it is likely to have a SATA/AHCI disk, are you sure you have integrated to your source the correct drivers?

jaclaz

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Actually IF I may interject here:

His XP can "see" the disk... It shows partitions.

So it isn't the lack of SATA drivers the fault is in the setup somewhere else.

[jaclaz]

Actually IF I may interject here:

His XP can "see" the disk... It shows partitions.

So it isn't the lack of SATA drivers the fault is in the setup somewhere else.

Of course you can interject.

For the record, I never talked about "missing" SATA drivers, I talked about verifying to have slipstreamed the correct ones (which is not exactly the same thing) and the suggestion was (intentionally) tagged as "generic".

There are so many things that can happen during a USB originated setup, that unless you are VERY familiar with the specific tool/method used AND you have ALL possible details most suggestions are necessarily wild (though educated) guesses.

As a (still "generic") example of what kind of crazy things can happen, review the "historical thread", like here:

It could be a "source" problem, like:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300556/en-us

jaclaz

Edited September 30, 2012 by jaclaz

[Ponch]

when i go to install windows on the c partition it asks me to choose

format the partition using the NTFS file system <quick>

format the partition using the NTFS file system

no matter which one i choose i still get the error which i stated above

Can you choose to delete that partition instead, then recreate one (then possibly format and install XP) ? Best would be to recreate one of about 40 gig then leave the rest for a 2nd extended partition.

[wimb]

Most likely your winnt.sif file in $WIN_NT$.~BT has wrong setting for MsDosInitiated

MsDosInitiated="0" is for Setup from CD and when missing then you will get the CD Error

which is given the confusing Error message that you described (cd corrupt)

Did you replaced WINNT.SIF after preparing USB disk ?

Keep original after prepairig USB and modify winnt.sif to your needs.

; For Install of XP from USB we need two extra Settings in the [Data] Section:

; MsDosInitiated="1" and floppyless="1"

Far better is to use different program or other method for Install of XP from USB

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=24424

Edited October 1, 2012 by wimb