ntfs help...

Hi.
I would like to format my harddrive, but I can´t coz its in NTFS format.
I want to do a clean W-98 install and change the format to FAT32.
I cant even boot up with my old bootdisk (a) anymore

Any help is appreciated

Stefan Ljungstrom

Jan,

OK, You have a few options.

1. Boot from the XP CD and when the option to chose the kind of install
comes up choose new install. You will then be able to delete the NTFS
drive
and reinstall XP in Fat 32 format.

2. You can use a Win 98/Me startup disk. Boot from the startup disk and
type
"fdisk" at the prompt without the quotes. From fdisk, delete the NON-dos
partition (this will be the NTFS partition). You can then use fdisk to
create a new fat 32 partition in the empty space, or boot from the XP CD
and
allow XP to do the disk management.

3. If you can't for some reason boot from the CD, you can boot from a
startup floppy with smartdrv and CD support and run setup from the i386
folder by typing winnt.exe at the prompt.
You can download a special bootdisk image from http://www.bootdisk.com
with
CD drivers and smartdrv.exe. Loading smartdrv.exe before running
winnt.exe
will greatly speed up the copying portion of the setup. To load
smartdrv,
after booting with the floppy; type smartdrv.exe at the prompt; smartdrv
will load and you can then navigate to the i386 folder on the CD to run
winnt.exe.

Tips for booting from CD:
Most systems will need the boot sequence changed to boot from CD as the
first option in the bios. Usually you can access the bios by pressing
Delete
during the initial boot stages. Look for a text message at the bottom of
the
screen for the exact procedure for your bios. The boot sequence option
is
usually on the second or third screen after accessing bios. use the
arrow
keys and + - keys to navigate. Additional navigation functions are at
the
bottom the screen. Save and exit system will continue to reboot. Watch
the
text messages at the bottom of the screen. If your system supports
booting
from CD and a CD is in the CD drive. you will see a message to press any
key
to boot from CD. Make sure any floppy disks are removed.

--
Sir_George


"Jan Ljungström" wrote in message
...
Hi.
I would like to format my harddrive, but I can´t coz its in NTFS
format.
I want to do a clean W-98 install and change the format to FAT32.
I cant even boot up with my old bootdisk (a) anymore

Any help is appreciated

Stefan Ljungstrom

Jan,

OK, You have a few options.

(Provided by; Michael Stevens MS-MVP Windows XP)

1. Boot from the XP CD and when the option to chose the kind of install
comes up choose new install. You will then be able to delete the NTFS
drive and reinstall XP in Fat 32 format.

2. You can use a Win 98/Me startup disk. Boot from the startup disk and
type"fdisk" at the prompt without the quotes. From fdisk, delete the
NON-dos partition (this will be the NTFS partition). You can then use
fdisk to create a new fat 32 partition in the empty space, or boot from
the XP CD and allow XP to do the disk management.

3. If you can't for some reason boot from the CD, you can boot from a
startup floppy with smartdrv and CD support and run setup from the i386
folder by typing winnt.exe at the prompt. You can download a special
bootdisk image from http://www.bootdisk.com with CD drivers and
smartdrv.exe. Loading smartdrv.exe before running winnt.exe will greatly
speed up the copying portion of the setup. To load smartdrv, after
booting with the floppy; type smartdrv.exe at the prompt; smartdrv will
load and you can then navigate to the i386 folder on the CD to run
winnt.exe.

Tips for booting from CD:
Most systems will need the boot sequence changed to boot from CD as the
first option in the bios. Usually you can access the bios by pressing
Delete during the initial boot stages. Look for a text message at the
bottom of the screen for the exact procedure for your bios. The boot
sequence option is usually on the second or third screen after
accessing bios. use the arrow keys and + - keys to navigate. Additional
navigation functions are at the bottom the screen. Save and exit system
will continue to reboot. Watch the text messages at the bottom of the
screen. If your system supports booting from CD and a CD is in the CD
drive. you will see a message to press any key to boot from CD. Make
sure any floppy disks are removed.

--
Sir_George


"Jan Ljungström" wrote in message
...
Hi.
I would like to format my harddrive, but I can´t coz its in NTFS
format.
I want to do a clean W-98 install and change the format to FAT32.
I cant even boot up with my old bootdisk (a) anymore

Any help is appreciated

Stefan Ljungstrom