Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup

silversauder · 12-12-2007, 12:59 PM

hello, i have recently purchased a new hard drive, and wanted to install XP (had vista before old hard drive broke) i had a copy of XP laying around so i decided to pop it in, the hard drive then did its usual partition activities, but when it was done, i got to the point in the XP set up where i needed the serial key for XP.

i then realized i dont have a key for XP, so i need either a way to get a key for free some how, or how to wipe my hard drive while in the XP setup (couldnt figure out how)
so i can then load my vista again

thanks

**tosh9i** · 12-12-2007, 01:17 PM

Is the Vista you have an upgrade or full version?

What happens if you boot up using the vista cd?

silversauder · 12-12-2007, 02:05 PM

its the recovery disk from my old hard drive when i bought the computer, it had vista on it, but when i put in cd nothing happens

JohnthePilot · 12-12-2007, 02:14 PM

You could have a problem I'm afraid. The recovery discs rely on information stored on your computer in a recovery partition. If you formatted this during the XP installation you won't be able to use the Vista recovery discs.

silversauder · 12-12-2007, 02:17 PM

damn, it says its a reinstallation cd for windows vista, well im at a point where i cant do anything, everytime i boot up my computer, it goes through the windows XP progress and wants me to type in a key i dont have

JohnthePilot · 12-12-2007, 02:20 PM

If it's a reinstallation CD you can try formatting with Boot and Nuke then booting from your Vista CD again. I'm afraid we can't help with getting a new key for your XP disc.

silversauder · 12-12-2007, 02:23 PM

i dont have a floppy, would burning it to a cd work?

JohnthePilot · 12-12-2007, 02:25 PM

It should do.

silversauder · 12-12-2007, 03:52 PM

man, i got the cd burned but it did not do anyhing when put into computer, even after restart, completely ignored it and went on to the same stupid XP thing

**simpswr** · 12-12-2007, 04:42 PM

Put your Vista Reinstall DVD in the DVD drive, go into BIOS and set the first boot device to DVD and reboot . . you should get a promp[t to "press any key to boot from DVD" . . do that, delete existing partitions, create a new one(s) and install Vista

12-12-2007, 12:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
silversauder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup hello, i have recently purchased a new hard drive, and wanted to install XP (had vista before old hard drive broke) i had a copy of XP laying around so i decided to pop it in, the hard drive then did its usual partition activities, but when it was done, i got to the point in the XP set up where i needed the serial key for XP. i then realized i dont have a key for XP, so i need either a way to get a key for free some how, or how to wipe my hard drive while in the XP setup (couldnt figure out how) so i can then load my vista again thanks

12-12-2007, 01:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,811 OS: Windows XP	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup Is the Vista you have an upgrade or full version? What happens if you boot up using the vista cd?

12-12-2007, 02:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
silversauder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup its the recovery disk from my old hard drive when i bought the computer, it had vista on it, but when i put in cd nothing happens

12-12-2007, 02:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,780 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup You could have a problem I'm afraid. The recovery discs rely on information stored on your computer in a recovery partition. If you formatted this during the XP installation you won't be able to use the Vista recovery discs. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

12-12-2007, 02:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
silversauder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup damn, it says its a reinstallation cd for windows vista, well im at a point where i cant do anything, everytime i boot up my computer, it goes through the windows XP progress and wants me to type in a key i dont have

12-12-2007, 02:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,780 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup If it's a reinstallation CD you can try formatting with Boot and Nuke then booting from your Vista CD again. I'm afraid we can't help with getting a new key for your XP disc. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

12-12-2007, 02:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
silversauder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup i dont have a floppy, would burning it to a cd work?

12-12-2007, 02:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,780 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup It should do. __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

12-12-2007, 03:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
silversauder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup man, i got the cd burned but it did not do anyhing when put into computer, even after restart, completely ignored it and went on to the same stupid XP thing

12-12-2007, 04:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,873 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: Need way to wipe harddrive in mid-xp setup Put your Vista Reinstall DVD in the DVD drive, go into BIOS and set the first boot device to DVD and reboot . . you should get a promp[t to "press any key to boot from DVD" . . do that, delete existing partitions, create a new one(s) and install Vista __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?