hppg1287

ive done something really stupid, please help me! i originally had windows me on my hp computer and i installed windows 2000, not as a seperate os though, and now my programs dont work, so i was just like screw it and when i put in the system recovery cd to get win me backit said something like: recovery aborted, cannot find hard disk or something and something about FDisk???????? am i stuck with this forever??:scared2: i know i can do a rollback but i dont know how, i barely know what it is! PLEASE HELP (p.s, please be very specific, i am not a computer genius and i suck at following directions) your help would be greatly greatly greatly appreciated!

idtent

When you installed win2k over ME, did you convert the drive to ntfs?

More than likely your recovery disk cannot read an ntfs volume and you will have to fdisk the drive. I would recommend reinstalling win2k and just delete the partition in setup (Which will erase all data on the drive. ) Then you can let it format the drive (using fat32.) Then exit installation. After that your recovery disk will work fine.

If you want and are dos 'savy'. You can run fdisk, then delete the non-dos partition, then create a new one. The recovery disk should format the drive for you.

Any case you use, you will lose all data from the hard drive. If you can boot to win2k, I would recommend you burn your files to a cd, or use another harddrive with a fat16 or fat32 partition to back your data up to.

If the hard drive is not ntfs (you can find out by booting win2k right click on the drive and select properties). I will need more info to try to help you.

hppg1287

ok thank you very much for ur help but, unlike u, i only understood about half of the things that u said in the post above.. i'm pretty sure i did convert the drive to ntfs but here are a list of things i will need for u to reiterate: how to "fdisk the drive", how to "delete the partition" during setup, how to "format the drive using fat32", fat16, and ntfs volume. i really appreciate ur help, further help will be greater appreciated, but please talk in simpler terms, just tell me where to point the mouse and click, i am not a computer genius, although now i wish i were.

idtent

Ok...

Sorry.

Do you have the original Windows 2000 disk?

If not, do you have a windows 98 boot disk, or an original Windows ME disk.

Original Windows 2000 CD is bootable. If your computer can boot a restore cd without a floppy disk, you can put the win2k cd in the drive. Let it start setup. Do not choose the repair option. Do a setup. The screens will come up and you can choose next, I agree. When you get to a screen that asks what drive you will install to, choose the drive shown. Read the directions. You will Delete the partition. Then Create one using fat32. When it is done formatting, exit or cancel the setup. Then use your restore disk. It should work.

If you don't have the windows 2000 cd. But you have a windows ME cd, it is bootable also. Put the cd in the drive. Turn the computer on. When it starts to boot (Memory counting or Some type of logo screen) Start pressing F8. When a menu comes up choose command prompt. When you get C:\

Type:

d:
cd win9x
fdisk

(Select Yes if it asks about Fat32 drives blah blah...) A menu comes up. You want to delete (should be option 3). Another menu. You should choose Delete Non-dos partition and follow the guidelines at the bottom. Once you delete it. You want to create (Option 1 I believe) Then Use all available let it answer yes to make active if it asks. Then exit reboot with the Restore disk installed. Should be ok.

If the above is not possible, If you can get a actual win98 boot disk. Then type the following below:

a:
fdisk

(Same as above instructions after running fdisk.)

hppg1287

ummm.... ok before i go through with this can u please tell me if there are any risks involved with deleting a partition or creating a "fat32 partition," (what exactly is a fat32 partition anyway, and why do i need to create one) also is there anything about running a system recovery that can hurt the computer? now, i'm not very good with computers, but i've seen enough to be able to tell that this is a rather delicate procedure, am i right? but u explain it like u've done it before many times, you know EXACTLY where everything is an what it does, thats amazing, so i trust u will give me correct information and i envy your skills. now, i was kinda hesitant in doing this so i thought i'd consult u first. here is exactly what i saw on the screen before i thought i should ask u first:

System partition may contain diagnostic or hardware configuration programs...

Delete a selected partition only if u are sure that it contains no such programs or if u are willing to lose them.

Deleting a system partition may prevent your computer from starting on the hard disk until you complete the installation of win. 2000.

to delete the selected partition press d:

NTFS (hp-pavilion) 58620 MB (56618 MB free)

so what do u think? by the way, i booted from my win. 2000 cd and did wut u said up until this point, and i'm pretty sure i did make a ntfs partition. thanks for helping me through this!

idtent

Ther is nothing to "damage" on your computer. You will lose everything data wise. There will be nothing left. As far as diagnostic software and such, you will need to tell me if you have a HP or Compaq or other "branded" computer. Some have bios or tools stored on the drive, but you should be ok.

Please don't envy anyone's skills. You will be able to help yourself/others after doing this for 12+ years.! Just takes time and the ability to retain the right information.

Looks like you are where you should be. ALL DATA will be erased. A FAT32 partition describes the file system. NTFS is a protected 'secure' file system. Readable by an NT system only. FAT32 is another file system that offers support of drives larger than 4 gigabytes (fat16). Without getting technical FAT32 is what you want. It can be read from a dos boot disk.

Go for the win2k delete. YOU WILL LOSE EVERYTHING... Cannot stress this enough. If you want to save data please boot to win2k and save it. IE pictures, mp3's, love letters, emails, school papers. You can continue but I have warned you!!!

hppg1287

OH CRAP SOMETHING WENT WRONG! ok here's what i did, i did exactly what u told me to and deleted the partition or whatever, but after that it didnt say anything about "fat32", but it did let me create a new one and it asked how many MB's i wanted it to be, or something, so i just made it the default (which was 56618 or something, i dont remember) and so after i created it, i exited the setup and rebooted my hp with the system recovery/format cd in it, and it worked fine and it looked like it was going well, and it stopped, as usual, to tell me to insert disk 2, so i did, and it continued showing a bunch of programs with "inflating" or "extracting" on the side, as usual. so after the format and recovery was done, it told me to take the cd out and reboot the computer, so i did. and thats when it happened :no: it said "press a key to reboot the computer" and so i press a key and it reboots and it gives me that same message over and over after rebooting over and over: "press a key to reboot the computer." so i finally had to just turn it off from the power button, please help man, im really desperate, i really hope i didnt ruin the computer, it was a gift from my mom, i got it when pentium 3 was just released so it was very expensive and my life will be over if i mess it up. i dont know if this is a lot to ask, but can u please tell me what time u usually check this forum and what state/country u live in (im in michigan), so that i dont have to wait a day inbetween help? PLEASE do your best to help me get through this. thanks in advance.

idtent

I am usually on/off line without a schedule. It sounds like everything went well.

Try this:

Goto fdisk again. view the partition. (option 4) Make sure it has an A in the active partition category.

If it doesn't choose the option to make the partition active. This should fix your problem. Just don't delete the partition again. Go through the menu options and make the partition "active
Let me know. I will check in the morning. I am in the USA Mountain time zone. 2 hours different from you...

hppg1287

ok i booted from the win. 2000 cd, and i went to the fdisk again, and saw the fat32 partition, but it only gives me 3 options, not 4, here is exactly what i see on the screen:

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer.


Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select an item in the list.


- to set up Windows 2000 on the selected item, press ENTER

- to create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C

- to delete the selected partition, press D


57254MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on adapti


C: Fat32...........................................58605MB


ENTER=Install D=Delete Partition F3=Quit

these are the only 3 options it gives me (install, delete, and quit), i dont think it gives me the option to view the partition. i have no idea how to make the partition active and i don't see an active partition category anywhere, or the option to view it.

all i want to do is get the computer to its original factory setup exactly how it was when i first bought it, just like it says on the recovery disk, pleeeaase tell me that that will be the end result. did the computer originally have a fat32 partition, when i got it? am i changing its factory setup? i don't want to mess around with anything, especially since i dont know what the hell i'm doing, this problem is completley in your hands right now, i'm just doing exactly what u tell me to. my whole life is revolving around this computer right now, so please don't mess up, i'm putting all my trust in u. also, it would be very nice of u to help me get this problem fixed asap, before someone finds out i screwed up my computer (please tell me i didn't). if there is anything i can do to get this fixed faster, like if u can just talk me through it at a certain time, i would really appreciate that. just stick with me here, PLEASE. thanks in advance...

HaViNaBaDdAy

You're panicking and making this harder than it needs to be. So, relax a bit and clear your head. What you're doing is stopping too soon, and therefore not installing your OS. You're head clear yet? If not, take a deep breath because I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS!

Ready? Here we go .....



Don't worry about that.

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer.

Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select an item in the list.
to set up Windows 2000 on the selected item, press ENTER

Here is where you press ENTER. Don't worry about the rest. We'll worry about how many partitions and types of partitions you have later on ..... after you have installed your OS.

Now, the next message should ask you if you want to format first, I believe. It will say something like this:

1) Quick Format using Fat 32

2) Quick Format using NTFS

3) Full Format using Fat32

4) Full format using NTFS

5) Just install the operating system

The wording may be different, the order may not be correct the way I typed it ..... but basically that is what it will say. I'd use a full format, but for your needs it won't matter whether or not you choose Fat32 or NTFS. So just pick one and don't worry about it.

It will prompt you a warning stating you will lose all information on the drive ..... thats ok, you're gonna replace it anyway. The format will take a little while so don't panick. Stay calm and relaxed .... maybe go have a pop. Once the format is finished, it will lead you to another screen. YOU MUST READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY!

Your goal: To install windows on the current partition

To do that, you must press the button they tell you will accomplish that task. (C, I think) I've done this a thousand times but I can't exactly tell you what it says so you will have to read it and digest it.

Once that is done, it will begin to install the operating system. You will need your license code numbers handy so when the system goes to setting your date/time, etc. you're ready to enter those numbers when the screen appears. You'll also be asked to enter your name and a description of your computer. Put your name and for the computer, type "HOME." Once thats all done, WALK AWAY! Leave that beast alone for at least an hour. It will do things that will scare you into thinking that something is wrong and judging from your other posts, you'll hit some key you aren't supposed to ..... So, leave the room for an hour or so. Then come back and you should be looking at the welcome screen. You'll have to supply a little more information at that point. Once that is entered, you should finally see windows againl. At that point, take the cd out.

P.S. If you still can't get this done, then you might want to take it to a shop. I live in Michigan too, but if you want me to do it .... my rate is $50.00. Now there's your incentive to relax, not panick, and get the job done yourself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit:
Smile friend, we were all new at this once. Consider this another lesson from the SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. And remember, you'll accomplish more staying calm, with a clear head ..... than you will when you get all uptight.

hppg1287

First of all, i can't thank u enough, you have no idea how much i appreciate someone finally answering me in this stupid forum, and from the sound of it, someone who knows what theyre doing. i admit, i was a bit nervous, but u would be too if u had my knowledge about computers and were stuck in the same situation! i got this computer when p3 just came out, so as u can imagine, it was expensive as hell, like say, $1300-$1800, and i got it as a gift from my mom, who now asks me why i keep on using her computer, so of course, i have to make something up like "i enjoy ur company" lol . ok so anyway, i've decided (after calling up best buy and having technical support scold me for fu**ing up my computer by trying to fix it myself) that i'm finished screwing around with it when i dont know what i'm doing, and it was stupid of me to try in the first place. i thought about taking it in to best buy and having them do it, but decided that their price, 60 bucks, is wayyy too expensive (and so is 50, no offense) to fix something that simple, (to u and them). then, i remembered that my cousin is really good with computers, so i gave him a call and he said he knew exactly what my problem was and what to do and that he would come in and do it for me(God, its soo amazingly awesome to know someone with good computer skills, but even better to BE someone with good computer skills!) so i guess this story has a happy ending (little thanks to idtent for abandoning me) and again, i can't thank u enough for ur concern, and i would be honored if u would help me with later threads i might have! just one more question, then im done. is it possible for me to get my computer to its original factory condition (with win ME and all the progs. that came with it) after changing the partition and screwing around with it (like say, by running the system recovery after installing 2000)? thanks in advance! :cheers:

HaViNaBaDdAy

is it possible for me to get my computer to its original factory condition (with win ME and all the progs. that came with it) after changing the partition and screwing around with it

The answer, YES! You will need to delete any partitions you made first. I find a win98 boot disk and the fdisk command very useful here. You will also need your original windowsME system recovery disk. If you have that, you can return it to EXACTLY the same condition it was in when it left the computer store.

My suggestion now .... when your cousin comes over and reinstalls your operating system, pay close attention. This is the time to ask all your questions. I think you'll be amazed at how close you came to solving your own troubles.

idtent

Not a problem hppg1287, but I did not "abandon" you. I was trying to help, but my job took me out of town. No internet was provided as promised.

I am thankful, that somebody else jumped in. Glad that you were able to contact someone to help you.