I Screwed up Windows XP install

September 30, 2007

Hi All,

OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was attempting

to do a clean install of Windows XP. The disks that came with the computer

were labeled a bit strange, but essentially there was an Operating System

Disk, and a set of 5 CD's all called Windows XP recovery disks.

I tried the Windows XP disk first and seemed to work fine, but there were

lots of drivers needed to get rid of hardware issues. I thought, what the

heck, I'll run the recovery disks in hopes that it would install the correct

drivers and all the hardware would be recognized. Well, the computer just

shut down several times and trying to run the disk set was a total failure.

So at that point I had nothing. Therefore, I decided to run the Windows XP

(SP1) disk again and that worked fine. I went to the HP site and downloaded

all the drivers I needed to get everything all up and running. So all

seemed well at that point. Not!

I went ahead and downloaded all the critical updates, 59 of them. Then I

downloaded SP2 and installed it. Then another 34 critical updates. Then

all the other software that I needed to put on, including anti-virus

software and few other apps. After I set up everything to get connected to

the Internet, plus Outlook Express settings, I got the bright idea to check

My Computer and see how much disk space was now available. OMG! I couldn't

believe my eyes. On a 40GB HD, it showed about 5GB being used, another 5GB

available, and almost 30GB unallocated!

I tried to merge the C partition to include the unallocated space using

Diskpart.exe, but it wouldn't let me. I guess because it won't merge a

partition with the boot sector on it. Something like that.

So, I have to get the rest of this HD usable, and this friend does not want

an additional partition. Therefore I have to find a way to either merge the

unallocated space or start all over from scratch. I REALLY don't want to

start all over. It took me forever to get everything on this computer and

it's working good. With the exception of this little problem that is. Oh

yeah, I had to call Microsoft to activate Windows too. Sheesh. I could

just kick myself, what was I thinking. I should have checked that sooner.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could try.

Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the unallocated

portion of the drive, or some other idea. I guess it would almost be worth

it to buy Partition Magic, although I don't know how much use I would get

out of it after fixing this. I believe PM can do this.

I get the sinking feeling I'll be doing this install all over again. If I

do, how do I get Windows XP to format the entire drive including the

unallocated portion if only one partition exists?

Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

appreciated. Thanks!

~ Doug

September 30, 2007

Re: I Screwed up Windows XP install

Doug wrote:

> Hi All,

>

> OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was

> attempting to do a clean install of Windows XP. The disks that came

> with the computer were labeled a bit strange, but essentially there

> was an Operating System Disk, and a set of 5 CD's all called Windows

> XP recovery disks.

>

> I tried the Windows XP disk first and seemed to work fine, but there

> were lots of drivers needed to get rid of hardware issues. I

> thought, what the heck, I'll run the recovery disks in hopes that it

> would install the correct drivers and all the hardware would be

> recognized. Well, the computer just shut down several times and

> trying to run the disk set was a total failure. So at that point I

> had nothing. Therefore, I decided to run the Windows XP (SP1) disk

> again and that worked fine. I went to the HP site and downloaded all

> the drivers I needed to get everything all up and running. So all

> seemed well at that point. Not!

>

> I went ahead and downloaded all the critical updates, 59 of them.

> Then I downloaded SP2 and installed it. Then another 34 critical

> updates. Then all the other software that I needed to put on,

> including anti-virus software and few other apps. After I set up

> everything to get connected to the Internet, plus Outlook Express

> settings, I got the bright idea to check My Computer and see how much

> disk space was now available. OMG! I couldn't believe my eyes. On

> a 40GB HD, it showed about 5GB being used, another 5GB available, and

> almost 30GB unallocated!

>

> I tried to merge the C partition to include the unallocated space

> using Diskpart.exe, but it wouldn't let me. I guess because it won't

> merge a partition with the boot sector on it. Something like that.

>

> So, I have to get the rest of this HD usable, and this friend does

> not want an additional partition. Therefore I have to find a way to

> either merge the unallocated space or start all over from scratch. I

> REALLY don't want to start all over. It took me forever to get

> everything on this computer and it's working good. With the

> exception of this little problem that is. Oh yeah, I had to call

> Microsoft to activate Windows too. Sheesh. I could just kick

> myself, what was I thinking. I should have checked that sooner.

>

> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could

> try. Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the

> unallocated portion of the drive, or some other idea. I guess it

> would almost be worth it to buy Partition Magic, although I don't

> know how much use I would get out of it after fixing this. I believe

> PM can do this.

>

> I get the sinking feeling I'll be doing this install all over again.

> If I do, how do I get Windows XP to format the entire drive including

> the unallocated portion if only one partition exists?

>

> Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

> appreciated. Thanks!

Clean Install Windows XP

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Notice Step #10.

September 30, 2007

Re: I Screwed up Windows XP install

"Doug" <faken@Ihatespam.charter.net> wrote in message

news:%23c7ksQ6AIHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Hi All,

>

> OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was

> attempting to do a clean install of Windows XP. The disks that came with

> the computer were labeled a bit strange, but essentially there was an

> Operating System Disk, and a set of 5 CD's all called Windows XP recovery

> disks.

>

> I tried the Windows XP disk first and seemed to work fine, but there were

> lots of drivers needed to get rid of hardware issues. I thought, what the

> heck, I'll run the recovery disks in hopes that it would install the

> correct drivers and all the hardware would be recognized. Well, the

> computer just shut down several times and trying to run the disk set was a

> total failure. So at that point I had nothing. Therefore, I decided to

> run the Windows XP (SP1) disk again and that worked fine. I went to the

> HP site and downloaded all the drivers I needed to get everything all up

> and running. So all seemed well at that point. Not!

>

> I went ahead and downloaded all the critical updates, 59 of them. Then I

> downloaded SP2 and installed it. Then another 34 critical updates. Then

> all the other software that I needed to put on, including anti-virus

> software and few other apps. After I set up everything to get connected

> to the Internet, plus Outlook Express settings, I got the bright idea to

> check My Computer and see how much disk space was now available. OMG! I

> couldn't believe my eyes. On a 40GB HD, it showed about 5GB being used,

> another 5GB available, and almost 30GB unallocated!

>

> I tried to merge the C partition to include the unallocated space using

> Diskpart.exe, but it wouldn't let me. I guess because it won't merge a

> partition with the boot sector on it. Something like that.

>

> So, I have to get the rest of this HD usable, and this friend does not

> want an additional partition. Therefore I have to find a way to either

> merge the unallocated space or start all over from scratch. I REALLY

> don't want to start all over. It took me forever to get everything on

> this computer and it's working good. With the exception of this little

> problem that is. Oh yeah, I had to call Microsoft to activate Windows

> too. Sheesh. I could just kick myself, what was I thinking. I should

> have checked that sooner.

>

> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could try.

> Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the unallocated

> portion of the drive, or some other idea. I guess it would almost be

> worth it to buy Partition Magic, although I don't know how much use I

> would get out of it after fixing this. I believe PM can do this.

>

> I get the sinking feeling I'll be doing this install all over again. If I

> do, how do I get Windows XP to format the entire drive including the

> unallocated portion if only one partition exists?

>

> Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

> appreciated. Thanks!

>

> ~ Doug

If you reinstall, boot from the SP1 CD. Pay close attention when you are

specifying where it installs to. You will be able to delete the existing

partition, create one new large one, and format it. XP has no tools to

otherwise alter the system partiton size; you can only delete and create at

the beginning of setup.

When done, go directly to the SP2 install. Do not bother with any updates

before that. This will save you significant time.

HTH

-pk

October 1, 2007

Re: I Screwed up Windows XP install

Hmm.. SP2 doesn't seem to be an option until after I get the first 60

critical updates. Using the express or custom install, it's just not in the

list to download. This is what happened to me last time too. After I got

the first 59 critical updates and installed them, SP2 showed up when I went

back to Windows Updates.

"Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message

news:eqXFMJ7AIHA.5160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> "Doug" <faken@Ihatespam.charter.net> wrote in message

> news:%23c7ksQ6AIHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Hi All,

>>

>> OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was

>> attempting to do a clean install of Windows XP. The disks that came with

>> the computer were labeled a bit strange, but essentially there was an

>> Operating System Disk, and a set of 5 CD's all called Windows XP recovery

>> disks.

>>

>> I tried the Windows XP disk first and seemed to work fine, but there were

>> lots of drivers needed to get rid of hardware issues. I thought, what

>> the heck, I'll run the recovery disks in hopes that it would install the

>> correct drivers and all the hardware would be recognized. Well, the

>> computer just shut down several times and trying to run the disk set was

>> a total failure. So at that point I had nothing. Therefore, I decided to

>> run the Windows XP (SP1) disk again and that worked fine. I went to the

>> HP site and downloaded all the drivers I needed to get everything all up

>> and running. So all seemed well at that point. Not!

>>

>> I went ahead and downloaded all the critical updates, 59 of them. Then I

>> downloaded SP2 and installed it. Then another 34 critical updates. Then

>> all the other software that I needed to put on, including anti-virus

>> software and few other apps. After I set up everything to get connected

>> to the Internet, plus Outlook Express settings, I got the bright idea to

>> check My Computer and see how much disk space was now available. OMG! I

>> couldn't believe my eyes. On a 40GB HD, it showed about 5GB being used,

>> another 5GB available, and almost 30GB unallocated!

>>

>> I tried to merge the C partition to include the unallocated space using

>> Diskpart.exe, but it wouldn't let me. I guess because it won't merge a

>> partition with the boot sector on it. Something like that.

>>

>> So, I have to get the rest of this HD usable, and this friend does not

>> want an additional partition. Therefore I have to find a way to either

>> merge the unallocated space or start all over from scratch. I REALLY

>> don't want to start all over. It took me forever to get everything on

>> this computer and it's working good. With the exception of this little

>> problem that is. Oh yeah, I had to call Microsoft to activate Windows

>> too. Sheesh. I could just kick myself, what was I thinking. I should

>> have checked that sooner.

>>

>> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could try.

>> Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the unallocated

>> portion of the drive, or some other idea. I guess it would almost be

>> worth it to buy Partition Magic, although I don't know how much use I

>> would get out of it after fixing this. I believe PM can do this.

>>

>> I get the sinking feeling I'll be doing this install all over again. If

>> I do, how do I get Windows XP to format the entire drive including the

>> unallocated portion if only one partition exists?

>>

>> Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

>> appreciated. Thanks!

>>

>> ~ Doug

>

> If you reinstall, boot from the SP1 CD. Pay close attention when you are

> specifying where it installs to. You will be able to delete the existing

> partition, create one new large one, and format it. XP has no tools to

> otherwise alter the system partiton size; you can only delete and create

> at the beginning of setup.

>

> When done, go directly to the SP2 install. Do not bother with any updates

> before that. This will save you significant time.

>

> HTH

> -pk

>

October 1, 2007

RE: I Screwed up Windows XP install

I've used BootitNG sucessfully for that situation, available here, as a trial:

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html

Cancel when it asks if you want to install (from floppy) | click Partition

Work | Resize

[Work done using the trial software Will Not be undone when the trial period

ends.]

After resize and reboot, Windows will want to run Chkdsk. Let it. Done.

-hth-

"Doug" wrote:

> Hi All,

>

> OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was attempting

> to do a clean install of Windows XP.

<snip>

> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could try.

> Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the unallocated

> portion of the drive, or some other idea.

<snip>

> Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

> appreciated. Thanks!

>

> ~ Doug

>

October 1, 2007

Re: I Screwed up Windows XP install

On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:55:01 -0500, "Doug"

<faken@Ihatespam.charter.net> wrote:

>Hi All,

>

>OK, I screwed up. On a friends HP Pavilion ze4430us Laptop I was attempting

>to do a clean install of Windows XP. The disks that came with the computer

>were labeled a bit strange, but essentially there was an Operating System

>Disk, and a set of 5 CD's all called Windows XP recovery disks.

>

>I tried the Windows XP disk first and seemed to work fine, but there were

>lots of drivers needed to get rid of hardware issues. I thought, what the

>heck, I'll run the recovery disks in hopes that it would install the correct

>drivers and all the hardware would be recognized. Well, the computer just

>shut down several times and trying to run the disk set was a total failure.

>So at that point I had nothing. Therefore, I decided to run the Windows XP

>(SP1) disk again and that worked fine. I went to the HP site and downloaded

>all the drivers I needed to get everything all up and running. So all

>seemed well at that point. Not!

>

>I went ahead and downloaded all the critical updates, 59 of them. Then I

>downloaded SP2 and installed it. Then another 34 critical updates. Then

>all the other software that I needed to put on, including anti-virus

>software and few other apps. After I set up everything to get connected to

>the Internet, plus Outlook Express settings, I got the bright idea to check

>My Computer and see how much disk space was now available. OMG! I couldn't

>believe my eyes. On a 40GB HD, it showed about 5GB being used, another 5GB

>available, and almost 30GB unallocated!

>

>I tried to merge the C partition to include the unallocated space using

>Diskpart.exe, but it wouldn't let me. I guess because it won't merge a

>partition with the boot sector on it. Something like that.

>

>So, I have to get the rest of this HD usable, and this friend does not want

>an additional partition. Therefore I have to find a way to either merge the

>unallocated space or start all over from scratch. I REALLY don't want to

>start all over. It took me forever to get everything on this computer and

>it's working good. With the exception of this little problem that is. Oh

>yeah, I had to call Microsoft to activate Windows too. Sheesh. I could

>just kick myself, what was I thinking. I should have checked that sooner.

>

>Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas that I could try.

>Maybe a trial version of a disk utility that would merge the unallocated

>portion of the drive, or some other idea. I guess it would almost be worth

>it to buy Partition Magic, although I don't know how much use I would get

>out of it after fixing this. I believe PM can do this.

>

>I get the sinking feeling I'll be doing this install all over again. If I

>do, how do I get Windows XP to format the entire drive including the

>unallocated portion if only one partition exists?

>

>Thanks for reading this bloated explanation! Any help will be greatly

>appreciated. Thanks!

>

>~ Doug

>

Download the trail version of Acronis TI. Create its boot CD.

Using the TI boot CD image your installation to an external drive.

Then using the tools on the TI CD sort out your hard drive, as in

reformat etc.

Then image back again onto the hard drive.

Finally, buy TI and don't worry about re-installing again. :)

Ross

October 1, 2007

Re: I Screwed up Windows XP install

Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions. I ended up just starting

over and reinstalling everything. This time I paid very close attention to

how Windows was going to utilize the HD. And of course I checked it as soon

as Windows was installed to make sure it was correct. Live and learn I

guess.

Everything went as it should and the laptop works great at this point. I

guess if I did this stuff for a living I'd be way ahead by buying Partition

Magic or some of the other software suggested. But I just though since I

was the bonehead that screwed this up I should just sit down and make it

right. "Get'r done" so to speak.

Thanks again!