microsoft products and updates wtf

[jimmyhat]

Okay i spent the last 2 days or 14hrsX2 plus sitting in front of 3 systems trying to deal with a lot of crap.

I have figured this much out and need to hear feedback from the rest..

What has xp pro done to the updates?
I have tried to format a fully updated mini system today over and over thru bios with cdrom/ hd set up it will not boot to cdrom....
Then go to the windoz platform and update then new intsall.
It does it but leaves all the orginal files behind making the format a waste of time.

But the best thing is this.... The [xp pro cd i have is old sp1 version sp2 version and the original version]<--- ALL OLD compared to the updated xp pro on the system which and gives me a box saying ----> Your version is out of date if you want to proceed you will lose data on your hd... Blah blah blah yeah i wanna do it but the box has a greyed out enable and will not allow me to go thru with it thus leaving me with a system that i CANNOT i repeat CANNOT FORMAT?
If this is the case with all my systems i am F&*(ked!

How in the hell do you clean your hD clean for a format nowadays?
WIndoz has just become a complete waste of time to deal with? ANyone else having my issues yet? I think it has something to do with the feb 28th thing/ You tell me..

[jimmyhat]

http://www.duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/clean.htm

http://www.duxcw.com/yabbse/index.ph...start=msg62285


enjoy all this is getting completely messed up............. ANyone selling windows 2003 server LOL I will buy it stat

[Xtahse]

uh..

c:\format c: ?

that can't leave anything behide.

[Madcatmk2]

I use partition magic 8 (without norton). I was lucky to get it at 29 CDN when some deal came up(long time ago).

You can use http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ and use partition tools like ranish to delete your partitions so you can install xp. I think you can also use it to delete the MBR.

[Kinki]

Was Windows installed in FAT32 or NTFS format? If it's FAT32 use a boot disc to wipe windows out. But if it's NTFS install a copy of Partition Magic onto a healthy computer & plug the HD with Windows onto it & format it under the program. I do this all the time with HDs that doesn't want to format properly.

Also if you run a Maxtor or WD I believe in the HD check-up utility they include a function to format your drive clean.

[DennyD]

Well if you can't boot to the cd rom, it's not a windows problem. It's bios/hardware. The reason you're getting the "version is newer" message is that SP2 is on the machine, but the CD does not have it.

Get a win9x boot floppy and start the PC with it. Run FDISK and choose to delete the partitions. If it is NTFS, choose Delete Non-Dos partition.
Once you're done formatting the drive, run the file winnt.exe from the i386 folder on the CD. But make sure you run the file smartdrv.exe beforehand. (it's not on the cd - easy to find on google)

[Suresh]

you want to go from XP to win2k3 SERVER?
dude, face it, ur not a power user

[jimmyhat]

I use the IIS mostly off windows xppro server would give it a whirl...

Im gonna give it another whirl at home with the crazy computers...

[jimmyhat]

Well if you can't boot to the cd rom, it's not a windows problem. It's bios/hardware. The reason you're getting the "version is newer" message is that SP2 is on the machine, but the CD does not have it.

Get a win9x boot floppy and start the PC with it. Run FDISK and choose to delete the partitions. If it is NTFS, choose Delete Non-Dos partition.
Once you're done formatting the drive, run the file winnt.exe from the i386 folder on the CD. But make sure you run the file smartdrv.exe beforehand. (it's not on the cd - easy to find on google)

I think its a bios issues only... with the phoneix bios's but with the mini its a SP2 issue thing is i tried a sp2 windows disk and it didn't jive either... Loads of testing to do today

[jimmyhat]

Well if you can't boot to the cd rom, it's not a windows problem. It's bios/hardware. The reason you're getting the "version is newer" message is that SP2 is on the machine, but the CD does not have it.

Get a win9x boot floppy and start the PC with it. Run FDISK and choose to delete the partitions. If it is NTFS, choose Delete Non-Dos partition.
Once you're done formatting the drive, run the file winnt.exe from the i386 folder on the CD. But make sure you run the file smartdrv.exe beforehand. (it's not on the cd - easy to find on google)

i read somewhere last night someone used me boot disk to get it going then loaded xp pro on after with no issues... I will try it. The drives are 80gb deathstar and a WD. They hook up clean on other systems run fine take info ect... So its a bios issue.