[RESOLVED] New hdd on a Dell?

I have been trying to install xp pro on a friend's Dell RX-850. Her hdd failed and I bought her a new WD 80Gb IDE.

The formatting goes as expected...setup copies files to the Windows installation folder...setup initializes config...reboots...setup loads files....

The next screen shows the partitions and asks which one to install Windows...so I select the only partition, which is
"C"....

Then...setup says " A \Windows folder already exists that may contain a Windows installation. If you continue, the existing Windows installation will be overwritten"

It says to continue, to press "L" and all info already on the partition will be overwritten...

So I do that and the setup deletes the files and begins to re-copy files to the install folder.

then..back to "Welcome to setup"...and I press 'enter' to set up Windows xp pro...

The 'eula' page...then back to the screen that shows the existing partitions and un-partitioned space where I select the partition where Windows will be installed.

I once again choose C: Partition1 [NTFS]...( I even partitioned the 80G drive into two partitions hoping one or the other partitions would accept the installation and tried both C: and then D: ...but round & round we go...) The next page starts the same ..." You chose to install Windows on a partition that contains another o/s."

And so it goes....loop de loop...

Is there something about a Dell that is not letting this continue?

During the reboots, do not press any key to boot from the CDROM. If you do it just starts Setup all over again.

Hey, SS...the first screen says " Welcome to Setup"

. To set up WindowsXP now, press enter
. To repair a windows installation using Recovery Console,
press 'R'
. To quit setup without installing XP, press F3

So...I have to press 'enter' to continue the process.

I hit 'enter'...then the 'eula' page...then the screen where I have to choose the partition...

It's here that the problem begins. The next screen is where it says that the chosen partition already has another operating system. Huh?? It says..." to continue setup using this partition, press C.

Even if I go back and choose the second partition ( D: ), it is still the same...

So I press C...and the next screen says that it will install XP on the selected partition...and it gives me three options as to select the file system:

1. Format using NTFS system ( quick)
2. Format using NTFS system
3. Leave the current file system intact < no change>

#3 is already highlighted, so I choose that one...

And the next screen says that a windows folder already exists..??..and if I continue, that the existing installation will be overwritten...to use the folder and delete the existing installation, press "L". ???

And if I press "L", then the whole process starts again...

I do not even see an opportunity to re-boot from the cd..

I'm getting really puzzled about this.

In that case, zap everything with Delpart and start over, that should fix things:

Delpart

SS...I burned Delpart to a cd but the Dell won't access it upon start up...it gives me the Boot Disk Failure.

I will get the PDF manual for this Dell and see how to access Bios and see if I can get a floppy to work with Delpart...cross fingers..

I even tried using the System Recovery CD's that came with this Dell and they appeared to be working but when the third CD was thru and it said to restart the computer...nope...nada...the old Boot Disk Failure...

I didn't really think that those recovery cd's would work..I thought they were tied to the original hdd...but, what the heck...might as well try anything...!!

I'll keep messing with it....bound to be something that will break the loop...

Oh...question...doing a complete format with the xp CD will not accomplish what the Delpart will do?

Delpart does work on floppy. It's a DOS program, so you may need a Win98 or ME Startup Floppy first, then boot into DOS and run Delpart.

Bootdisks

SS...I'll try the floppy as soon as I can...I have to find the pdf manual first. I had it at one time but now I can't seem to find it on the Dell site. It's a PCV-RX850 Sony Vaio Digital Studio.

I'll need to do some more searching to find the manual...sure thought that I saved it...darn!

Success...

I hopped over to the Dell forum ( Sorry about that...thought I'd check them out...:o ). I was told to change the boot order to hdd as 1st then do an F12 on boot to do a once only CD access.

Well...while I was in Bios I noticed that the new hdd was not listed. I had just assumed that having the setting on [auto] was okay...but it wasn't. I clicked on the [auto] setting, then used 'Esc" to go back to the listings and the hdd was showing up...weird...:confused: .

Anyway...I saved & exited from Bios...rebooted...F12...and Bingo!...the installation continued and successfully installed.

Now, I am online and d/l'ing AVG Anti-Virus...ZoneAlarm free...etc...getting her computer well protected before I give it back to her.

I'm thinking that it was primarily a problem of the Bios not being set up properly after the new hdd was installed ( I'm no expert on how the Bios works...but I learned a little bit more with this experience...:) )