Community Newsletter: Q&A: 2/25/05 How to reformat your hard drive
- 2/24/05 3:25 PM
Windows Product Activation - Question
by winwin - 6/15/05 8:44 AM In reply to: WORK AROUND WINDOWS PRODUCT ACTIVATION by PoorJohnnMy WinXP Pro machine, upon boot, gives me the following error message:
"A problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license for this computer - error code: 0x80090006"
If I catch the machine early in the boot, and click on the user name to finish the boot, then I have no problem, but if the machine is allowed to wait any time at all, the "Windows Product Activation" error above appears.
Any thoughts on what is causing this problem? It seems to be a relatively new problem. I have been using Win XP Pro since it first came out.
slipping into ignorenc--John
by bigbill20176 - 3/13/07 8:31 PM In reply to: Windows Product Activation - Question by winwine-mail me anmd i will walk you through your maze--bigbill20176@aol.com
It don't work
by poohtooh - 2/22/06 11:14 AM In reply to: WORK AROUND WINDOWS PRODUCT ACTIVATION by PoorJohnnThis work around does not work, I have tried it the last time I had to install Microshaft Winblows XP (Xtra Pushy). And I had to call Microshaft any way.
how to reformate your hard drive
by fury2525 - 2/25/05 3:51 AM In reply to: 2/25/05 How to reformat your hard drive by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My question is this, are those instructions given for the Windows XP PRO, going to be the same if someone has just the Windows Xp Home Version? And if so, would you please tell me what they are, as that is the version I have.
Sincerely, Fury2525
Pretty generic
by BobLap - 2/25/05 5:39 AM In reply to: how to reformate your hard drive by fury2525The process that was given seems pretty generic. It will work using Pro or Home edition.
Don't rush it, just do things slowly and systematically, ie, don't attach all of the external peripherals at once and reboot, attach them one by one and check to make sure each one works. Same with some of the larger software packages.
formatting to Change from XP
by putergoddess - 2/25/05 4:07 AM In reply to: 2/25/05 How to reformat your hard drive by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have XP Pro installed on a hard drive. I want to format the hard drive and put a non-NT format and windows 98SE back on. How do I get rid of NT? I had a paritioned hard drive with XP on 1/2 and 98SE on half, and can't see the XP part from a normal fdisk. As it stands 1/2 of my hard drive is unaccessible after formatting C. ( where the 98SE was.) It won't boot because C was where the boot record was. As far as I know, XP is still on there but I can't access it through Fdisk.Please help.
Getting rid of XP
by rescuefire - 2/25/05 4:34 AM In reply to: formatting to Change from XP by putergoddessI found some great information at http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm#How%20to%20Repair%20Windows%20XP%20by%20Installing%20Over%20top%20of%20Existing%20Setup:
You can partition your drive but you need to format the partitions according to what each Operating System needs. For XP you need to "FORMAT C: /Q /FS:NTFS" at the DOS Prompt which will format your hard drive to the NTFS format which XP needs. "FORMAT C: /FS:FAT32" will format to the FAT32 which Win98/ME need. The /Q in those commands mean quick format.
If a file system is not specified, then the existing file system format is retained. I see there are many posts about backing up your data, retaining any downloaded programs you may not have a disk for as well as keeping record of all your "key codes". Those all give excellent advise.
I have found in the past that the XP "repair" or "reinstall" do not actually clear your Hard drive completely. If you really want everything gone for good and start fresh then format all drives as well as clear your partitions, repartition and reinstall.
I won't repeat the many excellent ways to back up and the other tips. I just wanted to add the information as to how to format your drives for the type of OS you are installing.
Saying Goodbye to XP for Linux
by jeffrob - 2/25/05 5:11 AM In reply to: Getting rid of XP by rescuefireI'd like to reformat my hard drive and install Linux. I would like to add a partition (currently there is only C) for data and am not sure how to do it. I also wonder if it might be a good idea to install XP on it's own partition for times when it would be convenient to run Windows programs. Any advice?
How to format
by ludedude25 - 2/25/05 7:20 AM In reply to: Saying Goodbye to XP for Linux by jeffrobI'm not 100% sure on this but I believe you can delete the partition with XP's cd.
When you go to reformat your computer, pop in the xp disc, when it shows your current format/partition their should be some option to delete it. You will have to read all the options while doing this to make sure.
Then it should give you options of calculating size of partition. Choose a size then you can make a partition with what's left.
When and if I deciede to partation a hard drive I most always use the disc that came with the drive. That would be hard to do if you bought a premanufactured pc. There are other software out there too like Partition magic but Unless you don't care about your data us it at your own risk. I think i'ts best to partition before you format.
And yes I would suggest keeping a windows functioning computer around expecially if your a Linux newbie. If you have broadband and only plan on surfing the net, checkin emails and chatting linux is fine. Try configuring samba, getting a network setup, playing some of your games and you will be scratching your head.
Also have a look at Knoppix, Gnoppix, Suse live, feather, and any others that may interest you at this site: http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
This is a try before you commit without chance of runing your current install.
Also be prepared to read, there aren't too many people i've found that like to help with Linux. Most people seem to have a I gotta better OS and i'm not going to tell you how attitude. Is it really that special? or do they really not know how to explain something to someone? Most answers I get are, Do a google on it, or go to linux newbies forum. Then at a forum no one ever post's a reply.
If you find someone keep their e-mail/ im handle close, you'll need it!
Not trying to discourage you but you will definately need patience and good ability to understand the OS before you plunge into it. Although Linux user friendlyness has increased dramatically over the years.
Thanks ludedude25!
by jeffrob - 2/28/05 10:16 AM In reply to: How to format by ludedude25I really appreciate the advice and the link. I didn't know that Linux users had such a sad attitude. Hopefully more folks like you will start using it and change that!
Heres what I did..
by Wolf_10 - 2/25/05 12:46 PM In reply to: Saying Goodbye to XP for Linux by jeffrobI bought SUSE Linux Pro 9.2 from Novell, it was $90.00. I installed it on my winXP system. It moved XP to its own partition and installed on the new partition it created.
Installing was simple, now I have a dual boot machine. I can learn at my own pace and my windows is exactly as it was. I like the SUSE Pro version because it comes with a lot of extra apps, over 1000 according to the box.
Thanks Wolf_10!
by jeffrob - 2/28/05 10:19 AM In reply to: Heres what I did.. by Wolf_10This sounds like a really good idea and at a relatively small price!
GParted - It will act much like Partition Magic/Star
by aLinux - 8/14/06 3:15 PM In reply to: Saying Goodbye to XP for Linux by jeffrobIt's free however. Burn to a CD, set up and or re-size
partition(s) for use with Linux. Good uniform software.
Check it out here: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
Notes: You'll want a Linux Type 83 partition. You can dual boot both XP and Linux, so you can still utilize both OS's. Hope this helps.
I found an answer, thank you to all of you
by putergoddess - 11/9/05 7:50 PM In reply to: Getting rid of XP by rescuefireI found a site which offered a free download to create an NTFS Boot Floppy. On this boot disk there's a copy of KillDisk, which write 0's to the drive and then allowed me to reformat and reclaim the hard drive to reinstall Win98SE. 
No more evil XP ! LOL
You don't have to lose your data when you reformat !
by phazyme - 2/25/05 4:57 AM In reply to: 2/25/05 How to reformat your hard drive by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Reformatting, will cause a total loss of data from your hard drive. I recently was faced with this dilemma on a 30 Gigabyte external HD, which was unrecognized after upgrading to Windows XP. I am not sure why this occurred but whatever the issue, reformatting does not have to mean a loss of data. Even the manufacturer of the drive told me that there was no way to recover the data. But there is.
I am not talking about the services that charge thousands of dollars to recover the data. I am talking about the program GetDataBack. I am in no way connected with the company that wrote the program, but let me tell you it works- and it is inexpensive.
To use the program, you need a 2nd hard drive, to receive the data from the "bad" hard drive- prior to reformatting. If you have already reformatted it is too late. The program when installed, manages to see your "bad" hard drive, and copies the directory of every single bit of data into a temporary file. Upon completion, the program asks you where to copy the data. You must already have a hard drive ready to go. You cannot stop in the middle or you will lose the above procedure- which for large drives like mine, took 8 hours of copying. Upon choosing the new hard drive, (which must be already formatted), the data is copied file for file, and bingo, the new hard drive is seen, with all the data intact. This could all take 24 hours depending on how much data you have. For me it was tons of pictures and music.
Now- your old hard drive can be reformatted and now will be recognized by Windows XP. At that point you could conceivably, recopy all files back to the now reformatted hard drive.
This program is offered for 2 different formats, one of which is NTFS which is the XP preferred format. Hopefully the user will know which format program to use. The program is actually free to try, so that you can see for your self, your files magically reappearing. The key is something like 79.00, and worth every bit of it, if you are stuck.
Once again, this is not a commercial. I am a physician an am in no way connected to the GetDataBack people. I am just a concerned user, who avoided paying thousands of dollars to recover family pictures etc., because no one knows or will tell you this secret.
plcmd (phazyme)
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