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Solve : help installing windows XP on new computer?

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I'm attempting to install a official version of windows XP Professional edition on my new computer.

I had mucked around with Fedora (linux) whilst awaiting the arrival of XP.

ANYWAY I used a Windows ME boot disk to delete the linux partition and add a dos partition.

anyway when I try to boot, it says press any key to boot from cd, after pressing any key it says its analysing my system then the screen goes blank, and the windows installation doesn't begin.

Any body have any suggestions, the cd runs fine from my other computer (used to post this msg. (except I need to keep swapping mouse/keyboard/moniter as I have 2 computers and only one set of periphiels)

HELP!Two questions:
1. Does your screen goes black after you press Enter at "Welcome to Setup" screen?
2. Do you wait long enough? That black screen may hang up there for several minutes (15-20).I would say that if it takes that long to analyse the system then traces of the Linux install are still there perhaps...
Did you remember to set the first partition "active" when using FDisk ? ?

Quote

1.Remove native, swap, and boot partitions used by Linux:
a. Start your computer with the Linux setup floppy disk, type fdisk at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

NOTE: For help using the Fdisk tool, type m at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
b. Type p at the command prompt, and then press ENTER to display partition INFORMATION. The first item listed is hard disk 1, partition 1 information, and the second item listed is hard disk 1, partition 2 information.
c. Type d at the command prompt, and then press ENTER. You are then prompted for the partition number you want to delete. Type 1, and then press ENTER to delete partition number 1. Repeat this step until all the partitions have been deleted.
d. Type w, and then press ENTER to write this information to the partition table. Some error messages may be generated as information is written to the partition table, but they should not be significant at this point because the next step is to restart the computer and then install the new operating system.
e. Type q at the command prompt, and then press ENTER to quit the Fdisk tool.
f. Insert EITHER a bootable floppy disk or a bootable CD-ROM for the Windows operating system on your computer, and then press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer.
2.Install Windows. Follow the installation instructions for the Windows operating system you want to install on your computer. The installation process assists you with creating the appropriate partitions on your computer.

From the MS Knowledgebase...Quote from: Broni on October 09, 2007, 12:56:03 PM
Two questions:
1. Does your screen goes black after you press Enter at "Welcome to Setup" screen?
2. Do you wait long enough? That black screen may hang up there for several minutes (15-20).

to answer 1, I don't get to the welcome to setup screen, I hit any key, then get one line saying Setup is determining your computer hardware for installation (or words to that effect). This is followed by the blank screen.

To question two, I just waited 6 hours and got nothing, It appears to be frozen as the computer thinking light is permanently on.

I was unable to format from the me rescue disk as it advised this FEATURE isn't supported by Win me.

one other point. When I used Fdisk I deleted all partitions and created 1 (primary) dos partition. I get the feeling it wasn't completely UNINSTALLED as not booting from cd (I have no floppy drive) causes a comand prompt program "GNU grub" to begin.Have you tried Active @ KillDisk ?

http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

The site recommends there free ISO Burner ,See Below Link.

http://www.ntfs.com/iso-burning.htmThe instructions above will get rid of the bootloader ( which as you see can cause havoc ) and the MBR...
Any version of FDisk after DOS 5.2 will work with this procedure.I didn't think ME fdisk could remove a linux partition, it's been a long time for me (10 yrs) but I thought only linux fdisk could manipulate linux partitions. I was under the same impression...this may be one of those times when MS is wrong about something...

The quote you put up from Microsoft says to use the linux fdisk Patio but the OP said he used the ME fdisk on the linux partitions which I don't believe works.Quote
Any version of FDisk after DOS 5.2 will work with this procedure.

This came from the same MS page as well.

But i don't understand his hesitation as you can find a Linux boot utility disk anywhere for free...
Maybe he'll post back.


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