My Reformatting experience
Feb. 20th, 2006 02:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jebbypalSo everything seemed to go okay and the computer starts faster than I ever remember it doing, but there are places that the results freak me out combined with my inability to install some of my drivers.
1. At the "choose partition" place, there were originally like 3 partitions -- a small fat32 one, a larger ntfs one, and another ntfs one. Since I was worried about the computer not doing a clean install, I deleted all of the partition. End result: I have one NTFS partition.
2. At the choose fat32 or ntfs, I didn't have the fat 32 option, it just offered NTFS or NTFS---is this cause I deleted the fat32 partition? Or is my dell laptop just wonky?
3. When the computer now restarts, I get a black screen asking me which OS I want to load: Win xp or Win xp. I know from prior experience with a desktop in the lab that was badly infected by a virus and was reformatted by the tech guy that windows xp does have the kink of being able to keep all the previous stuff and just doing a new partition and a new xp. So I'm choosing the first. But, When I check my memory, I only have 1 gig (out of 60) gone. This is sans any programs not with XP home, but still, that seems to indicate to my that all my files (which previously took up 25-30 gigs) are gone. So why the two OS choices? I'm obviously not loading a bunch of crap on it until I figure out what's going on there.
4. Umm, During the "state your name" etc part, it never asked me for my product ID or anything for Windows XP. I thought this would happen. There was also never a register window (not that I can register until I get either the ethernet or the wireless working).
5. Drivers that fail to install: a) what I think is the wireless modem, b) what I'm pretty sure is the ethernet modem, and c) something to do with the nvidia graphics card.
what I manged to right down: "conexant D480 MDC V.9x modem driver failed to install". Googling this phrase has not helped me whatsoever.
Dell does have a place to download drivers and stuff...except, I have no internet from that computer since I don't have a 56K connection (the only modem that is registering on the computer). Do you think it's possible to download them on a desktop here in the lab and then be able to copy to a disc?
I think that's most of the problems right now. Mostly I'm worried that the reason the drivers aren't installing is that they require the FAT32. And somehow, I doubt trying another reformat will cause the fat32 to magically appear. So then the question becomes, would taking it to a computer repair place (or even sending to dell if I can figure out how to since my warranty is dead) be able to repair that? Or am I in the position of needing a new motherboard or harddrive if I want to be able to do anything other than use the laptop for a glorified typewriter (assuming I can get msoffice to install...haven't tried yet).
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-20 11:56 am (UTC)Reformating to NTFS as a single partition or a set of partitions should be fine.
So, first question, are you running as a single partition or two?
Secondly, how are you doing this: running off the CD to install? if it's a reinstall of the SAME operating system, it probably won't ask for a CD key, though it might.
Or did you try to repair the original installation?
Are you working in SAFE mode? You should be, if you can. This allows for more CPU 'time' to be devoted to the installation, rather than running background aps.
Get the operating up and running. Then worry about drivers. Once XP is running, you have access to USB ports and CD drives, so you can always bring in the drivers and software you need to run WHILE IN SAFE MODE to load onto the system.
Also, log in as Administrator, not as yourself with administrator rights. it can sometimes be a picky thing with operating systems; the OS doesn't like posers.
sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32
Date: 2006-02-20 12:06 pm (UTC)I'm running as a single partition after deleting all the partitions during the reformat. And it was a reinstall of the same OS (this computer has always been xp since I got it new). CD drive and usbs are working. It's just that ethernet modem and wireless modem aren't. But I'll try the admin thing w/ the safe mode and hopefully that will work.
To log in as administrator, is it just making a new adminstrator account? Or just a thing with the safe mode?
Re: sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32
Date: 2006-02-20 12:32 pm (UTC)It should pop up in Safe Mode only - though, i should ask, XP Home or XP Professional? I am ALMOST positive it pops up in Safe mode in Home. I know it does in Professional.
Re: sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32
Date: 2006-02-20 12:57 pm (UTC)Re: sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32
Date: 2006-02-20 01:02 pm (UTC)Though, check your users while logged in as yourself. Make sure there IS an administrator. There should be, but sometimes there isn't. My laptop is XP Home, so when I get home, I'll look into it if things get funky for you.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-21 06:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-21 08:09 am (UTC)thanks for the offer though.