My Reformatting experience

[jebbypal]

So 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).

Comments

sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32

[jebbypal]

I'll try what you suggested when I get home and see if that works. I was working as myself with administrator rights and I wasn't in safe mode at all. I'm glad to know though that the loss of fat32 may not be what is fubarring it.

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

[cretkid.livejournal.com]

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

[jebbypal]

xp home.

Re: sigh of relief at not frying the motherboard with lack of fat32

[cretkid.livejournal.com]

as I recall, yes, you should get Administrator to pop up in safe Mode.

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.