why can't i format this partition?

my_computer · 18 Feb 2009 at 17:47

hello. I run and use windows server on one disk (C).
Then on another disk I run windows xp as a backup (D).
Then use the rest for storage on another partition (E).

Using EASEUS partition manager when I attempt to format, the option for D and also C are unable to be clicked. for E though the option is lit up. i want to format D and install windows xp fresh on this partition, whilst keeping the contents of E. should I just right click the drive in my computer and format there and then use EASEUS to resize? It allows me to to right click format and brings up the next options.

this is what i'm told about the drives in EASEUS

any ideas?

ChrisLX200 · 18 Feb 2009 at 18:55

Where is your Boot Manager located? - is it on drive D:? (i.e., which drive do you have set as the boot disk in BIOS?) In your list D: is marked as the SYSTEM disk, whilst C: is marked as BOOT. Seems to me you have system files on D: so if you format it then your PC won't boot (despite thinking your OS is on C

my_computer · 18 Feb 2009 at 19:38

oh bother.. when my boot order is set to the disk containing D and E things work fine. and it then allows me to select windows server. When i change it to boot from C first it says bootmgr is missing press ctrl alt delete to restart

my_computer · 18 Feb 2009 at 19:57

ok googled that problem.. tells me to use the install disk on startup and repair. then use the command to fix it. i've gone through these commands. bootrec/rebuild. this searches but tells me there are no windows versions installed or something? so i then type bcdedit/export C:\bcd_backup. this is succesful i then type ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old. this then says the system cannot find the specified file. and i'm stuck again...

right i did something like bootrec/fixmbr and /fixboot and tried copying the boot and bootmgr files from one drive to another now the message i get is

File: \BOOT\BCD
Status: 0xc000000F
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

ChrisLX200 · 18 Feb 2009 at 20:41

I suggest you unplug the drive hosting D: and E: and try again with the install repair. You will lose the ability to boot to XP though (but you want to format that anyway).

my_computer · 18 Feb 2009 at 21:02

by install repair what do you mean, go through all the botrec /fix mbr etcsss

google has told me those commands + another which i should follow /fixmbr and fix boot with it is

\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force ... this doesn't work though, what am i missing?

ChrisLX200 · 18 Feb 2009 at 21:19

I confess I have never needed to go through the process with anything but WinXP, but basically (for XP) you put the Windows CD in the drive and go through the install process, Windows spots there is an existing OS installation and asks you if you want to repair it. It copies all the system files across and puts the correct boot.ini on the C: drive. You then have to go through Windows Update to get all the updates back. Your installed apps and documents etc., are OK though. That's the easy way. The hard way is to copy the system files over from the D: drive and edit boot.ini so it points at the correct partition. Also, the commands to fixboot and fixmbr (which the Windows Install does for you). It's a bit messy if you're not sure what to do. You should disconnect the other drive though if using the Windows CD or it will get confused and 'repair' it back the way it was.

my_computer · 18 Feb 2009 at 21:42

so i disconnect the drive with server 08 on? and repair with xp disk? could be a problem as the version of xp i want to install isn't the same as the one installed

tried it anyway gets the the screen for installing/repairing and then restarts