wiping hard drive

eric76067 · #1 September 27th, 2005, 10:54 PM

I bought a used dell gx150 with windows 2000 professional. Somehow i messed something up under the log in and had to log in under guest. I can't get to my files under the other log in and when i save pictures on my new log in they go to the other log in account. I am ready to just wipe the hard drive and start over with windows xp. Can anyone tell me how to remove windows 2000 pro from my hard drive?
Eric

**Snurfen** · #2 September 28th, 2005, 12:24 AM

the quick answer is to insert an OS disc and follow the format dialogues as they come up.

Before that, I'd have a good look at the profiles, wouldn't mind betting you've corrupted your original profile somehow.

Are you able to setup another user account on it at all?

eric76067 · #3 September 28th, 2005, 03:35 AM

I do not have the windows 2000 pro OS cd. I do have a windows 98, windows ME upgrade, and a windows XP upgrade cd.I cannot set up another account, because of passwords, can only log on under administrator.

**Snurfen** · #4 September 28th, 2005, 04:21 PM

If you load the XP ugrade, that should allow you to get around the problem. To be honest, it's so long since I've applied an OS upgrade, I can't actually remember the sequence of events.

Pay particular attention to hte bit where it asks you for an Administrator account and password.

Any other members have good knowledge of applying OS upgrades? Eric is having probs with user accounts on W2K pro.

eric76067 · #5 September 28th, 2005, 04:31 PM

When I try to install windows xp I get an error message:
Startup cannot upgrade your current installation to windows xp, your current installation of windows is not a supported upgrade path Setup cannot continue.

eric76067 · #6 September 29th, 2005, 06:29 PM

I Need Help Wiping My Hard Drive... Anyone?????

**Murray S.** · #7 September 29th, 2005, 07:24 PM

Howdy:

Get yourself a good Win98SE or ME boot floppy.. Use that to boot to DOS..

Once at a:\ prompt, go into fdisk.. Your first choice will be to "remove partitions>Remove all Non-DOS partitions..

From there, fdisk to set a Primary DOS partition, format it and install Win98..

Murray

eric76067 · #8 September 29th, 2005, 08:11 PM

I have a windows 98 full version, but do not know what booting to dos at prompt means.I

eric76067 · #9 September 29th, 2005, 08:12 PM

I have a windows 98 full version, but do not know what booting to dos at prompt means.I am computer stupid.

**Murray S.** · #10 September 29th, 2005, 09:00 PM

You still need to use a boot floppy.. Make sure the first boot device in BIOS is set to the floppy drive.. Put the boot floppy in and start the system..

You will end up with a screen that show "a:\".. that is a DOS prompt ..

Murray

eric76067 · #11 September 29th, 2005, 09:14 PM

I do not have a boot floopy. I didn't get anything with thic computer

**Murray S.** · #12 September 29th, 2005, 09:16 PM

Go to www.bootdisk.com

Download the file for a Win98SE bootdisk to your computer..

Stick a clean formatted floppy into a: drive..

Double-click the file you downloaded and will will p[lace the files needed onto the floppy you put in a: drive..

You now have a boot floppy..

Murray

eric76067 · #13 September 29th, 2005, 09:50 PM

I Downloaded Windows98se Boot Disk, But When I Try To Save It To The Floppy I Get An Error Message: Disk Error On Track 0 Head 0 Sector Not Found

**Murray S.** · #14 September 29th, 2005, 09:56 PM

Did you format the floppy?? and you don't save the file you downloaded.. You double click it to start the extraction process..

Murray

eric76067 · #15 September 29th, 2005, 09:59 PM

It Said It Was Formating And Savibg To Disk. Do I Need To Download To The Floppy