How to prepare new empty HDD to receive OS

Old Ken

Reputable
Jan 11, 2015
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4,510
My HDD failed, destroying the OS, but not all my music files. I have purchased a brand-new HDD (Toshiba), but it has not been initiated, and has no drives ready for a new OS. The PC has a functioning BIOS, but all attempts to boot from an XP Pro CD ROM have only produced unhelpful statements on screen from the BIOS. I imagine the BIOS plus CD ROM need partitions, or at least a section of the HDD with a drive letter (or number), in order to install an OS. If the XP Pro could only run until formatting had completed, I would cancel and replace the XP CD ROM with a Vista version; and then upgrade via Win 8 to Win 8.1 (as I had with the old HDD before it died.)
I shall be grateful for any suggestions and advice.
Old Ken.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Why aren't you starting with 8 or 8.1? Why the XP?
 

Old Ken

Reputable
Jan 11, 2015
3
0
4,510


 

Old Ken

Reputable
Jan 11, 2015
3
0
4,510
(Unhelpful printing on screen):

(At the left top edge of the screen):
Boot from CD:
(At top edge of screen):
Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration
(Middle of screen: brief appearance of Dell logo)
(Bottom right of screen):
F2 setup
F12 Boot options

(The whole sequence takes 45 seconds, and repeats till I stop it.)

Why start with Vista? Because I purchased a code from Microsoft allowing me to upgrade (or update) cheaply to Windows 8. I still have the code, and assume that I may have the right to use it to return my OS to the form it had again. From Windows 8 to 8.1(update) was a free offer at the time. I have no CD-ROM for the latest two systems, so I have to return to XP Pro or Vista Home Premium.

Old Ken