Need Help Quick, Windows setup and partitions...

Hey,
Well the other day my computer completely broke down for some unknown reason, leaving me with the BSoD everytime it started booting into windows, i tried all the F8 settings to boot into windows and still had the same problem.

So i decided to format the C: drive and start over, I formated the C: partition and ran into a problem, this is how it came about:

I inserted windows xp disk, and booted.
Pressed f6 for my RAID drivers, selected both and then continued.
Pressed enter again to install windows,
Pressed F8 to accept terms and conditions
I am now at the screen where it says choose a partition to install windows.
I went to my C: partition and pressed enter.
I got an error saying this:

"...However this disk does not contain a WindowsXP compatible Partition...". So I went back deleted the partition and recreated it, and still had the problem.

Later I remembered that i created some norton partition magic rescue disks (which allow you to boot into partition magic). I had a look at the RAID drive and deleted the C: partition yet again, and recreated it again in NTFS and then formatted it. I then activated it.

I then returned to windows boot cd and went through the process described above and got exactly the same error and now I don't have any sort of idea what to do.

Please help....
Sam

Ok thanks for the help but...Is there not a way of doing this without formatting all the other partitions on the RAID, because starting from scratch sucks...

Sam

As far as i know the partitions were as follows...

C: Primary, active

Extended
Y: - Logical
Z: - Logical

I shall try what you said too, haven't tried that, I will reply back soon with the result.

Thanks for reply's

Have you tried to use fdisk/mbr from a boot disk?

This will recreate the master boot record and may allow you to install windows.

Sorry to say but I think your at a last resort with this. I noticed that the y and z drives are logical on an extended partition. When you deleted the main c partition I believe you made it where y and z wont be accessable, not totaly sure though. I have done this before and had problems when I just deleted the main partition and left the logicals intack. If possible I would get any info off the y and z drives and use a boot disk to completly wipe the drive. Dont make any partitions and let the windows setup make and format them during setup.

If anyone else has a better idea let him know asap.

Okay, I've tried deleting all the partitions on the RAID and starting again...and i STILL have the error

I noticed that in the setup the RAID drive which is 305251 MB has "id 1"
and then once I try and partition It says its "id 2" and only 152626 MB,

When you RAID doesn't it combine the harddisks in which case the line above doesn't make sence...

Sam