Format without getting to windows and w/o CD

[scubaslim]

Is there a way to format my hard drive (and the partitioned drive) without using the windows xp CD and without getting to windows. For some reason, my keyboard stops working once in windows. It also stops working when I try to boot from the xp CD.

I tried doing a factory system recovery, but with a new mobo, i got that stupid Code Purple. I downloaded an iso of WinXP, which worked to an extent.. but once I started updating windows, specifically sp2, I got nothing but problems (only starts in safe mode, keyboard not working, new drivers only partially install, etc). So now I want my hard drive completely wiped so I can start fresh with either winxp or win7.

Any help would be great. thanks

 

[electrontau]

You can remove the drive, plug into another computer and reformat it.

What brand computer you have? You cannot do a factory system recovery with different board. Need to be exact the same model.

 

[Zenthar]

If you boot from the XP CD and your keyboard doesn't work then the problem isn't you Windows installation; if you format the disk using something else, you will face the same problem when you try to install the OS again.

Have you ruled-out that the keyboard might be the problem? Is your keyboard USB or PS2? Check if you don't have some BIOS USB setting enabled or disabled, maybe that is causing issues.

 

[scubaslim]

I have an Compaq Presario. I realize I can't do it with a different mobo if you are using the partition to do the recovery, but I'm supposed to be able to with the XP CD.

As for the keyboard, I have tried 2 different ones. One USB and one PS2. They both fail. I don't think it's windows, but the problems started once I update windows with service pack 2. Everything was functional until I did that.

Maybe I'll just buy a new hard drive...

 

[Zenthar]

The problem could be an incompatibility between SP2 and your computer, but that wouldn't explain the problem booting from the CD (unless it's a CD with SP2 already on it. Have you tried jumping directly to SP3?

 

[scubaslim]

I don't think the CD has sp2 on it since I that's the update that Windows Update tells me to do. I could try SP3, as long as I don't have to type anything.

 

[Zenthar]

You could also try a Linux LiveCD just to see if the problem occurs with other OS ...

 

[scubaslim]

I tried Linux, and my keyboard worked fine. I wish I knew what that meant.

 

[scubaslim]

Can I format the hard drive from Linux?

 

[Zenthar]

I don't know if you will be able to format NTFS drives in Linux (I think so, but never tried), but I'm sure you can destroy the partitions.

 

[scubaslim]

Best answer selected by scubaslim.

 

[wrbros]

I reformatted my HDD from Vista to Windows 7 and only realized that I do not have all the drivers of the devices that I have to install. One of these devices is my writing tablet. I searced the net for possible drivers and have it downloaded. Installation was brisk and appeared to be okay. However, from time to time I would receive the “hardware error 1024” message. What does this error mean and how can it be fixed?

For additional help you can see here <a href="http://www.techyv.com/questions/how-reformat-without-using-driver-motherboard" target="_blank">How to reformat without using driver from motherboard | Techyv.com</a>

 

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