Need to format a pc

[Guest]

Hi
I am really stuck here. I have a PC that has gone haywire. Hotkeys work but cannot type numbers and letters. System restore no longer works either.
It doesn't have a floppy drive and won't let me format it with a xp disc, it says the existing OS is newer than my disc. Tried memory stick but it won't acknowledge it.
It has a Sata hard drive and the CD drive uses the same type of cable. There is nowhere to plug in a floppy drive cable.
I would appreciate any help at dummy level please.
Thanks
Keith

 

[Gulli]

Download ( http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download ) and burn an Ubuntu cd, than boot your computer off of that cd and, choose "try ubuntu without installing", once you get to the desktop go to the partition manager or gparted or whatever it's name is in your version of ubuntu: http://blogs.sun.com/souvik/resource/pics/solariswindows1.jpg ten you can choose to format your hard drive, format it to NTFS (for windows.)

P.S. while you're in Ubuntu you can access your important files and copy them to a USB drive.

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Sounds like your XP disc was an older service pack (which is why it says its older). And it doesn't have the SATA drivers for your motherboard. Here's what you do (doing the ubuntu thing gets you nowhere, still no SATA drivers unless you're gonna just install and use ubuntu. Though the file backup thing is a good plan anyway): Google nlite, copy your XP disc to your hard drive. Find the SATA drivers online for your motherboard. Get the new service packs SP2 & SP3. Follow the nlite instructions to slipstream them all together. You can then try to repair/reinstall as needed.

I get annoyed about the SATA drivers cause I have to make a new freaking XP disc every time I need to install XP using a new motherboard. Cause I STILL don't have a floppy drive. (or multiple cause it's more than one comp)