Installed win 8 over win xp

[xaros43]

I made a terrible,TERRIBLE mistake...i installed windows 8 over windows xp and now i can't access my windows xp partition...I tried fixing it somehow by booting a windows xp cd but it doesnt regnonise the CD...i tried it on an other pc and it can successfully boot from the cd...Any help?Thanks...!

 

[COLGeek]

Time to reload XP from scratch. There is no uninstall of Win 8. Sorry.

 

[xaros43]

Yeah,that doesnt seem to bother me,but i CANT boot the windows xp cd...so how am i able to reload xp??

 

[ziuus1]

I made a terrible,TERRIBLE mistake...i installed windows 8 over windows xp and now i can't access my windows xp partition...I tried fixing it somehow by booting a windows xp cd but it doesnt regnonise the CD...i tried it on an other pc and it can successfully boot from the cd...Any help?Thanks...!

Xaro, Did your install of Windows 8 give you any save data options when you did the install?

You will not be able to access your Windows XP partition if you did not create a 2nd partition to install Windows 8 on.

Did you create a 2nd partition for the Windows 8 installation?

 

[xaros43]

To be more specific,my father did it ...im gonna ask him if it gave him a data save option but as i can see it,there is no 2nd partition for the windows 8.

Anonymous1,yes i push the F12 so the boot menu will pop up..and i click CD/DVD rom but it boots to windows 8.

 

[COLGeek]

If you are manually selecting the CD as the boot device and are still having issues, it is one of a couple things.

1. Watch for the "press any key to boot from CD" message and press a key.
2. The XP CD may be damaged, you can try making a copy of the media in another PC.
3. The optical drive is defective/dirty.

 

[xaros43]

1.i am watching very carefully and this message doesnt show up...
2.thing is,i can boot from the windows xp cd from an other computer!
3.i tried it with the other optical drive...still no luck.

 

[WR2]

Is there a Windows.Old folder in the Win8 file system?

 

[COLGeek]

This is not a Win 8 issue, but a hardware or media issue. Seems that your optical drive is not picking up the CD when inserted.

Try burning a new copy of your install media. Burn at the slowest possible speed.

 

[WR2]

Have you checked to see if you might have a hidden restore partition?

 

[xaros43]

Is there a Windows.Old folder in the Win8 file system?

I can't access the C HDD...i don't know why

 

[xaros43]

This is not a Win 8 issue, but a hardware or media issue. Seems that your optical drive is not picking up the CD when inserted.

Try burning a new copy of your install media. Burn at the slowest possible speed.

I tried burning it with 8x speed...no luck with both of the optical drivers...

 

[COLGeek]

What are the specs for your system? Have you reset the BIOS (back to default settings)?

 

[ram1009]

As a last resort you can always remove the HDD and reformat it externally on another PC.

 

[ziuus1]

I can't access the C HDD...i don't know why

Are you saying you can't access, explore or open the C: drive?

 

[xaros43]

...Somehow i managed to access to windows xp partition but seriously,everything is a big mess!Im guessing format is the only solution...
Anyway,thanks a lot for your help!

 

[WR2]

Is there anything you need to save from the XP partition?
Personal files or data?
We can recommend a bootable Rescue CD that should let you do that.