gone postal
New Member
Completely new computer build. I have 2 hard drives - both SATA. One is leftover from my old computer and has files I don't want to lose on it and the other is a brand new 500GB WD. When I first booted the XP CD, it detected both, but had the old drive (although it's in SATA2 slot) as C:\ and the new one as F:\. I wanted XP on the new drive. So, I shut down, disconnected the old one. Now, only the new 500GB was detected and as C:\.
My plan was to partition into a 50GB and two 225GB drives. I got the 50 done, but instead of hitting 'C' to create a new partition, I accidentally hit 'Enter' which proceeded to install XP in the free space. It didn't start installing, it just went to the next screen where you hit 'Enter' again to start. I hit 'ESC', but it wouldn't go back. Since this is not what I wanted and couldn't figure out how to go back, I shut the computer off.
Now whenever I start, it says "press any key to load from CD" and then tries to load from the Cd and says "unable to load operating system". I tried both DVD drives and even reconnected the old hard drive and put that ahead of the new FUBR'ed one and that didn't even help. The only way I could get XP to actually proceed and install was to unplug the new 500GB drive.
So, now XP is installed on the drive that I didn't want it on, but what can I do about the other one? Is there a program I can use (freeware preferably) or something built into XP that can partition / format that drive? I haven't even tried hooking it up yet to see if it even shows up in 'My Computer' - XP just finished loading and i'm actually on my laptop.
I really appreciate any help. I don't want a 500GB paperweight....
My plan was to partition into a 50GB and two 225GB drives. I got the 50 done, but instead of hitting 'C' to create a new partition, I accidentally hit 'Enter' which proceeded to install XP in the free space. It didn't start installing, it just went to the next screen where you hit 'Enter' again to start. I hit 'ESC', but it wouldn't go back. Since this is not what I wanted and couldn't figure out how to go back, I shut the computer off.
Now whenever I start, it says "press any key to load from CD" and then tries to load from the Cd and says "unable to load operating system". I tried both DVD drives and even reconnected the old hard drive and put that ahead of the new FUBR'ed one and that didn't even help. The only way I could get XP to actually proceed and install was to unplug the new 500GB drive.
So, now XP is installed on the drive that I didn't want it on, but what can I do about the other one? Is there a program I can use (freeware preferably) or something built into XP that can partition / format that drive? I haven't even tried hooking it up yet to see if it even shows up in 'My Computer' - XP just finished loading and i'm actually on my laptop.
I really appreciate any help. I don't want a 500GB paperweight....