HELP RE-FORMATTING COMPUTER

it shows 2 hd's

 

the 20 gig is the C:

What size do i make the new partitions? (I know u have to press "C" to create a new partition)

After I make the new partitions, do i format them using the NTFS file system?

Also, which Partition do I install XP on?

 

after I create the partitions to the default sizes, what do i do next?

 

I created the partition on both drives, and tried formatting the C: using the NTFS system.

I get the same message when i try to format the C:

"Setup was unable to format drive C. The hard disk may be damaged. Make sure the disk in on and properly connected to your somputer. If the disk is a SCSI disk, make sure your SCSI devices are properly terminated. See your computer or SCSI adaptor documentation for more information

Setup cannot continue. To quit setup, press F3"

any thoughts?

Can i try formatting the D: instead? (8.4 GB)??

 

I checked another site, and i got a suggestion to press F8 and let boot from there BECAUSE:

"Your main OS is already on your C drive...windows won't let it format it from within itself. It's gotta be done through the CD or DOS. When you start your computer, have the disk in your drive and hit F8...that'll bring you to your boot screen, then select the drive you want to boot from that the CD is in and go at it from there."

However, when I press F8, i get the message: "keyboard failure"

and i cant press "any key" to boot from CD

WHAT TO DO??

 

I don't know what I'm doing wrong:

1. Starts up, I press F2, change boot order to CD
2. Put in CD, computer boots from CD, XP sets up necessasry files
3. I then have an option to install it on either one of 2 drives, i choose the C: (20GB)
4. It says its formatting the partition, and when its done, i get THE MESSAGE

 

I have a CD with windows 98 on it...

I have a question: will it matter where i got the XP CD from?, because I got it from a friend who brought it over from Asia, so can that be the reason its not formatting? I ask this because when I hav the option to choose which method to format the drive with, I have the NTFS and a "PAL" or something that begins with "P", I don't have the "FAT" system available.

So maybe if I can get a copy of the North American version of XP, will that make a difference?

 

Hey i finally got it to work. I got another copy of XP and formatted using the FAT system, and it worked just fine.

thanks for all the help ddp!