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General discussion

Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP

Mar 8, 2004 1:22PM PST

Recently, I installed a sound card, and shortly thereafter I noticed that my computer kept rebooting itself. I tried a lot of things, but nothing worked, so I figured I'd just reformat. I made a bootdisk and booted from it in order to use format.com. I typed in format C:, but it gave me the error that "this program can not be run in DOS mode" (or something similair). So I ended up using Partition Magic from DOS to completely delete my C partition. So I load up the WinXP Pro installation, and I get through formatting the unpartitioned space in the NTFS file format as my C partition. At about 75%, I got the following error message in the form of a dark blue screen with white text (copied word for word):

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

The problem seems to be caused by the following file: ntfs.sys

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any Windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, desable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xFFFED88D, 0x00000001, 0xF7171AC0, 0x00000000)


*** ntfs.sys - Address F7171AC0 base at F7152000, Date Stamp 3b762863

What I've done -- I disabled BIOS caching and removed the sound card, but neither solved the problem. I'd think that since I removed the sound card and formatted the hard drive, that it certainly couldn't be a driver issue. Either something with the files that Windows setup copying, or a hardware issue (or both). Other than mere speculation, I have no idea what's causing this problem, and that makes it quite hard to remedy. So I'm in urgent need of some help. Is there anything more that I can try, or should I stop eating and save my lunch money for a new computer?

Specs:
Motherboard: Abit NF7
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3200+
Graphics Card: Atlantis Sapphire RADEON 9600 Pro
Hard Drive: Western Digital 7200RPM, 80gb (purchased not too long ago to replace a 3+ year-old drive that died)
Sound Card: Creative Audigy LS (removed, now trying to use onboard sound)
OS: Windows XP Pro (hopefully)

Discussion is locked

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Just a thought
Mar 8, 2004 1:43PM PST

Try to format your HD in other PC... or use a boot disk from windows 98 and run FDISK and remove all partition, then format it.

Install the HD in your PC (where it belong originally) and boot using the XP CD and try to format and install windows xp.

I don't know if it will work for you, but I did this on one of my PC a few month back.

If you still encountered the problem, then it might be a motherboard issue (electrical static short during sound card installation etc.) bring it to the repair shop to verify it.

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Re:Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP
Mar 8, 2004 2:08PM PST

The XP boot disk is completely useless, you can only use simple commands like copy, dir and stuff ( Microsoft policy, I guess ). Use the CD's recovery panel instead ( or Win98 bootdisk, but can't read NTFS ).
Get a friend to download and zip to floppy diagnostic tool ( dlgdiag) from Western Digital homesite and maybe also Data Lifeguard HDD adm. tool.

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Re:Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP
Mar 8, 2004 2:19PM PST

Why not just boot to the XP CD to delete/create/format partitions? No need for Partition Magic or boot disks. It is all on the CD!
Try to install with BARE MINIMUM hardware. Disable/remove sound, nic, firewire...etc. If the error message appears again try leaving the side cover off to see if heat is an issue.
Once XP is installed, enable/install devices one at a time and be sure to install correct drivers including motherboard drivers.

Good Luck, Tom

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Re:Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP
Mar 14, 2004 3:37AM PST

Ran into the same problem recently searched & searched for the answer. In my case it turned out to be bad sectors in my hard drive.
Back-up your files & start over is one solution.
What I have done till my new system arrives, is to create a partition with no operating system on it & isolated the bad sector in that area.
Steve B.

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Re:Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP
Mar 14, 2004 4:19AM PST

I would try agin with the boot disc, but this time run fdisk first, then format C.

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Re:Unable to format and reinstall Windows XP
Mar 14, 2004 7:33PM PST

Windows XP, either Pro or Home versions, as you have noticed, do not come with a boot floppy anymore. The CD is the boot floppy. This requires that you enter your BIOS, and change your boot sequence to CD-ROM, Hard Disk, and disable the floppy altogether as it simply wastes time on boot-up.(once XP is installed you can even disable the CD-ROM, and just boot from Hard Disk to speed things up even more. Once boot sequence is changed, reboot from the cd(watch your screen for instructions) and follow along with the instructions that come with XP loading. The CD will give you the reformat option for NTSF or FAT32 quick or full format.(full recommended)
If this doesn't work for you, you may try taking it back as far as booting from a Windows 98 boot floppy and running through F-Disk to delete all partitions, and then re-create new ones, and then do a full format that way. After that is done, retry above procedure again.
As an afterthought, if your motherboard has onboard sound, make sure you read through your manual to disable it both on the motherboard, and in the BIOS, otherwise you will get a continuous conflict error as both your new sound card, and the existing onboard one are "fighting it out" to be the installed unit. There are usually jumpers on the motherboard itself that need to be switched in order to disable it onboard, but the BIOS is important as well(usually in advanced chipset features) as the BIOS will tell the cpu to look for the onboard sound. Hope this works for you, good luck!