How to reformat a bad xp installation?

I recently tried to install xp into my friends laptop but it was a bad installation and couldn't copy many of the files (It could not continue the installation).


When I acquired good copy of xp I was met by the message "ntldr is missing, press Ctrl Alt Del to continue" which I did but the message was repeated. I then reformatted a floppy and created a startup disk but it wouldn't let me out of A:\%26gt; using the usual formatting syntax to get into C. I tried putting the bad installation disk back in to delete the hard drive, which it allowed me to do, but it still wouldn't let me install the new one. Can anyone help me delete the hard drive from the floppy,? Is there another syntax I should be using. Thanks

How to reformat a bad xp installation?
format the partitions and install again
Reply:Go Here





http://www.informationweek.com/showArtic...
Reply:Put the good copy of the cd into a cd drive. (I'm assuming you have one) Reboot the laptop and press F12 (usually) to access the boot menu. Scroll down and tell the laptop to boot from cd drive and proceed with installation from there. Your installing a fresh copy of windows and I recommend doing a full format not a quick one.
Reply:first you will need to see if you can put win xp on his lap top i tryed to put win xp on my old computer win me but could not
Reply:XP thinks that the OS has been installed but it's only partially there on the hard drive, because the setup was cancelled during installation. The solution is a long and repetitive one and you will need a spare hard drive.





THE SOLUTION





You will have to install XP on a different hard drive. Disconnect the hard drive you are using now, and install another one. Once this is done, install XP as usual. Once you are in Windows, turn off the computer and install the hard drive you were first using. Boot the computer and then navigate to My Computer. Right click the secondary hard drive (the messed up one) and click Format. Once this is done, turn off the computer, remove the hard drive you installed XP on, and install XP on the messed up one.