How to format c: if it can't be done

[rock08]

I have Windows Vista (real crap, I wanna get rid of it) on my latop and I also have Win XP Pro CD. It won't format c: at start up after it has loaded up setup files, gives error that there is no hard drive or something... tried many ways to format c:, none of them worked, a friend of mine who knows pc's didnt know also what to do. Any opinion? This Vista Home Premium was already installed when i bought this laptop.
I know there is a cd that wipes out all data from hard disk in less than a minute and leaves no trace, I wouldn't want to use it since hdd is divided into c: and d: and i dont have that cd.

[klkl]

restart your comp, insert xp cd, select auto boot from cd in bios, boot it, delete partions, install windows

[nk121]

Actually what you did was you deleted the boot sectors also.

You need to go into the XP setup and instead of trying to install windows, choose R for Repair.

It will bring you to the command line interface, type in FIXBOOT. It will create a new boot sector.(this only needs to be done to laptops)

Install windows.

[klkl]

Actually what you did was you deleted the boot sectors also.

You need to go into the XP setup and instead of trying to install windows, choose R for Repair.

It will bring you to the command line interface, type in FIXBOOT. It will create a new boot sector.(this only needs to be done to laptops)

Install windows.[/b]

so now he will have 2 windows's? xD

[rock08]

restart your comp, insert xp cd, select auto boot from cd in bios, boot it, delete partions, install windows [/b]

I tried this first of all... after the cd autoboot it autmatically starts to unpack setup files. after that there are 2 options: install windows xp or quit from setup. by choosing install, it gives the error right away.

The same error i get if i try to install xp, this is attempt to 'repair'

[rock08]

bump

[bazzeeka]

gg ...... go to bio's change 1st 2nd 3rd boot device too all CDROMS , once this is done save to CMOS [Y] . Restart computer , press enter when it ask to boot from windows Xp cd , wait for the Setup to load , Press R = repair wait 5 seconds then type Safe Mode Admin pass if you have one! if not just press enter.. wat ever Vista is installed on type Format c: .

If not do the same but fix the boot sector and repeat steps too easy