Computers don't seem worth the effort half the time. Well PC's anyway... A few days ago, one of our PC's stopped booting. It would get to the white bar that scrolls from left to right; just before the WinXP splash screen...then it would stop for ages and eventually reboot. I thought it maybe a hardware issue (as I had installed new RAM), but have changed each component only to find the same result. So, I thought I would re-install Windows. I booted the PC from CD, and chose the option to format the HD. It went through the process, but at the end of the format it said something like: "Windows cannot format this drive; it maybe damaged." It then said I had to quit setup. So I fitted another HD (which I know is in perfect order as it is from another PC that works fine). I went into through the setup process again - choosing "format". And once again the message said that the drive maybe damaged. I have now tried the drives in a number of configurations. Each on their own...both together, and with different jumper settings. I tried a different IDE cable, and even moved from IDE-1 to IDE-2 on the motherboard. All resulting with the same problem. As of now, I cannot format the drive in this PC at all. Also, when Windows setup asks me to choose a drive or partition to format - I choose drive E: but Windows always attempts to format drive C: What is going on - anyone able to help?? It's driving me nuts!!!
have you tried to format the HD on an another system and then tried installing windows xp? have you got any partitions on the HD you tried to install XP?
