Loading OS on Toshiba TE2100 Laptop

During the process of XP installation launched form CD/DVD you will be offered to make disk partitioning and its formating.

You said your HD is bad. I would suggest you to use FAT32.

Caramba,

Thanks for the response, but I need to add some information and clear up a point.

I am installing a new blank hard drive I purchased for the purpose, and the install program (XP Pro) does not recognize the hard disk when it attempts the install. The old disk is now useful only as a paperweight. I did slip the new drive into a USB adapter to see if it is functional, and I'm able to write and read files from the drive. Now I need to install it into the laptop, format it, and install XP.

From past experience, I assume I need to format the new drive and run FDISK, or whatever is the equivalent operation is these days, so the system will recognize the new hard disk.

By the way, isn't there a new format standard reccommended for use with XP? I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but I seem to remember reading an article on the subject, and FAT(16 and 32) seems to be obsolete or at least not reccommended for WinXP.

Regards,

Ron

With XP is recommended to use NTFS, which I'm trying avoid even on new HD. It can't be partitioned by fdisk. Fdisk is actual now but it can be useful along with others old DOS commands only if your disk is fat32/16. That's why I'm applying Fat32. It give me chance to cope with any inevitable problems with disk afterwards. FDISK can remove NTFS partition though.

I'm supposing your BIOS does not recognize your new hard disk. WinXP installation program can install OS on absolutely blank disk (if it passed Bios test). Here's Partition Magic program which could format any disk using several standards.

nevertheless you could use fdisk command to make your partition as fat(do not forget make it as ACTIVE) then WinXP will offer you to reformat it as NTFS as you wish.

regards

Caramba,

Thanks for the information. I'll look for Partition magic on the web. I assume it comes with a method of booting the system so I can work on the Hard disk.

That is the main issue at this point. I do not have a floppy, so my only two boot options are the CD ROM drive or a USB port, neither of which I know how to implement. I've heard of booting the system from both a CD or USB, but have not tried either. I guess I'll have to experiment more, but most of my time goes to working with, not on my systems.

I'm a hardware engineer with enough software experience to be a bit less than dangerous, but I know when I should ask questions before tackling a problem out of my area of expertise.

Regards,

Ron

It's nothing, Ronz,

But I'm afraid here's a mess as your new hard drive is not recognized on low(BIOS) level. It should. Non the less, before rushing for Partition Magic or other stand alone programs i would advice you to use old Win98 CD, which I'm supposing you have. Interrupt process of installation and use fdisk and format command to handle your new disk. If WinXP installer won't see your drive formatted this way I think it wouldn't see it if even there were placed native NTFS.

You could try out to install Win98 then upgrade one to XP. It won't take too much and file system will be upgraded the same way from FAT to NTFS. I always do that before to pay for additional software.

regards, caramba

At his 2nd post Ronz has written:"...and the install program (XP Pro) does not recognize the hard disk when it attempts the install..." Therefore laptop CD was already bootable. It's used to be as factory default BIOS boot mode.

What said Elniv, is a good way to cope with problem and it coincides with my point of view. I voted for his post. Yes Win2k is more likely to find than old win98 installation CD.

Yes, Fat16 can't but Fat32 quite good for handling big drives. Yes NTFS is newer and I really enjoyed that FS when I used my lovely NT4 at the time. Now I can only say that newer doesn't mean better.

regards, caramba