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Re: Cannot delete/format Vista and install XP - System partition is not allowed to be formatted (4833 Views)
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Josh_120 Student
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Josh_120
Posts: 1
Registered: ‎07-09-2009
Message 1 of 2 (4,851 Views)
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Cannot delete/format Vista and install XP - System partition is not allowed to be formatted

‎07-09-2009 08:40 PM

I have a Vista which is slow and I want to remove. I put in the XP cd and it told me it cannot install because I have a newer version of windows already on my computer. Then I tried booting the CD first, and after about 3 minutes, a blue screen appeared that said windows had been shut down to prevent damage to the computer.

So I decided to format the computer. I have the XP cd anyways. When I typed in "format C:" and entered the volume label and typed Y for yes to format, it told me "system partition is not allowed to be formatted".

I don't know what to do now. All I want to do is get Vista off my computer so I can install XP with the cd. Someone please help because this is painful. Thanks.
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PhD Student
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RoyalSerpent
Posts: 1,250
Registered: ‎01-27-2009
Message 2 of 2 (4,833 Views)
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Re: Cannot delete/format Vista and install XP - System partition is not allowed to be formatted

‎07-10-2009 05:48 AM

Download and burn Copywipe on bootable CD.  Reboot with this CD to zero fill the hard drive.  Now reboot with the windows CD to install XP.
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