How to format hard drive after dodgy dual-boot xp-xp install - ubuntu-overlord help!?

OK, I've made a right mess now... Trying to get a couple of small (4gb) partitions on beginning of hard disk... doesn't have to be RIGHT at start - after the ';Invisible'; XP partition is fine as long as C: is the install drive as far is user can see.



So I've ended up with a weird XP-XP dual boot with 3 partitions showing up...



Am now trying to get back to the initial partitioning screen just before telling XP to install... I want to be in same situation I'd be in as if I had just plugged in a new HDD.



The options I have in my tiny mind all involve a boot disk so I can run ';format c:'; from a c prompt - I have no floppy, my DVD is read only and I've got no cd's to write to... lol. Would try to boot from my usb stick but bios has no usb option in boot sequence



No matter how I change boot sequence, I can't get the machine to think it's starting from scratch...



Have considered tazering the HD to make sure it has no chance of booting but don't have a tazer...



All good fun :)How to format hard drive after dodgy dual-boot xp-xp install - ubuntu-overlord help!?
if the old h/d was originally in the computer your working yes it will work the way you want i.e. boot on the old h/d then reformat the new drive. the only thing you'll need to do is look on the end of the h/d where the cables plug in you'll see the place for the ribbon cable and the place for the 4 pin power cable there will be another place there with pins about the size of the ribbon cable but only 6 or 8 there should be a jumper present on 2 of them look on the h/d there should be a label telling you where the jumper needs to be for master,slave and cable select. the old drive should have it's jumper set on master and the one you want to format should be set on slave. sorry if i was preaching to the choir but i don't know what you know about swapping h/ds and setting up drives in a computer.the other day some one just told a questioner in your situation to set the jumpers master and slave and right above it the same questioner ask what and where are jumper and how to set them. hope i gave you enough info. working inside a computer is childs play after you've done a few and some of us answerers assume the questioner has more knowledge than they do.How to format hard drive after dodgy dual-boot xp-xp install - ubuntu-overlord help!?
i think you need an xp install cd to mess with the partitions if you dont have access to a floppy
Boot in safe mode and go to a command prompt:



fixmbr



This will rewrite your boot sector file and hopefull you will be cack to where you started - minus the Ubuntu cockup.



You can use Windows Disk management to remove the partitions.