hello guys, im back again with another problem, this one very strange indeed.

i went to turn my pc on yesterday and just passed boot screen id get blue screen and couldnt do nothing exept hold the off button in to restart, booted in safe mode and tried to look for the problem, whilst in safe mode i couldnot access my main documents folder which is my full name 'martyn britton' located at d:/Documents and Settings/Martyn Britton just kept saying d:/docs and sets/martyn britton not accessible. Access is denied.

i thought it was becus it was in safe mode but it turns out its not, and i think this is why my system was not booting as most of my data is stored on this drive, windows is on c: but all docs and sets are in d:.. so i did a format. went back into the docs and sets hoping the folder would be ok now (as D: is my data storage partition with all my data on. BUT it was still saying same access denied message. i did manage to retain mostly all of my data from this folder (thank god) using winhex. but my problem is now is that i cant delete the folder, and i think its also slowing my pc right down, taking long times to start some programs which normall start in a second.. i cant rename the folder, in dos or windows, please help,, thankyou in advance, i hope someone is familier with this problem.

thanx

martyn

*Edit*
another thing i cant even format my d: partition there is no way i can format it (i dont want to if there is another way around this,as it would mean installing windows, yet again) when i install a fresh windows onto my pc it doesent do anything atall to d: partition, it just formats c: partition and just adds files (docs and sets) onto d: and i have to choose a different name after each format because of this or it will rename it something else because the name allready exsists on d: so this time my folder is just mart, and the problem folder is martyn britton, im not sure why they put 2 partions on, its just seems to be causing problems, yes i understand it saves all data if a crassh accurs (ment to anyway) but the OS is still very dependent on both drives becuase of where docs and sets goes to d:

again id be very much gratefull on any feedback wat so ever on this, tips on perhaps making just 1 160gb partition? is this wise? or just how to format the d: partion if needed. i understand this would be impossible without making the os unstable?
thanx

martyn

As to Access Denied perhaps this may help:

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP

As to deleting problem files/folders try either of these:

Move On Boot

Delete FXP Files™

As to partitions: I would suggest reinstalling XP on a single partition. You will probably need to use the setup disk from your hard drive manufacturer because of the 160gb.

Most of the major programs can be found on this list:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

To format the D:\ Drive I do this:
Start > Right Click My Computer > Manage
Click Disk Manager on the left.
Make sure you backup your data first and check out the status of your partion.
It says healthy? Good. Right click and click format
If that didn't work, try deleting the partion (by right clicking and clicking 'delete'), and setting it up again.

Alternativly you could use the Xp Recovery Console.
Or Use setup to delete the partion because they might be an error in running the formating off windows.
If you chose it this way
Simply run it like you where going to install Xp again,
Instead of click 'install' (enter) click 'D'. I think that means delete partion. follow the propts i think the next screen will conform the deletion now click 'L'...i think, look at the text on that strip of grey on the bottom.
And then boot windows and set up the drive again in disk manager.

Make sure you do not have XP installed on both your partions, indeed this will make your OS unstable. Didn't you read the multi-OS warning on the installation page when Xp detected another OS?!

If you want to make it one large partion, you should be able to find some info or boot disks that will allow a partion greater then 130mb, on your manufacturers site. (use google).

Hope this helped.
Any info on partioning dnt hesitate to ask.

hello thanx for the replys,
if i was to format d partition using the disk management console, would this make my os unstable? because i have the documents and settings folder on this D: partition?

i cant seem to run the windows xp setup (the one where u can delete partitions and install windows) all i get when i boot from my master cd, is the packard bell recovery console, and all this does is formats c: and doesent touch d: at all it just formats c and installs windows on c: BUT putting the docs and sets on d:..?

@Jephree
ive tried the move on boot application and the delete FXPfiles and not worked (well the fxpliles program says "recursive folder deletion not available in the non registered version"l its wierd because when i right click the folder and check out properties it says the folder is empty BUT when i open the same folder in winhex, it show all the data which is in this folder, the application data , faveroites , my documents. ect ect ect.... this is how i manged to restore most of the important data which i had in this folder (work stuff) as i never backed it up, only because in my packard bell manuel it says because my hdd is split into 2 partitions (40gb for os and 120gb for data) i dont need to back up important data, becus if there is a problem with the os and a restore is needed, only c: gets formatted? i cant see the point in this becus C: OS seems VERY dependant on the D: partition anyway as the docs and sets are here? windows wouldnt run with out the Documents and settings folder. or would it?

thanx again guys

I would trust the HP manual and recovery instructions. An HP installed XP is unique to HP. It has been customized and tailored to HP machines therefore if it says it only affects C: then I would believe it.

The HP XP CD is not going to behave like a Microsoft XP CD nor have the same options.

Just out of curiosity you can right click D: under Disk Management just to see if the Format... option is available.

Also in the manual or else on line there should be info on formatting an HP partition. It could be possible that HP has hidden restore files on this partition and thus would make it unformattable.

What is the exact HP model? We can research these items:

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

Wow, thats very odd. Where ever Xp installs the Documents and settings should be in the same partion.

Adding onto Jepree, if you cannot format your D:\ that means Windows has been installed onto the D drive. If you can format the C drive off Disk Manager it means that no trace of XP has been installed onto the C Drive.

If it doesn't trouble you, please reboot your computer, run the BIOS and make sure your computer settings are set at boot from disk.
It should apear like:
BOOT1: CD
BOOT2: HARDDRIVE
Or something similar.
if you have a boot 3: you can leave it blank.
Now try running the XP setup disk. Make sure you click any key when it prompts
"Boot from disk?"

If you get the XP disk to work, I suggest you delete both partions and start Raw, make sure you back up all your important data onto a DVD or CD.
Then setup either one large partion (use google i have no idea how to do that), or just setup one partion and use the Disk Manager to setup your other partion.


Using most consoles (this should work with windows, not sure about PB consoles). You have to change the DIR to the D:\.

So originally you will see C:\>
But you want to change it to D:\>
So then you can use the FORMAT command on the D: and not the C:
To change it Simply type ChDrive "D"

That way it's pretty complecated, im even confusing myself, lol. Using the Xp installtion cd is a load off anyone's shoulders. If you can get the Xp disk working there should be no reason to use the consoles.

Hope this helped.

hi jephree,

yes i have the format option under disk management i have :-->

open , explore , mark partition as active , change drive letter and paths , format , delete partition , properties and help.

thats only for d: tho, under c: some things are dulled out like format , make partition as active and delete partition.

but im affraid that if i format the d: partition then windows will become unstable, due to the docs and sets folder installed onto it the pc isnt a HP Jephree. lol. its a packard bell (or is that same company?) i dont know.. it is the packard bell i-media 1538, desktop pc, with pentium4, 1gb ram, geforce 256mb graphics.

thanx again for taking time to help me. {b]Again[/b] lol. u guys are the best

Hewlet Packard (HP) & Packard Bell merged or dismerged I forget

Unfortunately there is not much online:

http://support.packardbell.com/uk/my...oryId=128#show

You have the XP Media Center Edition?

Again I would trust your manual on this. Can you find any info on the D: partition?

Originally Posted by moejoe432

Wow, thats very odd. Where ever Xp installs the Documents and settings should be in the same partion.

thats what i thought. and ive formatted a few times and its same every time..

Originally Posted by moejoe432

Adding onto Jepree, if you cannot format your D:\ that means Windows has been installed onto the D drive. If you can format the C drive off Disk Manager it means that no trace of XP has been installed onto the C Drive..

the disk managment gives me option to format D: only, not C: as the windows OS is installed on C: well half on C and half on D by the looks of it.. lol

Originally Posted by moejoe432

If you get the XP disk to work, I suggest you delete both partions and start Raw, make sure you back up all your important data onto a DVD or CD.
Then setup either one large partion (use google i have no idea how to do that), or just setup one partion and use the Disk Manager to setup your other partion.


Using most consoles (this should work with windows, not sure about PB consoles). You have to change the DIR to the D:\.

So originally you will see C:\>
But you want to change it to D:\>
So then you can use the FORMAT command on the D: and not the C:
To change it Simply type ChDrive "D"

That way it's pretty complecated, im even confusing myself, lol. Using the Xp installtion cd is a load off anyone's shoulders. If you can get the Xp disk working there should be no reason to use the consoles.

Hope this helped.

i tried the master dvd as packard bell calls it, many times and i dont think i have the 'normal' xp setup on there becus every time it goes straight into the packard bell recovery system, and not windows. wen i first got the pc at xmas, ity said in the manuel that i had to make a master dvd from a hidden partition, well this is where i got the master dvd from, i never actually got any windows cd or boot disks with it wat so ever i had to make one, and after i made one it asked me if i wanted to delete the partition or keep it on the HDD (Recomended) so i kept it as it recomended.. the whole deleteing both partitions and making news is far to complicated for me.. lol. i will most definetly kill the poor thing

Also as this machine must be under warranty I would suggest contacting PackardBell before you go too crazy