[KREATOR]

Hello guys, I've been trying to install windows 2000 advanced server on my computer but it always shows me that the partitions are unformatted or damaged and when i try to format them it says that they could not be formatted because they are damaged (i used the same cd to install windows 2000 advanced server on virtual pc 2007 and it worked perfectly). however when I install windows XP or newer versions there is no such problem. Any help please?

[leroys1000]

Sounds like you may be using a hard drive that is larger
than your version of 2000 can handle.
Slipstreaming service pack 4 to create a new installation disk
may help.
http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_...pstreaming.htm

[KREATOR]

Well all my partitions are less than 137gb which is the "maximum" (i think) win2000 with SP3 should handle. But still,
I tried slipstreaming SP4 too and it didnt work either. (As i said i used the exact same cd on virtual pc and it installed correctly)

Any other solution?

[leroys1000]

Only other thing I can think of is if it's a sata drive,
you may need to hit F6 as the disk boots and load
the drivers.
Even the IDE drivers.
Had one board that errored out because the default
windows drivers didn't work properly.

[KREATOR]

yes they are sata seagate hard drives... I just tried pressing F6 while loading setup files but still it shows "unformatted or damaged partitions" and when I try to format one of them it still says windows was unable to format the partition.....

[TheOutcaste]

What is the model number /revision number of the MB?
What drivers did you install?
If you picked the wrong controller model from the floppy disk after pressing F6, you don't get an error, it just doesn't work.

[KREATOR]

model Seagate Sata ST3500641AS-RK
After I pressed F6 it loaded some drivers but it showed something that it wasnt recognized ..

[TheOutcaste]

Model number of the MB=Motherboard, not the hard drive.

After pressing F6 and inserting the floppy disk, it should have given you a list to choose from.

[KREATOR]

intel DG35EC
and i dont have a floppy disk drive

[TheOutcaste]

Here's the download page for this motherboard:
Intel DG35EC Downloads

There are no Win2K drivers. According to the product guide, the board does not support Windows 2000, only Windows XP or later:
Operating System Support:
• Microsoft Windows Vista* Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition
• Microsoft Windows* XP Media Center Edition 2005
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Home

It also has a PCI Express bus. XP didn't fully support PCI Express until SP2, and often XP won't even install on systems with a PCI Express bus unless it includes SP2, so Windows 2000 could also have issues. Some PCI Express devices just won't work.

You'll need to find an older system, or install XP or later and run the Win2K Advanced Server as a virtual machine using VPC 2007, VMWare, or Virtual box or the like.

[KREATOR]

oh..! well that resolves it.. Thank you.. Now I know I cant install windows 2k on my pc

[KREATOR]

Thanks for all your help guys... I was actually able to install windows 2000 on my pc. All my HDDs were SATA but I found an old IDE hard drive in my box of "old accessories", I installed it and windows 2000 just worked perfect. Now I'm triple booting Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Windows 7, and Ubuntu 9.10
My motherboard's product guide doesnt say it supports win2000 but the drivers work fine
Thanks Again