Help formatting Windows 2000 and installing Windows XP

[sideshow23bob]

Alright, I did a quick search and didn't find anything pertaining to my problem, so hopefully I can get some help......
So I want to format my lapotop currently running Windows 2000 Pro. and install Windows XP Pro(I have a bootable CD of it in hand).
I do the system recover option and run "format C: /fs:ntfs" like I read to do here. However I hit "Y" to confirm the format and it doesn't appear to do anything, just popped up the prompt C:WINNT (I let it sit there for 30 minutes and the HD made no sounds). I then rebooted after that and as I expected the HD space was not formatted. I tried it again and got the same result.
Does anybody have any ideas on what the problem is and/or how I should go about formatting the HD and installing XP on it?

Thanks, I appreciate any advice.

 

[Tlkki]

If you boot from your XP cd, does it ask you whether you want to install on top of your exsisting windows or do a clean install?
If it does, go ahead a do the clean one and i'd guess that it formats your drive first. Or the xp setup may ask you if you want to delete partitions and format them after.

 

[Brentx]

Try letting the Windows install program format your drive, instead of formatting it through recovery console. However, try giving it this command if you have to do it through recovery console: format C: /FS:NTFS /Q

 

[sideshow23bob]

nm, looks like I just needed to go one step more and it would format, thanks for the help it appears to be working now

 

[sideshow23bob]

Alright, well it installed, but apparently didn't Format the drive first like I wanted it to.........BrentX I'm using that command, but should I be hearing some sound or see something on the screen to confirm that th C: drive is being formatted?

 

[stash]

Why are you formatting from the recovery console???

Boot off the XP CD and follow the prompts.

 

[sideshow23bob]

I did that but It didn't format the drive, thought it said it might(said push L to continue and erase files already on it and I did it)

 

[stash]

Delete the partition first in the partition editor. Also if it finds an existing OS, hit esc.

 

[sideshow23bob]

I tried deleting the partition but I get this message: "Setup is unable to perform the requested operation on the selected partition. This partition contains temporary setup files that are required to complete the installation. " any ideas on how to bypass that and delete the partition?

 

[stash]

Don't run setup from within your existing Windows install. Boot off the CD.

 

[sideshow23bob]

yeah, I guess that was pretty evident.......thanks stash I guess I didn't catch that. looks like the format/install is going well now. I very much appreciate the help.