Cannot Delete Partitions During Windows 2000 Text-Mode Setup (216882)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q216882

SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows 2000 using Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe and you enable the option to copy the files locally, you may be unable to delete existing partitions on your hard disk. Pressing D to delete a selected partition has no effect.

CAUSE

Windows 2000 text-mode Setup copies files to the first partition that contains enough space to hold the Windows files. After rebooting, Setup does not let you delete the partition that contains the Setup files or the partition containing the boot files.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, repartition the drive using the Windows 2000 Setup boot floppy disks, or start Setup by booting from the CD-ROM (if your computer supports this configuration).

NOTE: When Setup displays the partitions, the options you have available to you are displayed at the bottom of the screen in the status bar for the selected partition. If a partition cannot be deleted, the delete option is not present when that partition is selected.

STATUS

The behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/21/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbprb kbsetup KB216882
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