Preparing to Install Your Operating System
AlphaServer 1000A Rackmount Owner’s Guide 3-5
Preparing Your Hard Disk
If your first hard disk is already partitioned and formatted with either the FAT or NTFS
file systems, you can omit the steps in the section "Partitioning and Formatting Your Hard
Disk" and begin installation of the Microsoft Windows NT software. It is recommended
that you partition and format your system's hard disk before you install Windows NT
software, even if your hard disk has already been partitioned and formatted.
Repartitioning and reformatting reduce the likelihood of operational problems due to
conflicting versions of the operating system or disk-related problems.
__________________________ Note _____________________________
If the first hard disk in your system currently contains information you need,
back that information up to another medium before you proceed.
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Partitioning and Formatting Your Hard Disk
__________________________ Note _____________________________
Omit these steps if you want to maintain your current partitions.
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1. Insert the Microsoft Windows NT CD-ROM into your system's CD-ROM drive.
2. Turn on your system. After your system performs startup diagnostics, the system
displays the Windows NT (ARC) console Boot menu.
3. From the Boot menu, select "Run a program" and press the Enter key. A "Program to
run" prompt displays.
4. Type
cd: \alpha\arcinst
and press the Enter key. The ARC Installation
Program screen displays.
5. Select "Configure Partitions" and press the Enter key. The available disk partitioning
options displays.
6. Select "Delete Partition" and press the Enter key. If your system has only one hard
disk, press the Enter key. If your system has more than one hard disk, select the disk
to be prepared, and press the Enter key.
Depending on the previous disk configuration, you might be notified that no partitions
exist, or you may see a list of one or more partitions. Follow the on-screen prompts to
delete all partitions on the disk.
