can't reformat disk on reinstall

I'd like to reinstall windows XP on a computer with MSI motherboard,
Intel Duo E7300 and Samsung SATA 500 gig hard drive. During the
initial install, I was asked if I wanted to format the drive and the
install appeared to run smoothly. I then downloaded SP3 and installed
it successfully. A week or so later, I tried setting up the fax option
and it prompted me to reinsert my XP disc (it only includes SP1). I
unchecked an internet option on the menu before downloading the new
files and got a message that said windows might not work properly. I'm
still booting up but lost the explore ICON. I copied a shortcut of
"iexplore.exe" and can still access Windows Explorer.

However, I've been trying to do a clean install since not much is on
the computer.
I believe that I'm booting from the CD as files begin to load and the
CD light is on.It also seems like the hard drive light is on and I
never get the options of 1)new installation or 2) Repair an existing
installation.
Instead many more files continue to load until I get a screen that
says "Session3_Initialization_Failed".

Shouldn't I be getting a prompt to reformat the drive? If not, does
anyone have an idea of why I can't reinstall.
Note that I can still load Windows XP if I'm booting from the hard
drive. I'm a little tentative trying to reinstall from the CD in the
case that I'll won't be able to reboot from the hard drive.

Any suggestions on how I can do a clean reinstall including
reformatting the drive?

It could be a bad CD drive.
See this thread:
session3_initialization_failed
http://www.techimo.com/forum/technical-support/135371-session3_initial...tion_fa

--
Rey


"shelirose" wrote:

> I'd like to reinstall windows XP on a computer with MSI motherboard,
> Intel Duo E7300 and Samsung SATA 500 gig hard drive. During the
> initial install, I was asked if I wanted to format the drive and the
> install appeared to run smoothly. I then downloaded SP3 and installed
> it successfully. A week or so later, I tried setting up the fax option
> and it prompted me to reinsert my XP disc (it only includes SP1). I
> unchecked an internet option on the menu before downloading the new
> files and got a message that said windows might not work properly. I'm
> still booting up but lost the explore ICON. I copied a shortcut of
> "iexplore.exe" and can still access Windows Explorer.
>
> However, I've been trying to do a clean install since not much is on
> the computer.
> I believe that I'm booting from the CD as files begin to load and the
> CD light is on.It also seems like the hard drive light is on and I
> never get the options of 1)new installation or 2) Repair an existing
> installation.
> Instead many more files continue to load until I get a screen that
> says "Session3_Initialization_Failed".
>
> Shouldn't I be getting a prompt to reformat the drive? If not, does
> anyone have an idea of why I can't reinstall.
> Note that I can still load Windows XP if I'm booting from the hard
> drive. I'm a little tentative trying to reinstall from the CD in the
> case that I'll won't be able to reboot from the hard drive.
>
> Any suggestions on how I can do a clean reinstall including
> reformatting the drive?
>