You'll have to perform a "clean install" of XP Home:
The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:
NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.
1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".
===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===>
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.
5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]
6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==>
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".
8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.
9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:
How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;310064
Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm
[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]
Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP again via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Richard" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message:
news:E6F0E56F-8FC9-4E83-B5D0-(E-Mail Removed)...
| My system is so totally messed up with its current OS that I have no option but to start over . . . from
scratch. Will I be safe reformatting C drive after backing up the file/folder DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS for all
users and then reinstall the OS?
|
| A brief synopsis goes as follows:
| 1. display driver updated caused desktop icons not to work properly
| 2. followed advice of many leading to downloads fixing problems . . . nothing worked
| 3. rebooted using SAFE MODE w/NETWORK . . . tried to ROLLBACK driver . . . nothing worked
| 4. installed Windows 98 SE over existing Windows XP Home . . . now only Windows 98 SE loads as the OS
| 5. tried to re-install XP Home over Windows 98 SE but failed many times
| 6. installation made a new directory called WINDOWS.000 . . . old WINDOWS still exists but can not get to
it thru 98SE
| because everything in that directory is XP based
| 7. original 80 Gig HD was partitioned into two drives C: and D: . . . now only C: drive appears displaying
10 Gigs
| 8. display driver is the default low resolution VGA as the latest NVIDIA driver is not listed in DEVICE
MANAGER
|
| Any immediate answers to this terrible mess would be greatly appreciated, thanks :-)
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