Clean Reinstall of OEM XP Pro SP2 with Raid Array 1

[Guest]

I am using OEM Win XP Pro SP2 configured with 2 x HDDs in Raid Array 1. It is
time to reformat my HDDs and do a clean reinstall of XP. When I install my
OEM XP Pro disk will I be given a selection to reformat my HDDs and do a
clean install? If so, will it reformat both Raid HDDs and then start the
installation? If so, is it as simple as pressing F6 to install a third party
RAID driver when I see the command during setup?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am using OEM Win XP Pro SP2 configured with 2 x HDDs in Raid Array
1. It is time to reformat my HDDs and do a clean reinstall of XP.

Why? You say that as if it were something that should be done periodically.
In fact, it should hardly ever be done--only when you have a severe problem
that can not otherwise be solved. I've run every version of Windows since
3.0, and I've *never* done this.

When I install my OEM XP Pro disk will I be given a selection to
reformat my HDDs and do a clean install?

Yes. Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when prompted,
then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

If so, will it reformat both
Raid HDDs and then start the installation? If so, is it as simple as
pressing F6 to install a third party RAID driver when I see the
command during setup?

Yes.

 

[Guest]

Ken,

Thank you for your response; it is exactly the response I was hoping for.
Also, thank you for "It should hardly ever be done--only when you have a
severe problem that can not otherwise be solved." I built my computer two
years ago and it performs flawlessly, so I will leave well enough alone.

Thank you again,

Roger

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken,

Thank you for your response; it is exactly the response I was hoping
for. Also, thank you for "It should hardly ever be done--only when
you have a severe problem that can not otherwise be solved." I built
my computer two years ago and it performs flawlessly, so I will leave
well enough alone.

You're welcome, Roger. Glad to help.