format and reinstall Win XP

[MarkD]

How can I do a "clean" format and re-install of Win XP. I
have the originial CD that came with the laptop, but all
this offers is a re-install of the OS, without formatting
my laptop. I do not have Fdisk, and Format will not work
because the volume is locked.

Please advise

 

[Chris Lanier]

Reinstalling the OS will erase the drive, which is basicly the same thing
the formatting feautre in the Windows XP setup will do.

 

[davetest]

How can I do a "clean" format and re-install of Win XP. I
have the originial CD that came with the laptop, but all
this offers is a re-install of the OS, without formatting
my laptop. I do not have Fdisk, and Format will not work
because the volume is locked.

Please advise

I assume you're referring to a manufacturers disk and not XP
retail. Contact your manufacturer for details;
each brand seems to have it's own methods.
Dave

 

[Jack E Martinelli]

There is no "Fdisk" for XP.
The XP disk management tool performs all partitioning and formatting of
the file system.
You may choose to use third-party partition managers to accomplish this
task, with greater flexibility and power.

I suspect you have an OEM "Recovery CD", and not a retail MS XP CD for
installation.
Typically, such "Recovery" disk/s perform a disk wipe of the primary HD
before the installation, to return the system to its original state when
sold.
The initial set of apps and utilities supplied by the OEM are usually on
extra disks.
You MUST determine from your OEM if upgrading to XP SP1 requires using a
newer set of Recovery disks.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

Upgrading to WINDOWS XP
HOME EDITION or PROFESSIONAL
Version 3.8 - Last Updated August 27, 2002
by Gary Woodruff, MS-MVP
© 2001-2002 by Author, All Rights Reserved
http://www.aumha.org/a/xpupgrad.htm

Windows Product Activation (WPA) on Windows XP
by Alex Nichol, MS-MVP
© 2001-2002 by Author, All Rights Reserved
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm