Format hard drive

[Guest]

Having experienced various problems over the months with XP Home in the form
of crashes, running slow etc (even after using various disk cleaning
programs ) I have come to the point where I have decided that maybe
formatting the hard drive and starting a clean slate so to speak may help me
solve the problems I have experienced over the months. Could some one tell me
if there any pros and cons to going this route but more importantly how do I
do it. I have gone to "My Computer" and right clicked on the hard drive icon.
Then I pressed format and start, but info pops up telling me and I quote
"Windows was unable to complete the format".
I would appreciate any feed back regarding this situation. Thank you.

 

[Guest]

Pro:
Formatting the drive is typically a "fix all" solution.

Cons:
Takes a long time.
Reinstalling drivers and software may cause headaches for non tech users.
Reinstalling software that caused the problem in the first place brings you
back to square 1.

You cannot format the system drive while you are using it. The best way to
format and reinstall is to reboot off the windows xp disk and format at that
time.

Check out this link...

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941

Thanks,

Johh
http://www.americantechie.com

 

[Dave Patrick]

To do a clean install boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. When you get to
the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions found. After you
delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again restart the pc booting
the CD-Rom to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with your new
install.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these to your new install before connecting
to any network.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Having experienced various problems over the months with XP Home in the
form
| of crashes, running slow etc (even after using various disk cleaning
| programs ) I have come to the point where I have decided that maybe
| formatting the hard drive and starting a clean slate so to speak may help
me
| solve the problems I have experienced over the months. Could some one tell
me
| if there any pros and cons to going this route but more importantly how do
I
| do it. I have gone to "My Computer" and right clicked on the hard drive
icon.
| Then I pressed format and start, but info pops up telling me and I quote
| "Windows was unable to complete the format".
| I would appreciate any feed back regarding this situation. Thank you.

 

[Guest]

To do a clean install boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. When you get to
the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions found. After you
delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again restart the pc booting
the CD-Rom to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with your new
install.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these to your new install before connecting
to any network.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Having experienced various problems over the months with XP Home in the
form
| of crashes, running slow etc (even after using various disk cleaning
| programs ) I have come to the point where I have decided that maybe
| formatting the hard drive and starting a clean slate so to speak may help
me
| solve the problems I have experienced over the months. Could some one tell
me
| if there any pros and cons to going this route but more importantly how do
I
| do it. I have gone to "My Computer" and right clicked on the hard drive
icon.
| Then I pressed format and start, but info pops up telling me and I quote
| "Windows was unable to complete the format".
| I would appreciate any feed back regarding this situation. Thank you.

I would suggest that if you haven't cleaned the spyware from your system,
that you do so before going through the agony that you are proposing.
Download, install, update, and scan with Ad-aware SE:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

 

[Alex Nichol]

Having experienced various problems over the months with XP Home in the form
of crashes, running slow etc (even after using various disk cleaning
programs ) I have come to the point where I have decided that maybe
formatting the hard drive and starting a clean slate so to speak may help me
solve the problems I have experienced over the months. Could some one tell me
if there any pros and cons to going this route but more importantly how do I
do it.

How you do it is as part of a reinstall of the system after booting the
XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New
Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete
the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next
stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

You will need to activate again within 30 days - as it is unchanged
hardware that should go through on the net, but see hint at Format Hard
Drive at www.aumha.org/win5/a/wpa.htm to conserve one 'vote' in the
matter, just in case

I'd do a very thorough Adware/virus clean up first, before committing
to the hassle - just in case that is it. see advice at
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm