format harddrive

[dp]

I own a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop,Does anyone know how to reformat a hard
drive in XP using the Dell reinstallation cd.

pls help

dennis

 

[t@k]

Hi dp,

In microsoft.public.windowsxp.general you remarked...

I own a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop,Does anyone know how to reformat a hard
drive in XP using the Dell reinstallation cd.

Caution! You may end up destroying the hidden XP partition.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I own a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop,Does anyone know how to reformat a hard
drive in XP using the Dell reinstallation cd.

pls help

dennis

 

[Alex Nichol]

I own a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop,Does anyone know how to reformat a hard
drive in XP using the Dell reinstallation cd.

See the Dell manual on restoring the machine to ex-factory state - it
will be formatted in the process

 

[NobodyMan]

Hi dp,

In microsoft.public.windowsxp.general you remarked...

Caution! You may end up destroying the hidden XP partition.

I'm thinking NOT. If the OP is using the Dell-provided CD, then it
almost certainly will know about and USE the "hidden XP partition."
No worries.

Now, if the OP uses a retail/OEM copy of XP, that's when your concern
becomes valid.

 

[t@k]

Hi NobodyMan,

In microsoft.public.windowsxp.general you remarked...

I'm thinking NOT. If the OP is using the Dell-provided CD, then it
almost certainly will know about and USE the "hidden XP partition."
No worries.

Now, if the OP uses a retail/OEM copy of XP, that's when your concern
becomes valid.

Admitted I know nowt about Dells. I only suggested caution because a
neighbour tried to reformat/repartition the drive on his Time machine, and
when he discovered he couldn't reinstall XP home from the recovery disc, a
call to a support tech informed him that he'd wiped a hidden partition and
would have to return it (at his own expense) to have it set back to factory
condition.