FORMATING HARD DRIVE.

[Ramona]

I have to format my hard drive and install clean Windows
XP. I have all the originall discs. What do I need to
know and do before I start, how do I do it etc. or is
there a place I can read all about it?
Thanks for your advice.
Ramona

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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:

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 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. After installing Windows XP, 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.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I have to format my hard drive and install clean Windows
| XP. I have all the originall discs. What do I need to
| know and do before I start, how do I do it etc. or is
| there a place I can read all about it?
| Thanks for your advice.
| Ramona

 

[Lorne Smith]

Just boot from the XP CD and follow the instructions. You may need to alter
your boot sequence in your computers BIOS to enable booting from CD so
consult your manual on how to do this as it differs from system to system.

Lorne

 

[Ramona]

Thanks for the advice.
Ramona

 

[Pussn]

Can the gurus also mention to her what she must do if she
encounters the NTLDR message (and what it means)? She
might encounter that if she's formatted her HD like I
did. I've had to disable both the floppy and HD as
bootable sources,which was mentioned. But they must be re-
enabled afterwards. Hope it avoids confusion for her.
Thanks
Pussn