Formatting and Re-Installing Windows XP

[Bill Peterson]

I would like to erase the hard drive and re-install Windows XP on my Dell
computer. I have the "Reinstallation CD" that came with the original system.
It has XP with SP1a on it. I have installed Service Pack 2 on my pc. The
problem is when I go to reinstall with this CD it states that my operating
system is newer than the disk. Do I have to remove service pack 2 before I
can erase and reinstall?

Thanks
Bill

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Bill,

If you're going to do a repair install, create a bootable CD with the latest
Service Pack (SP2)integration.

Slipstreaming guide (detailed)

How to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP
installation folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900871/
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Combining Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for reinstallation (Part 1:
Introduction):
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=894947

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I would like to erase the hard drive and re-install Windows XP on my Dell
computer. I have the "Reinstallation CD" that came with the original system.
It has XP with SP1a on it. I have installed Service Pack 2 on my pc. The
problem is when I go to reinstall with this CD it states that my operating
system is newer than the disk. Do I have to remove service pack 2 before I
can erase and reinstall?

Thanks
Bill

 

[DL]

You're not formating but just trying to repair, which is why you get the
msg.
To Format you need to delete Partitions prior to setting up, presumably this
can be done with the re-install cd

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I would like to erase the hard drive and re-install Windows XP on my Dell
computer. I have the "Reinstallation CD" that came with the original system.
It has XP with SP1a on it. I have installed Service Pack 2 on my pc. The
problem is when I go to reinstall with this CD it states that my operating
system is newer than the disk.

This means that your installed OS is at a higher service pack level
than is the WinXP Pro CD you're using. You'll either need to uninstall
SP2 (Control Panel, Add/Remove programs) before attempting the upgrade,
or try slipstreaming SP2 into older WinXP installation.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Do I have to remove service pack 2 before I
can erase and reinstall?

If you truly want to format the hard drive, and then don't mind
reinstalling SP2 again, no. Don't start the installation from withing
Windows, as you're doing now.

Simply boot from the WinXP SP1a installation CD. You'll be offered
the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

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

Then reinstall SP2 and all subsequent hotfixes.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Bill Peterson]

Thanks for the advice.Islipstreamed Sp2 into my reinstall disk and tried
that. I get a little farther then it asked for the "Windows XP Home Edition
SP2 Disk". I have tried with the slipstreamed disk and it doesn't do
anything.
Can I just format my C drive(harddrive) and start with a blank drive?

Thanks
Bill

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Thanks for the advice.Islipstreamed Sp2 into my reinstall disk and tried
that. I get a little farther then it asked for the "Windows XP Home Edition
SP2 Disk". I have tried with the slipstreamed disk and it doesn't do
anything.
Can I just format my C drive(harddrive) and start with a blank drive?

If you want to do so, yes.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Enkidu]

If you're going to do a repair install, create a bootable CD with the latest
Service Pack (SP2)integration.

Hi Ramesh,

He said that he had a "Re-installation disk". I'm assuming that that is
not a standard Windows install disk, but one that is provided by his
hardware manufacturer, in which case he would not be able to create a
slipstreamed CD from that. It would be some sort of an image of a new
install.

But to confuse matters further, he mentions that he *did* slipstream SP2
onto a CD using his "Re-installation Disk", so I'm confused as to what
he really has!

Any comments?

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

No idea, Cliff. Dell does not ship the Operating System CD, only the
Restore/Recovery CDs. When you start the computer with the retail XP CD in
the drive (and the boot order set to CD-ROM as the first boot device),
you'll see the following screen:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/RC 001.jpg

If you see the above screen, then you have the retail XP CD.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

If you're going to do a repair install, create a bootable CD with the
latest
Service Pack (SP2)integration.

Hi Ramesh,

He said that he had a "Re-installation disk". I'm assuming that that is
not a standard Windows install disk, but one that is provided by his
hardware manufacturer, in which case he would not be able to create a
slipstreamed CD from that. It would be some sort of an image of a new
install.

But to confuse matters further, he mentions that he *did* slipstream SP2
onto a CD using his "Re-installation Disk", so I'm confused as to what
he really has!

Any comments?

Cheers,

Cliff