Hard drive reformat / install XP

[Carey]

My computer has become slow and funky. I want to reformat
the hard drive, reinstall XP and start my system clean
again. I also want to return to FAT32.

Once I reformat, will the XP CD work in the CD drive? My
98 startup disk had driver information to make my drivers
work for 98 install. I'm hesitant to reformat with no
start-up disk and I don't want to go back to 98.

Help please!!

 

[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:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

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 Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

7. After installing the critical updates, 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.

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| My computer has become slow and funky. I want to reformat
| the hard drive, reinstall XP and start my system clean
| again. I also want to return to FAT32.
|
| Once I reformat, will the XP CD work in the CD drive? My
| 98 startup disk had driver information to make my drivers
| work for 98 install. I'm hesitant to reformat with no
| start-up disk and I don't want to go back to 98.
|
| Help please!!

 

[Scott M.]

My computer has become slow and funky. I want to reformat

the hard drive, reinstall XP and start my system clean
again. I also want to return to FAT32.

No problem, except for the FAT32 part. XP uses NTFS (much better anyway).

Once I reformat, will the XP CD work in the CD drive? My
98 startup disk had driver information to make my drivers
work for 98 install. I'm hesitant to reformat with no
start-up disk and I don't want to go back to 98.

You've got it a bit backwards. You don't need to reformat first, you do
that during the XP installation process. Make sure your system is set to
boot from the CD drive before all others (you can check your BIOS to see if
it is and you can simply put the CD in the drive and reboot the computer to
see if the CD boots before the HD does).

Once you know that the CD drive boots prior to the HD, you can just turn on
the pc with the XP disc in the drive and follow the instructions for a new
XP installation. During the process, you will have the opportunity to
re-partition and re-format the drive.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to you both for the advise. I appreciate your
expertise more than you know :}