HELP!! Reformatting and Repartitioning XP hard drive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Theresa
  • Start date Start date
T

Theresa

I am DESPERATE! It started with a printer crashing, and
in 24 hours my entire computer was dead. I am not sure
what happen or if there is a virus problem as I didn't
have the time to scan before I lost all function. I was
running Windows XP Home and tried to repair using the XP
CD but had no luck. It got the the Admin screen but would
not go any further. I really believe that the only option
I now have is to do a complete Re-Format of the Hard
Drive but I have no clue how to do that. If there is
anyone that can give me a detailed step by step
directions on how to REFORMAT AND REPARTITION XP Home, I
would be very grateful. Maybe starting with a clean hard
drive and reinstalling XP from there will solve this
problem. If you can help me PLEASE PLEASE RESPOND ASAP.
Thanks in advance.
 
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.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

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 all 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. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

8. 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.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

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

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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:

| I am DESPERATE! It started with a printer crashing, and
| in 24 hours my entire computer was dead. I am not sure
| what happen or if there is a virus problem as I didn't
| have the time to scan before I lost all function. I was
| running Windows XP Home and tried to repair using the XP
| CD but had no luck. It got the the Admin screen but would
| not go any further. I really believe that the only option
| I now have is to do a complete Re-Format of the Hard
| Drive but I have no clue how to do that. If there is
| anyone that can give me a detailed step by step
| directions on how to REFORMAT AND REPARTITION XP Home, I
| would be very grateful. Maybe starting with a clean hard
| drive and reinstalling XP from there will solve this
| problem. If you can help me PLEASE PLEASE RESPOND ASAP.
| Thanks in advance.
 
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