How do I delete Windows XP (and everything else) from my computer?

[Guest]

I wanted to completely wipe my old computer clean of all documents,
programs.....everything, and start again afresh.

I thought if I inserted my Windows XP disc then that would restore
everything to factory settings, but instead I now have two copies of windows
on my computer and upon start up it asks me which version of Windows XP I
want to use.

How can I delete my old version of Windows XP and everything else? If
possible I would like to maintain my new Windows as it took me an hour plus
to get that installed!!

Thanks

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I wanted to completely wipe my old computer clean of all documents,
programs.....everything, and start again afresh.

I thought if I inserted my Windows XP disc then that would restore
everything to factory settings, but instead I now have two copies
of windows on my computer and upon start up it asks me which
version of Windows XP I want to use.

How can I delete my old version of Windows XP and everything else?
If possible I would like to maintain my new Windows as it took me
an hour plus to get that installed!!

If you boot with your Windows XP CD, delete the partitions (when it asks you
where to install) and create a new partion (or partitions) and then install
on that partition - you will have wiped and re-installed. That would be
your best method - since your original intention was to do a clean
installation.

You could also just edit the boot.ini to include only the Windows XP you
want to keep out of the two (Google for 'edit Windows XP BOOT.INI'...)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I am going down the route of editing the boot.ini file
but have hit my next stumbling block. Apparantly I have to go to Start ,
Run, and enter cmd. Then type bootcfg/ delete/ id 1

I get the error message saying that bootcfg isn´t recognised as an internal
or external command. What am I doing wrong now???

Nicole

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I wanted to completely wipe my old computer clean of all
documents, programs.....everything, and start again afresh.

I thought if I inserted my Windows XP disc then that would restore
everything to factory settings, but instead I now have two copies
of windows on my computer and upon start up it asks me which
version of Windows XP I want to use.

How can I delete my old version of Windows XP and everything else?
If possible I would like to maintain my new Windows as it took me
an hour plus to get that installed!!

If you boot with your Windows XP CD, delete the partitions (when
it asks you where to install) and create a new partion (or
partitions) and then install on that partition - you will have
wiped and re-installed. That would be your best method - since
your original intention was to do a clean installation.

You could also just edit the boot.ini to include only the Windows
XP you want to keep out of the two (Google for 'edit Windows XP
BOOT.INI'...)

Thanks for the reply. I am going down the route of editing the
boot.ini file but have hit my next stumbling block. Apparantly I
have to go to Start , Run, and enter cmd. Then type bootcfg/
delete/ id 1

I get the error message saying that bootcfg isn´t recognised as an
internal or external command. What am I doing wrong now??

I think you haven't read something carefully or gone too far down looking
for the solution..

Assuming you are looking at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

You want the section titled:
'Modifying the Boot.ini'

To view and edit the Boot.ini file:
1.Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
-or-
Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2.On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
3.Under System Startup, click Edit.

You seem to be in the section titled:
'Modifying the Boot.ini'

Which points out....
'The Bootcfg.exe utility is only available in Windows XP Professional. This
utility is not available in Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Therefore,
this section does not apply to Windows XP Home Edition.'

Got Windows XP Home Edition?

 

[Guest]

I was looking at a different help page, but yes that was the problem. I have
Home Edition.

Well I am having partial success. I have now removed the old operating
system from my computer by editing this boot.ini file, but also by manually
deleting all the Windows files from the C drive(some of which were protected
and wouldnt delete), but I am still left with all my old junk, programs and
files.

I just want to do a completely clean reset. So perhaps I should have done
the other thing - insert the Windows CD again and try to record over the
"partitions" (whatever they may be). It´s frustrating because installing
Windows isn´t a 5 minute job!!

Thanks for the help so far.

 

[Guest]

Hey Nicole,

I've been following your messages with Shenan and can definitely appreciate
your frustrations/confusion. I too do not understand this 'partition'
business. What they are. A while ago I wanted a clean start and so saved
everything I needed, and when push came to shove, I tried to figure out the
right way of doing things, but unfortunatly came across everywhere but this
Discussion group. So I have XP Home and Pro on my computer. Home doesn't
even boot. Anyway, just thought I'd pass along that note that it is a
confusing world on here.

Other than that, maybe Shenan, if you wouldn't mind explaining partitions,
what they are and their functionability, and how in the future when we re-do
our computers, what should our choices be for Partitions, and file types
(NTFS or something)..... unfortunatly this is something window's doesn't
make very user friendly (or so I've found) regarding how it explains and
instructs its' users to correctly set up computers in this particular area.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

If only there was a little hole in my computer that I could stick the tip of
a pen into and the whole thing would hard reset like so many other gadgets I
have!!

Nicole

 

[DL]

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Guest]

First point is to make sure you're barking up the right tree - Do you
actually have two partitions or just two boot.ini entries pointing to the
same copy of Windows, on the same partition?

To examine/edit boot.ini:

Open a Run box, and enter 'cmd'

c:
cd \
attrib boot.ini -r -h -s
notepad boot.ini

be careful not to remove the entry for the known-working copy of Windows, as
if it's an NTFS disk you will then have problems putting it back! If it's
just a matter of reducing the nuisance value at startup, setting the timeout
lower will achieve this without any other changes.

To see what partitions you have, Run compmgmnt.msc and go into Disk Manager.

 

[Guest]

yes, definitely got two partitions (still dont know what they are though!)

I´ve been playing around and I think I´ve cracked it. I had Windows XP home
edition twice, one on each partition (one in Spanish on my C: drive and one
in English on my D: drive). I wanted to completely delete the English
version and EVERYTHING else on that partition - all docs, programs, etc to
get the machine nice and clean again. Back to factory settings.

The various microsoft help pages partially helped me but only seemed to
describe how to write over an old edition of Windows - not completely delete
it.

I cant even remember exactly what I did, but it was along the lines of
insterting the Windows CD, when prompted I deleted the partition which didn´t
store my desired version of windows. I then cancelled the installation
process. Next time I boot up in Windows Explorer I clicked on the D: drive
(which was where my deleted partition is) and it says "this partition (or
drive) is unformatted, would you like to format it? I said yes and now I
have a nice clean computer!!

I still think sticking ball point pens into small holes is a far simpler way
of resetting!!