how do I reformat my comp

[matt]

Hi everyone,
I want to thank any of you that have helped me in the
past, these forums are a good help for those who are
learning to use their comps.

Mine is in really, really bad shape. I can't run system
restore for some reason either. I need to re-format but I
don't know how to do this. Can someone give me a step-by-
step guide on how to reformat? I will be putting XP back
on when I do this, btw. Also, before I do this I need to
find out my XP code. I have the disk but I can't find it
on there. My code is installed in my current version but
I don't know how to find out what I typed in when I
installed it. Thanks again.

 

[John McGaw]

Hi everyone,
I want to thank any of you that have helped me in the
past, these forums are a good help for those who are
learning to use their comps.

Mine is in really, really bad shape. I can't run system
restore for some reason either. I need to re-format but I
don't know how to do this. Can someone give me a step-by-
step guide on how to reformat? I will be putting XP back
on when I do this, btw. Also, before I do this I need to
find out my XP code. I have the disk but I can't find it
on there. My code is installed in my current version but
I don't know how to find out what I typed in when I
installed it. Thanks again.

There are several single-purpose utilities which will extract and display
your registration key but I prefer the original "Swiss army knife"
information utility, the Belarc Advisor which tells you that and hundreds
of other useful bits of information about your system. You can download it
for free at http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html .
--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]

Return address will not work. Please
reply in group or through my website:
http://johnmcgaw.com

 

[P. M.]

Matt,

First of all, why do you feel you need to reformat and
reinstall the operating system? Give more details why
your system is in "really, really bad shape" other than
you can't use System Restore.

Before you resort to such drastic measures, now and in
the future, there may be more simple ways of repairing
the problem.

For now, give more details.

PM

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Matt,

First of all, why do you feel you need to reformat and
reinstall the operating system? Give more details why
your system is in "really, really bad shape" other than
you can't use System Restore.

Before you resort to such drastic measures, now and in
the future, there may be more simple ways of repairing
the problem.

For now, give more details.

PM


.

One of my important registry folders was deleted somehow,
HKEY_ROOT/CLSID or something like that. My comps been in
an uproar ever since. I tried to use sys restore, it pops
up but the window remains blank. It just sits there and
won't respond to anything. The window says "System
restore" but the background will remain "white" for
hours. The only thing I could think of doing was using
the comp im on now (my parents), going to their registry
and copying the entries for that folder, burning them on
CD and then adding them to mine. I tried that but the
problem just got worse. Trust me, I have no choice at
this point but to reformat.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker
that says "Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory
installed) license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer
affixed to the exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.

To recover a lost Product Key:

If your system still runs, you should be able to use Belarc
Advisor from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html to find the
Product Key. (If you have a factory-installed OEM license, and
haven't since reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is probably
of the drive image used at the factory and not _your_ specific Product
Key; therefore, it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not
be -- used for a re-installation.)

If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

If it was an OEM license, you should contact whomever sold you the
PC; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of the
Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.

Simply boot from the WinXP 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


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

If your system is so far gone that you can't even get into it, there is no
way of recovering the key you used when you installed the system. Sorry, but
you should have kept it in a safe place.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Alex Nichol]

Mine is in really, really bad shape. I can't run system
restore for some reason either. I need to re-format but I
don't know how to do this. Can someone give me a step-by-
step guide on how to reformat? I will be putting XP back
on when I do this, btw. Also, before I do this I need to
find out my XP code.

First to get the code, get the free Everest Home edition from
http://www.lavalys.com/index.php?page=product&view=1
which is an excellent general System Info tool, and its Operating System
- Operating System page will tell you the one used

Note that if the machine came with XP installed, this will probably give
a key used in producing an original image, then cloned to all machines
they make. So it is not the one for a reinstall. But then the key will
be on a label on the case of the machine

Then to reformat, You do it as part of a reinstall of the system after
booting the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement
take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select
and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted
at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

It is essential then to make sure that the firewall is enabled, before
you go on line even for a moment, or you will get infected by viruses

I would try to get the consolidated CD of security updates (which
includes SP) in advance - order at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp
and run that as first thing, then with the firewall working go to
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;835732 and get the download
there for the Sasser worm. Also you will need
837009 (OE Cumulative)
832894 (IE Cumulative)
828741 (XP Cumulative)

and will be reasonably up to date, to pick up other things from Windows
Update