how do I wipe out everything on a computer?

[Guest]

I received an old computer from an office and I want to wipe everything off and start it clean and load windows xp. There are a bunch of old programs and settings on a windows 95 computer. Do I have to go through each item or is there a way to take everything off at once?

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

I received an old computer from an office and I want to wipe everything

off and start it clean and load windows xp. There are a bunch of old
programs and settings on a windows 95 computer. Do I have to go through
each item or is there a way to take everything off at once?

Just boot from the Windows XP CD ROM
During the setup process you are given the option to remove any partitions
and reformat the hard disk.
Just follow the onscreen prompts.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

I received an old computer from an office and I want to wipe everything

off and start it clean and load windows xp. There are a bunch of old
programs and settings on a windows 95 computer. Do I have to go through
each item or is there a way to take everything off at once?

 

[Guest]

first of all what size hard drive has the machine got and how much ram?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

First make sure the computer is ready for Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/default.asp
Especially #3 Upgrade Advisor.

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Clean Installation:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

I received an old computer from an office and I want to wipe

everything off and start it clean and load windows xp. There are a
bunch of old programs and settings on a windows 95 computer. Do I
have to go through each item or is there a way to take everything off
at once?

 

[Kevin]

-----Original Message-----
I received an old computer from an office and I want to

wipe everything off and start it clean and load windows
xp. There are a bunch of old programs and settings on a
windows 95 computer. Do I have to go through each item
or is there a way to take everything off at once?

.
To thoroughly delete all programs on the computer, it is

best to congigure your bios to boot from the winXP
instalation disk. When the computer starts the XP install
program, you can select to delete the exsisting partition
and replace the partition and format using the NTFS (NT
file system) format. This will clean everything off the
HDD and prepare you for a clean install of WIN XP. Good
Luck