how to reformat hardrive...newby

  • Thread starter Thread starter Juco
  • Start date Start date
J

Juco

I have recieved a PC which is much better than mine and want to wipe it and
then re install windows xp pro. so that I have a clean start. I have never
done this before (always had someone to do it for me) please can someone
give me step by step on how to do this.

thanks
Juco
 
Hi,

Boot the system with the WinXP CD in the drive, make sure you have the
Product Key handy. If the system does not boot to the CD, then you may need
to change the boot order in the system BIOS. Start setup, hit F8 to agree to
the license screen. At this point setup will pause to ask about repairing
the existing installation or where you want to install. Choose instead to
delete the existing system partition, then create a new one from the free
space. When you proceed, you will be prompted to format before installation
begins. Usually quick format is sufficient.

Make absolutely sure you have the CD and matching Product Key before you
begin. Once you delete the existing system partition, there is no going back
(at least not without learning a lot about recovering lost partitions with
third party tools).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
I have followed as below and all seems to have worked ok. One question
though when it boots up I get an option to press for xp home or xp pro, the
`old` version that was on PC when I got it was `home`. Can I assume this is
still on the PC in addition to pro if so can I now delete that and how?

thanks
 
Juco said:
I have recieved a PC which is much better than mine and want to wipe it and
then re install windows xp pro. so that I have a clean start. I have never
done this before (always had someone to do it for me) please can someone
give me step by step on how to do this.

thanks
Juco
Click to expand...


A boot diskette is a thing of the past, as all legitimate WinXP
installation CDs are already bootable.

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
 
I have followed as below and all seems to have worked ok. One question
though when it boots up I get an option to press for xp home or xp pro, the
`old` version that was on PC when I got it was `home`. Can I assume this is
still on the PC in addition to pro if so can I now delete that and how?
Click to expand...

It's apparant that you may have not deleted the partitions correctly or
it just retained the original MBR....Is there another HardDrive when you
open "My Computer?"

Fixing the boot record is simple, wiping the logical is not easy using
windows tools....What I mean by that is that you have to re-size the
partition to take the space back......
Now, here's your other problem possibly.....When you booted the XP CD
did you "in fact" delete all partitions? If you let it setup a dual boot
than your XP Pro is sitting on a "logical partition" so if you wipe out
your XP home than Pro is basically useless.......Right click "My
Computer" go to manage, click disk management on the tree.....Is your HD
one size or do you see it split in two???
If it is indeed "one" partition it's okay and you just need to fix the
master bootrecord(MBR)......Boot to the XP CD let it scan, it will give
you the option to the recovery console.....At the prompt type in
"fixmbr" without the quotes...........Have fun.
 
Ok done that and I get ...

C Partition Basic NTFS healthy(system) 4.44 56% free
D partition Basic NTFS Healthy (Boot) 96% free

Don`t know what this means though. Think it means there is 2 drives C & D
????
 
Ok done that and I get ...

C Partition Basic NTFS healthy(system) 4.44 56% free
D partition Basic NTFS Healthy (Boot) 96% free

Don`t know what this means though. Think it means there is 2 drives C & D
????
Click to expand...

Yes it does there are two instances of different OS's installed on your
machine.........
As I stated your XP Pro is residing in a "logical" partition.....

If I was you I would start over again & chalk it up as
"learning"....Trust me before I knew anything about this type of stuff I
made the same mistake............

Anyway, when you boot to your XP CD, geez it's been awhile, you'll get
your options to install....It will list your 2PT's, you have to delete
"both" of them than make sure before you setup windows that that listing
shows one line that says "unpartitioned" or "unallocated".....Reboot the
computer to the CD again if you're not sure, it won't hurt......After it
re-boots and you confirm it than tell the install to format in whatever
format---FAT32/NTFS........The going hype is NTFS so do that than, and
have your key ready.....The rest should be smooth sailing, just remember
when the install starts to go it will re-boot, DO NOT hit the "Enter"
key to Boot the CD again, let it ride or else you'll be going in
circles....I did that once to..... ;0)
 
Got it sorted now
thanks for the help


Bruce Chambers said:
A boot diskette is a thing of the past, as all legitimate WinXP
installation CDs are already bootable.

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
Click to expand...
 

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