I want to clean my harddrive and reinstall Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I want to know how to do a clean install of Windows XP. I
am infected with so much spyware and viruses
that "removal" just dosen't seem to do the trick (in my
mind). In fact something removed all my restore points in
system restore. Windows 98 had a start up disk that I
used to refromat and reinstall the OS. What does XP do?
What do I do?
 
The windows xp cd is bootable. First make sure that your pc can boot from
your cd-rom (most modern pc's can). Insert the windows xp cd into your
cd-rom and reboot your machine.

Before reinstalling make sure you backup any important documents or data you
need to keep. Once you reformat the drive you will erase everything off the
drive.

The windows xp setup program will start. After setup has copied files to
memory you wil be asked whether you want to install xp or repair. Choose
install new copy. Setup will check your system to see if any other copies
exist on your machine. It will find the copy you already have. Select to
install the new copy on the same drive/partition as your old one. You will
then be asked if you want to keep the file system as it is. Select format
using NTFS (or fat32 if you are already using the fat file system). Your
hard drive/partition will now be formatted. Remember you will loose
everything on your hard drive. After formatting windows xp will continue to
install the new copy.
 
i would like to do the same but what if i havn't got a
disk with my computer? and what would happen to the norton
anti vius and firewall that came with my computer (again
no disk) would they be lost or could i download them again
as i subscribe to both?
 
If your pc came with windows xp preinstalled your supplier should have given
you a recovery disk (unless it was tiny computers in which case they would
have sold you a recovery disk. I dare say other manufactuer's may also sell
recovery disks) An alternative is that the 'recovery' files are on your hard
drive. You don't say what make of pc you have?
Obviously, if you do not have a windows xp cd or a similar recovery disk or
partition then you cannot reinstall xp unless you 'buy' a retail copy of the
software.
As to your Norton Anti Virus and Firewall, yes you would loose them both as
they, like the operating system, would be erased from your hard drive. I'm
not sure about redownloading copies of Norton because you would need product
registration keys in order to get them to work again.
What i would suggest is that you read your pc's manual or contact your pc
manufacturer's customer service to see whether you need a recovery disk or
whether all the files are on a hidden partition your hard drive. Once again,
if Norton came preinstall on your pc the full copies may reside on a
recovery disk or a hidden partition.
 
Back
Top