need to reformat

[John]

I am trying to wipe out my hard drive and reformat with
my Windows XP Upgrade. I tried to do a new install, and
it intalled it, but it left all my old files on the
computer, just another my old user name. How can I wipe
out everything and start again?

 

[Chris Lanier]

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary to
partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow Windows XP
to partition and format your drive:

1. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your omputer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. After installing Windows XP, be sure and visit the support website of
the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any available
Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter and audio drivers.

*All Courtesy of Nicholas

 

[tom]

When going though the install make sure you format the
drive before install and [pick ntfs file system.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am trying to wipe out my hard drive and reformat with
my Windows XP Upgrade. I tried to do a new install, and
it intalled it, but it left all my old files on the
computer, just another my old user name. How can I wipe
out everything and start again?

Boot 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