reformatting xp

[Bernice]

I am trying to reformat my system. Have Win xp on and
want to put it on again. No boot disc? Was told didn't
need it. How do I do it then??

 

[Nicholas]

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 computer.
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(s), 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.

7. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
After XP is installed, visit the support website of the manufacturer
of each hardware device to obtain the latest drivers or software
designed to work with Windows XP.


--
Nicholas

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| I am trying to reformat my system. Have Win xp on and
| want to put it on again. No boot disc? Was told didn't
| need it. How do I do it then??

 

[Steve C. Ray]

You boot from the XP CD. You may have to go into BIOS and set the CD drive
as the first boot device. Then boot from the XP CD and follow the screen
prompts.

 

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?C=E9dric?=]

You can reformatting your pc, by restarting your pc with
Windows XP cd rom. If nothing happens, you have to look
in your bios and change the boot, so that he restart with
cd rom.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Hi, I'm having a blonde moment and need a little more
help..... I can get to the BIOS but can't figure out were
to set the cd as first bootable device.

The problem is that there are many different BIOSs, and how to do
this (or anything else) is likely different on each one. So it's
difficult for someone to tell you how to do it.

Look at all the options. You should be able to find it without
much difficulty.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am trying to reformat my system. Have Win xp on and
want to put it on again. No boot disc? Was told didn't
need it. How do I do it then?

The XP CD is itself bootable. At Power up, hit the hotkey (may well be
DEL but depends on the machine) to enter BIOS Setup. There look for the
Boot Order, which may have a section of its own, where you can select
the CD and move it up top with the + on the number pad; may be has an
entry in BIOS Settings, which you change with PageDn, to say CD-Rom; C:.
.. .
Either way then hit ESC and take Exit, Saving Settings. HAve the XP CD
in the drive, and if asked hit a key so as to boot from it. That will
load a basic system and you can enter Setup. After the license
agreement there is a choice - repair installation, which is usually the
first thing to do, as it should preserve installed software and
settings.. Or New install - in that case, when it asks where, hit ESC,
select the present partition and delete, then make a new RAW one to be
formatted at the next stage