Reinstalling XP

[Birdflu]

From time to time I delete/erase all files on my laptop and reinstall XP.

Sometimes as the installation proceeds, I am asked for the serial number for
XP and at other times, the XP install seems familiar to the system and serial
number is not required. My preference is for an absolute NEW install on a
blank hard drive.

I delete the partition, create a new one and do a lengthy full format and
get the XP familiarity senario. This leads me to believe that the drive is
not fully formatted and some data remains.

Any suggestions for a clean wipe would be appreciated.

 

[Andrew E.]

XP set up doesnt ask for a "serial number",it asks for a "product key"
number..
If serial number is asked,you must be installing from a partition on youre hd
the oem has created,& no retail copy of xp exist on a cd..If thats the
case,youre
probably correct in that "doesnt seem like a clean install",about the only
thing
one can/could do,download the hd utility from the hd mfg web site,get the MS-
DOS version,usually only works with a floppy,but now cd form might exist.Boot
to floppy/cdrom,run the hd utility,it gives the option to zero out a hd,but
be care-
full it doesnt erase the xp data files on the one partition.

 

[DL]

Unless you are continually 'playing' with your system, or
downloading/installing from dubious sources a regular format/install is a
complete waste of time & effort

 

[Don Phillipson]

From time to time I delete/erase all files on my laptop and reinstall XP.

Sometimes as the installation proceeds, I am asked for the serial number for
XP and at other times, the XP install seems familiar to the system and serial
number is not required. My preference is for an absolute NEW install on a
blank hard drive.

I delete the partition, create a new one and do a lengthy full format and
get the XP familiarity senario. This leads me to believe that the drive is
not fully formatted and some data remains.

Any suggestions for a clean wipe would be appreciated.

If we knew the type of your laptop we might know
whether default configuration included a hidden
partition with system files set RO. If so, do you really
want to wipe it?

 

[Birdflu]

True enough, Product Key rather than Serial Number. OK on the hd utility.
Delete 2k or something close to that name is available from Dell (and on it's
resource disk). It supposidly takes care of the system tracks. After running
that plus the format all, etc doesn't cut it for me. I'll check out other
hard drive utilities and run under dos. Thanks for your time and suggestion.
All the best.

 

[Birdflu]

Not too sure what you mean by a 'regular' format/install. Actually, I don't
believe that a complete wipe to zero is any waste of time and effort at all.
It's what makes me happy, clears up any doubts and makes me feel the same way
a hot shower after doing a grease job on the combine might be. Thanks for
your opinion.

PS, I don't download or install anything I don't pay for. Ya know what ya
get for free? ..........

 

[DL]

If it makes you feel good, go for it

Not too sure what you mean by a 'regular' format/install. Actually, I
don't
believe that a complete wipe to zero is any waste of time and effort at
all.
It's what makes me happy, clears up any doubts and makes me feel the same
way
a hot shower after doing a grease job on the combine might be. Thanks for
your opinion.

PS, I don't download or install anything I don't pay for. Ya know what ya
get for free? ..........

 

[tran]

To Recover Windows XP, you need a disc is called Recovery Discs for a805n.
The total time is 45 minutes. Any change to this hard drive could preveny any
recovery later.