Spring Cleaning

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Guest

I have installed Windows XP Home Edition on my computer very numerous times.
How do I completly clean my computer of this and everything else and start
from scratch?
 
Well if you want to restore your computer to the same condition it was in the
day you bought it, it's not too hard at all.

1) Back up everything you want to keep.
2) Write down information you'll need, like how you're e-mail is set up, etc.
3) No, seriously back up everything you want to keep, nothing will be left
on your hard drive after this!

4) Put your Windows XP CD into the drive, restart, and press a key when it
says "press any key to boot from cd...."

5) Follow the instructions to install windows. You'll choose to format,
which will erase everything, then proceed to install. It'll guide you though
most things, just read everything before making each choice.
 
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941
Perform a clean install of Windows XP
A clean installation refers to removing all data from your hard disk by
repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and reinstalling the
operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk. You should back
up all important information before you perform a clean installation of
Windows XP.

For additional information about important things to consider before you
partition and format you hard disk and how to partition and format your hard
disk by using the Windows XP Setup program, click the following article
number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
313348 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348/) How to partition and format
a hard disk in Windows XP
After you have backed up all your important information, follow these steps
to install Windows XP: 1. Start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM. To
do this, insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD drive or DVD drive, and
then restart your computer.
2. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any
key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
3. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to start Windows XP
Setup.
4. Read the End-User License Agreement, and then press F8.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to select and format a
partition where you want to install Windows XP.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Windows XP Setup.



--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-

"REALLY SICK OF TRYING TO SEND MAIL BY 6"
 
"REALLY SICK OF TRYING TO SEND MAIL BY 6"
I have installed Windows XP Home Edition on my computer very numerous
times.
How do I completly clean my computer of this and everything else and start
from scratch?
Click to expand...

A few suggestions based on experience:

Make sure you have all of your software disks INCLUDING the disk codes.

Make sure you have the driver disks from the computer manufacturer.

System tools gives you a way to save your computer settings but, before you
transfer it after you reinstall windows, make sure you create a system
restore point.

Have a copy of SP 2 on disk.

Unplug your internet connection until after SP2 is installed. Then go
directly to Microsoft for the Windows upgrades.

Read everything else you can find; there is lots of good practical advice
out there.
 
"Unplug your internet connection until after SP2 is installed. Then go
directly to Microsoft for the Windows upgrades."

Why unplug the internet anyway? You can select "No" to updates with SP1.
Check into 'slipstreaming' WinXP SP2. Life made easy. Believe me.
 
Q: Why unplug the internet during installation?
A: Because you can get hit by viruses/worms DURING installation.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
Thats why you say no to the installation, doesn't matter, what you say makes
sense.
I converted my XP home OEM (2002) into a SP2 slipstreamed CD, and put small
virus ware (spybot, defender...) on the CD for quick access. like I said,
life made easy. Slipstreammmmmm.

Would be nice if Windows offered to do this for us at every SP rather than
twiddle with the old DOS prompt.
 
Unlikely?
Try leaving a network cable plugged directly to a cable modem (no router)
and install XP gold. You will be infected with both blaster and sasser with
34 minutes to go in the install when the network card is activated.
Tested here in southeast US, plugging a completely installed XP gold system
direct to a RoadRunner cable modem with no AV in place averages 17 seconds
to get hit by blaster.
XP SP1 will usually survive long enough to get AV in place.
XP SP2 is fairly safe long enough to install AV and windows updates.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
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