XP removal from computer

[Guest]

I was trying to reformat a computer that has an XP Home (SP2) OS. It did not
completely reformat and will not not allow me to start up the system, it goes
partially and then shuts down. It will not accept the 2000 Pro install
saying that there is not sufficient memory. I have created start up disk for
XP and when I try to use the recovery console I get prompted for the admin
password that I do have. Is there a way around this password and also can I
reformat the system without windows even starting.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please try the following article by Michael Stevens reagarding a 'Clean'
install of XP:

"Clean Install Windows XP"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I was trying to reformat a computer that has an XP Home (SP2)
OS. It
did not completely reformat and will not not allow me to start
up the
system, it goes partially and then shuts down. It will not
accept
the 2000 Pro install saying that there is not sufficient
memory. I
have created start up disk for XP and when I try to use the
recovery
console I get prompted for the admin password that I do have.
Is
there a way around this password and also can I reformat the
system
without windows even starting.

You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, since
that would leave Windows without a leg to stand on.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I was trying to reformat a computer that has an XP Home (SP2) OS. It did not
completely reformat and will not not allow me to start up the system, it goes
partially and then shuts down. It will not accept the 2000 Pro install
saying that there is not sufficient memory.

It sounds as if you are going about it the wrong way. You do it as part
of a reinstall of the system after setting the BIOS to boot CD before
HD, and booting 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

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one