[w8]

I need to wipe clean the hard drive on my computer. It has Windows XP on it. Is it really as simple as rebooting with the Windows cd in it? And will this erase everything?

 

[toxiclows]

What kind of computer do you have? and what kind or restore media do you have. . . alot of newer computers have a partitioned hard drive with a recovery image on the second partition.. others come with restore disks and others come with a windows XP cd. with seprate driver cd,s//// most anyway you look at it you are going to lose all of your data... your best bet is to just back it all up onto a cd, antoher computer, a usb pen drive or something of the like. . then you basically are going to boot off of your operating system cd smack the space bar to boot from cd and follow instructions. . .

ther eis a good tutorial herehttp://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm

basically you are going to delete your partition, create a new one, format the drive, copy files, install xp and configure it. . . . is fairly simple. . . . Xp will probably pick up and install most of your devices but you will probably have to manualy install a few of them.. .using there install disks or you can download the newest version of them from the mfgr's website. .

pm me if you have trouble I own a computer shop and have done this daily for the past 7 years . .

good luck

chris

 

[w8]

I have a Dell, which came with all the Window's cd's and drive disc.

 

[jfrolang]

I formatted mine a few months ago and reinstalled windows. This was after I bought a new larger hard drive for storage and copied everything over, now I just use the original to run windows and nothing else. It seems to run faster that way. I guess it helps to have a 40GB page file.

If I remember correctly, I just right-clicked the C drive under My Computer, and selected format. Then you just boot with the windows disc in the cd drive and it walks you through it.

 

[baker_jeff]

I have a Dell, which came with all the Window's cd's and drive disc.

How new is it? I think it was November 2004, systems shipping have something called Image Restore, a partition that will reformat and install Windows in 10 minutes or so.

Reboot your computer, and when you see the Dell logo, push "CTRL" and "F11" at the same time. Try it a few times if it doesnt work. You can also call Dell @ 1-800-624-9896 for free tech support. We can walk you through the process.

 

[downest]

whispers Do the right thing.

 

[w8]

I am pretty sure I bought the computer in 2004. Just don't know when. Will check on all of your advice later tonight when I get home. Thanks!

 

[toxiclows]

pm me if you have problems ill be around all night

chris

 

[Ragnaarok]

whispers Do the right thing.

i knew this would be either that or mac crud.

 

[w8]

pm me if you have problems ill be around all night

chris

Thanks, greatly appreciated.

 

[baker_jeff]

PM me your service tag (found on a black label on the bottom of a notebook, or the back or side), and I'll check if you have Image Restore.

I'm at work right now. :wink: