[Snooker]

Hi ... I find this to be a good example to reformat windows xp ...

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:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

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 all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, 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. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, 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.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".

[karra]

Hey Snooker!

If I for instance was running XP installed by the local computer guys - would there be any reason to follow what you've laid out or should I place my complete and utter trust in these fine fellows?

[AdamNF]

Karra if you got a PC with XP already installed, you should have a XP Recovery CD. Just pop it in, restart and click F10 (i think), to go to the boot screen, then pick "boot from CD-rom". Then windows XP walks you through the format process.

PS. Make sure you have all your data backed up before you do this.

[Snooker]

Hey Karra

It would seem to me by your post that you have a brand name computer which has windows xp preinstall ... Is this true ??? Because my post is for people that have a Windows XP CD ... Now brand name computers do have recovery disk and your best bet is to get in contact with whomever your manufactory is ... If you also take a look at your manual i am sure it has procedure that can be apply in reformating

[RoyalHighlander]

What brought all this on?? And why would some one wanna re format thier comp if it was running ok???

[Non-Rev]

RH - Who knows?

I once had a friend that spent the winter tearing down a perfectly good Yamaha 650 twin, right down to the transmission cases.
I asked him why he was doing it, and he said; "Oh - just to see how everything is....."

r-i-g-h-t .

[Rev_Blair]

A lot of people partition their drives when they put in some programs. I know a couple of people who run dual operating systems that have done that (not sure what the deal is there...why two operating systems?) and some people who run PhotoShop find it runs a lot better if it's partitioned in its own little world.

On the motorcycle front...I know a guy who completely rebuilds his Norton every year. He takes it into the basement, undoes every bolt, then puts it back together. I have no idea why he does it, but I do know he gets really mad if you steal all of his bolts and send them back to him one at a time.

[AdamNF]

I use to run both XP and Linux but im back to just XP now.

[Chigeeng]

I had some problems so I tried to re-instal my XP operating system. I had done this before quite easily but this time I couldn't because I had updated my operating system so the disk does not respond or work anymore. Any suggestions.

[canadian1971]

$1:

I had some problems so I tried to re-instal my XP operating system. I had done this before quite easily but this time I couldn't because I had updated my operating system so the disk does not respond or work anymore. Any suggestions.

You have to uninstall your service pack before it will work properly.

$1:

What brought all this on?? And why would some one wanna re format thier comp if it was running ok???

And if it is not running OK? I had major problems with my PC the past few days....Reformatting, and re-installing windows has solved that problem. You will have to install and update all your hardware again, and EVERY program you have installed will be lost(I am unsure how or even if they can be backed-up). In the end, you PC should run like new again...should.(I myself am eperiencing problems with DirectX )

Side note...i once owned an older model Skidoo...spent more time... *ahem.....fixing it than I did riding it! Some of us just have to know...."how does this shit work?"