I have a somewhat primitive way of doing it and I guess there's a way to do it quicker and easier, but here goes...

I use a Windows ME bootdisk for XP (click here to find it). Put the bootdisk (floppy) in the comp and restart. After some loading time, it will get you into DOS mode (which XP doesn't have, only MS DOS Prompt, but you can't format by using ms dos prompt). Then type format C: and the rest speaks for itself. After the comp is formatted, just take out the floppy and insert the XP CD and restart the comp. You get a message that says 'hit a key to boot from CD' very briefly, so just hit the enter button or whatever to boot from the CD. Once you've done that, you can begin re-installing Windows XP.

Like I said, there should be an easier way, but this is my course of action

Alternatively ,insert your windows CD and then boot her up. As long as in the bios you have the cd as checked before hdd init, then it will go to a screen about install windows, and other selections. In their you will find a format the diskdrive - which means you can format the one you wish. You can also choose the type as well (NTFS or FAT32(not good for HDD over 2gig i think it was - cannot remember - i aint a techie ). After that of course - you have the option of then installing windows.

chips is right, stick your windows disk in and restart...its the same as with most other versions of windows...

start dam machine
go into BIOS (usually press 'del')
go to advanced BIOS features
change boot order to CDROM, HDD-0, then whatever else
save and exit settings
restart machine
when boot says "boot from CD-Rom," press any key to do so.
setup begins automatically
follow onscreen prompts
delete any existing FAT32 or NTFS partitions (D, enter, L)
create partition on unpartitioned space (C, choose)
format the partition using NTFS (don't use quick format)

go away and make a cup of tea, it will take some time. Then come back and install XP as normal.

Taw, will doing a full format cause problems with a OEM/programs disk. The current computer I have came with several disks, one you must insert before the windows XP disk and it does a vareant of the format function then will tell you to put in the OS disk. Any help is appriceated. Thanks in advance.

Finalday

Until that final day. /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Edited by - Finalday on 2/6/2004 9:36:11 AM

no, it's ok, you should be able to run the oem-install disc afterwards with no problems, after all that's what it's designed for! is this some recovery cd or something, btw? (hate those, they never bl**dy work)

I think it is a recovery disk. The OS one wont' load by itself.

Finalday

Until that final day. /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

yeh its another variant of the MS oem pre-installer customised for companies to put their own stuff on with the o/s. you'll be fine, presuming it's the same hdd and/or the same pc.

I have a very similar (and quite laughable) question.

How do I format my comp when using Win95? I've never formatted anything but a 3 1/4".

For win 95 you'll need to create a boot disk. Boot up into DOS mode (using said boot disk) and type format C: then follow the prompts. Simple

just to slightly edit my learned friends post; if you type format c: /c the /c switch error checks the drive for. Just a thought.

You can download bootdisk files here. You can just run the file, and insert some blank disks, and you should be set. I think that's how it works, I haven't downloaded anything from there for ages. I prefer making custom bootdisks. Actually boot CDs; mine have virus scanners, trojan scanners, command line utils, DLL checkers, and heaps of great stuff. They come in handy. I even keep one in my wallet. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm crazy. What of it?

Edit: I just realised that Eraser already linked to the above site. Still, my link is better!

Edited by - esquilax on 2/7/2004 3:33:42 AM

hm. come to think of it, as soon as i finish my english essay, i think i'm gonna give it a shot, even tho my mum called a techie cause she wasn't confident with me.

I must be crazy too Esq cos I do the same!

I ALWAYS carry around a wallet with a bootable copy of XP Pro, W98se, DOS, boot floppies, ATi/Nvidia/D-link drivers, Norton Utils & AV, Macafee, RFA, DX9b, Blaster and Welchia fixes (and all the common AV removal tools) and all the other stuff that we can't do without. Oh yeah and a doble-ended ratchet screwdriver and some ide cables

gotta stay prepared, haven't you? no you aint mad, bro, just paranoid like me.