Completely remove XP Pro

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Guest

I need to completely remove XP from a Compaq Presario system so that I have a
completely clean box with no lurking OS at all. I've been told I need to use
fdisk but fdisk does not appear to be supported by XP. How can I get back to
a pristine system?
 
notapro said:
I need to completely remove XP from a Compaq Presario system so that I have a
completely clean box with no lurking OS at all. I've been told I need to use
fdisk but fdisk does not appear to be supported by XP. How can I get back to
a pristine system?

You can boot to a DOS boot disk that has fdisk on it, then using fdisk
you can remove the non-dos partition (aka WinXP).

--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
Download the free trial version of DriveScrubber:
http://www.iolo.com/ds/index.cfm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I need to completely remove XP from a Compaq Presario system so that I have a
| completely clean box with no lurking OS at all. I've been told I need to use
| fdisk but fdisk does not appear to be supported by XP. How can I get back to
| a pristine system?
 
Carey & Null,

Thanks for the info. I'll try drivescrubber but not sure if it will run. If
not I will try and dig up a dos boot disk with fdisk on it. I'll be back if
neither work...
 
Carey,

I downloaded drivescrubber from another machine (mine is at a DOS prompt),
copied it onto a diskette, took the diskette to my machine and tried to
execute from there. The install failed with internal error. I think this is
because I currently do not have a complete operating system installed - just
pieces of XP that won't go away. Do I need to re-install XP, then install
drivescrubber and finally run drivescrubber which will completely remove XP?
Or, if there is another way to go about this I would be extremely grateful to
know what it might be. Thanks in advance...
 
What is it that you are actually trying to do and for what reason? Are you
trying to remove XP and completely wipe the drive because you are going to
give the computer or hard drive away? Are you simply trying to wipe the
system in order to clean install XP, give us a little more information and
maybe we can guide you better.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
 
Probably the easiest way is to remove the hard drive and either mount it in
another machine or mount it in an external usb2 enclosure and then use the
second computer's Disk Manager to reformat the disk or run drivescrubber.
 
I am trying to completely remove XP and wipe the drive so that no remnants of
XP remain. The ultimate goal is to install a server OS but I don't want to
install that on top of XP.
 
It looks as though Colin, in this thread has an option for you.
Additionally, you don't need to have an OS installed in order to run FDISK,
you only need a boot floppy that contains the utility. Then boot from the
floppy, at the prompt type fdisk and press enter. This by the way, will not
completely wipe the drive as you appear to want to do though it shouldn't be
necessary to do anything more than this for your purposes.

But, if you wish to completely wipe the drive, Colin would seem to have
provided a means by which you can run the trial utility you have downloaded.
 
All you need to do is to create the DriveScrubber floppy
disk, then insert that disk in your computer, then reboot.

Instructions for installing DriveScrubber on your computer
http://www.iolo.com/ds/tutorial.cfm?id=47&collection

Wiping a disk or drive with DriveScrubber Personal Edition
http://www.iolo.com/ds/tutorial.cfm?id=45&collection

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Carey,
|
| I downloaded drivescrubber from another machine (mine is at a DOS prompt),
| copied it onto a diskette, took the diskette to my machine and tried to
| execute from there. The install failed with internal error. I think this is
| because I currently do not have a complete operating system installed - just
| pieces of XP that won't go away. Do I need to re-install XP, then install
| drivescrubber and finally run drivescrubber which will completely remove XP?
| Or, if there is another way to go about this I would be extremely grateful to
| know what it might be. Thanks in advance...
 
Well, this sounds like a reasonable solution but it may take me a while.
Remember, I'm "not a pro." In any case, I'll give this a try and see where it
takes me. Thanks a bunch for the suggestion.
 
I'm going to look for a boot disk with fdisk on it and also see if I can do
as Collin suggests. If neither approach solves my dilemma I will be back with
additional questions. Thanks for the help.
 
If you are installing Windows 2003 server, then you cannot upgrade from XP
anyway and you can simply format during the installation. Just do not use
the Quick Format option.
 
If Compaq still has a hidden proprietary sector, fdisk won't do it.
you'll need to do a low level format using debug.
 
It should not be necessary to fdisk if all you are doing is installing the
OS and not trying to obliterate sensitive personal data. Formatting the
drive should be sufficient.
 
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