format hard disk

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dimitris
  • Start date Start date
D

Dimitris

Hello I have windowsMe and I want to format my hard disk in order to install
XP later. Can someone help me with the format procedure, since I don't know
much about copmuters. I have backed-up my files so I just want to format my
hard disk and completely empty it. If that is done I can simply install XP
and everything will go fine? Can I find step by step instructions somewhere?
Thanks
Dimitris
 
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.aspx?scid=kb;EN-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 again via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


| Hello I have windowsMe and I want to format my hard disk in order to install
| XP later. Can someone help me with the format procedure, since I don't know
| much about copmuters. I have backed-up my files so I just want to format my
| hard disk and completely empty it. If that is done I can simply install XP
| and everything will go fine? Can I find step by step instructions somewhere?
| Thanks
| Dimitris
|
|
 
It's done from XP setup as in the instructions below. However, before you
do so, place the XP CD in the drive while at the ME desktop, when the setup
screen appears, select Check System Compatibility. Before you install XP,
you should fix anything advised in this report.

Should setup begin at the end of running this wizard, just exit setup at the
first opportunity and you will boot back to ME. Then make any necessary
changes, also visit the website of the manufacturer's of your hardware, both
external and internal and be sure there are XP compatible drivers available
for the devices. If not or if the manufacturer won't be supporting the
devices in XP, you should consider replacing them:

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

A few screens into the boot process, if you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.

After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:

To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

In your case, press ENTER.

Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.

You will then be taken to a screen with two options.

To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.

This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.
 
The XP CD will boot the computer, just set your BIOS so the
CD is the first boot device. Then you boot the computer
with the CD in the drive and it will detect the CD and ask
you to press any key [enter] to boot the CD.

You will get a message asking what you want to do, select
install and then you will have options to delete the current
partition and create partitions as you want and format those
partitions as FAT32 [the old type] or the newer NTFS.

Installation will see the current ME installed and won't ask
for you to put a "qualifying CD" in the drive. If your XP
CD is a full install CD, that step would be "not necessary"
and would not come up at all.

See
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941



| Hello I have windowsMe and I want to format my hard disk
in order to install
| XP later. Can someone help me with the format procedure,
since I don't know
| much about copmuters. I have backed-up my files so I just
want to format my
| hard disk and completely empty it. If that is done I can
simply install XP
| and everything will go fine? Can I find step by step
instructions somewhere?
| Thanks
| Dimitris
|
|
 
Dimitris said:
Hello I have windowsMe and I want to format my hard disk in order to
install XP later. Can someone help me with the format procedure,
since I don't know much about copmuters. I have backed-up my files so
I just want to format my hard disk and completely empty it. If that
is done I can simply install XP and everything will go fine? Can I
find step by step instructions somewhere? Thanks
Dimitris
Click to expand...

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Format XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/format_XP.htm
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
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