How do you format your hard drive in windows XP

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The information below assumes you are formatting with the intent to
reinstall XP and that you have a retail version of XP as opposed to a
manufacturer's recovery CD. If you have a recovery CD, all you need do is
run the manufacturer's recovery routine, check the PC's documentation for
instructions.

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.
 
Boot to the XP CD and delete / recreate the partition then install will
format automatically while installing.

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I have a windows xp cd that came with my computer but when
i boot the computer up it starts up like normal. Should i
run setup from the cd and hit upgrade,would that format
the hardrive? my Cd came with the computer and i do not
think it is a recovery disk. Help me out.
 
No actually you need to go into BIOS and change your boot sequence to check
CD first.

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As wojo states in this thread, you need to be sure your CD-ROM is first in
line in the boot sequence assuming your system supports booting from the CD.
Second, a few screens into the boot process, you should see a message to
press any key if you wish to boot from the CD. After you've done so, then
follow my previous instructions.
 
And can I add that, on the odd chance, your computer doesn't support booting
from the cdrom then I'd guess it is an old system that you should consider
replacing if you want to run XP.

--
If I can help you I will.
If you can help me thanks.
(e-mail address removed)
TO Email: Remove "SPAM" without the quotes

Useful Links
AdAware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S & D:
www.safer-networking.org/
Check for Parasites/Worms:
www.gemal.dk/browserspy/parasites.html
Blaster Security Patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
TweakUI and other PowerToys:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
 
It sounds like you want to erase your hard drive so it is blank as it was
when it was new. Download a Windows 98 Startup Disk from here
www.bootdisk.com Follow the instructions here
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~mrscary/fdisk.htm As the site tells you
choose option 4 to Delete Non-DOS partitions. That will rid you of XP's NTFS
format. Once the partition is removed you can esc out and shut down your
computer. The drive will be blank. If you want to ensure that no data can be
resurrected then use a wiping program like KillDisk
http://www.killdisk.com/eraser.htm
 
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