Re-installing Windows XP Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Laura
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L

Laura

I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the re-
installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a complete
rebuild of the entire system.

So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.

Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of the
OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
programs etc. there.

Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind of
multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I want
to use. But both entries say Windows XP Professional. I
didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
set it up on the re-install.

I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?

Thanks.
 
You have not screwed up your system, let out a deep
breath. If you are trying to accomplish a full reload
and not just re-intall windows then there are somethings
you need to take into consideration.

Do you have a full version of XP and is it on CD?
(if a downloaded version did you back it off to CD?

If you did not buy XP do you have the manufacturer
restore CD's that allow you to fully reload your system.
(case in point - one of my machines from Compaq came
loaded with XP on a recovery partiton, but no CD's. So
fully wiping my hard drive would have been certain death,
and I would have had to order them from Compaq (at a
price) However they did include a feature to create one
set of restore CD's for my machine. I did this so that I
would have a good copy and not have to purchase them.)
Be sure you know exactly what you have from the
manufacturer is restore CD's and not just driver CD's.

Is all of your data that you want to keep saved to
external media like a CD or other internal hard drive etc?

Do you have all the drivers you need for you machine and
it's devices?

If so then you are ready to begin. If you want to wipe
you hard drive first there are free programs that will
work for such a matter as erasing everything on it before
you begin. One of the programs that I use for low level
erasing is Active@ Killdisk v 2.0. The trial version
will do just fine for your case.

You will have to create a Windows Boot Disk and add two
files from the program to it.

After you erase the drive (all partitions) unless you
have a recovery partition like stated above. Be sure
which you are erasing. Then reload Windows.

Have Fun... and follow the White Rabbit
 
How do I create a Windows Boot Disk? I've searched the
help and can't find how to do this. And what 2
additional files do I need to put on it?
 
Greetings --

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
OK. I created a boot up disk. I also put the
Active@KillDisk file on there from the website.

But I am still not quite clear on what exactly I need to
do. I'm a little freaked that I'm going to totally
annihilate my PC here and I need it to work on tomorrow!
=-)

Am I correct in believing these are my next steps?

- Reboot my PC w/ the "bootable" disk in the drive.
- Go though the process to clean off my harddrive, erase
my partitions, etc.
- Reboot my PC again this time with the Windows XP CD.
Install XP as normal.

The Active@KillDisk site said something about having to
use FORMAT and FDISK to repartition the drive and make
it "useable" again after I erase the hard drive. What
exactly does this mean? I think I'm missing a step, but
not sure what I need to do.

Thanks for your help. I am patiently following the white
rabbit. Haha. =-)

Laura
 
I tried this. It doesn't do what I want it to do, which
is delete all the crap on my harddrive. It re-installs
the OS, sure, but I still have everything under the C
drive there.

Or perhaps I chose the wrong option. If I do a "fix"
then will it clean up my hard drive?

Laura - getting more confused by the minute
 
In
Laura said:
How do you know if you have a "bootable" cd-rom or not?
The article I linked to from this site says if you don't
have a bootable cd drive you should create the setup
disks. How do I know?
Click to expand...


All Windows XP CDs are bootable, but if you want to make sure
yours is, simply try to boot from it.
 
Greetings --

No, you have to select "New Installation," select the partition
onto which you want to install the OS. Somewhere along the way will
be an option to format the chosen partition, or leave it as it is.
You'll want to format.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
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