Reinstall operating system

[Guest]

I am reformatting my hard drives to do a clean install. I am not sure what
type of boot CD I should download and/or create.

 

[RedForeman]

I am reformatting my hard drives to do a clean install. I am not sure what
type of boot CD I should download and/or create.

I am unsure what you are referring to, or what to do?

Are you formatting to install XP? then you use the XP CD... if not,
use whatever CD you want... Linux? I like PCLinuxOS, and Mepis, or
knoppix, phac, DSL...

RedForeman

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I am reformatting my hard drives to do a clean install. I am not sure what
type of boot CD I should download and/or create.

Your WinXP CD is your best boot CD. It will give you
an option to format your hard disk.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

The Windows XP CD is bootable. For more information on installing XP visit
this link on my website.
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm You can
also find information on formatting here:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_format_my_hard_drive_us.htm

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Rock]

I am reformatting my hard drives to do a clean install. I am not sure what
type of boot CD I should download and/or create.

The XP installation CD is bootable and has the tools needed. See this link:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I am reformatting my hard drives to do a clean install. I am not sure what
type of boot CD I should download and/or create.

You shouldn't need to download or create anything. All legitimate
WinXP installation CDs are bootable.

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:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

I have a similar problem. I need to reinstall XP Home but my supplier
didn't provide the discs, although I do have a genuine product key.

Any suggestions please?

Liz

 

[Rock]

I have a similar problem. I need to reinstall XP Home but my supplier
didn't provide the discs, although I do have a genuine product key.

Any suggestions please?

Similar problem to what? What do you mean by supplier? Is this a custom
built system? The computer OEM has to provide you with some means to
restore the OS. They have 3 choices:

1. An XP installation CD
2. A recovery CD
3. A partition (sometimes hidden) on the hard drive with an image of the
drive as received from the factory. Sometimes this is in conjunction with
#2.

Check the documentation that came with the computer or contact the
computer's tech support for how to restore the system.

Last tip, it's best not to post your new question as a reply to someone
else's thread. Create a new post with your issue.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, sorry didn't want to clutter the place up with new posts on the same
subject. The OEM for my PC has gone bust so I can't get the disks from them.

Liz

 

[Rock]

Thanks, sorry didn't want to clutter the place up with new posts on the
same
subject. The OEM for my PC has gone bust so I can't get the disks from
them.

Liz

That's too bad. There is no hidden partition on the drive? MS might assist
where the vendor has gone out of business. I have this in my notes, I think
it was posted by MVP Kelly Theriot:

"800-325-1233 if OEM dealer has gone out of
business and need to replace a CD."

Since you have a product key see if you can borrow an XP installation CD
that matches the version installed on your system. The CD has to match the
product key as to:

Home vs. Pro
Retail Full vs. Retail Upgrade vs. generic OEM, vs. Branded OEM vs. Volume
License
Language version

You could make a copy of their CD so you have it. There is nothing unique
about an installation CD. All within the same type as listed above will
work with any product key of that type.

Posting a new question as a reply to an old thread has the same impact as
creating a new post. Besides when creating a new thread you get full
attention for your issue, and it doesn't take away from assistance that
would be given to the original poster. Sure, in some cases posting a
question to an existing thread is appropriate, say for example when asking
for clarification, but in general it's best to post a new thread with your
separate issue.

Good luck.

 

[LauraO]

Im having some issues reformatting my computer. I got a computer given
to me - its a 2005 Gateway. It had XP installed on it already. When I
turn it on...it gives me all these messages about how I have spam and
"there are others users on this computer" Im almost positive its just
a bunch of crap!! I tried to reinstall XP (I was told a clean install
would remove all the crap thats popping up). But it didnt work. I was
told it needed to be reformatted. I would LOVE some help on this. Im
not very computer savy. Any idea?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Im having some issues reformatting my computer. I got a computer given
to me - its a 2005 Gateway. It had XP installed on it already. When I
turn it on...it gives me all these messages about how I have spam and
"there are others users on this computer" Im almost positive its just
a bunch of crap!! I tried to reinstall XP (I was told a clean install
would remove all the crap thats popping up). But it didnt work. I was
told it needed to be reformatted. I would LOVE some help on this. Im
not very computer savy. Any idea?

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:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Im having some issues reformatting my computer. I got a computer given
to me - its a 2005 Gateway. It had XP installed on it already. When I
turn it on...it gives me all these messages about how I have spam and
"there are others users on this computer" Im almost positive its just
a bunch of crap!! I tried to reinstall XP (I was told a clean install
would remove all the crap thats popping up).

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.

But it didnt work.

Then you tried to do it wrong. Just boot from the Windows XP CD
(change the BIOS boot order if necessary to accomplish this) and
follow the prompts for a clean installation (delete the existing
partition by pressing "D" when prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

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