Formatting

Hi,

first of all i would just like to say for asking this question, but i don't really know how to do it, and can't find any sites to tell me how to do it properly.

My computer has become very clogged up and full of ****.So, i was wondering if anyone here could give me step-by-step instructions on how to format my Xp Pro and how to install it again safely.

Thank you very much to anyone who helps

 

Set the BIOS to boot from CD first.
Put in your XP CD.
Restart the computer.
When prompted, hit "any key" to boot from CD.
Install Windows.
You'll be prompted to select a partition/drive and format it.

p.s. Welcome to the board!

 

Quadri

Only last weekend did I do my first Reformat! Was a reluctant thing for me to do but was necessary as my PC was not doing well at all.

With the help of this Forum, reading and making notes, I was able to do it without any problems.

Now that it is over my PC is running just like it did when it was a new one. Sure happy with it. Did spend the better part of a day with putting stuff back in.

If you do this and have "beginner" questions that you would hate to ask the pro's, give me a shout. Have been there; have done that.

 

The only stupid question is the one not asked.
Don't be afraid to post anything. Someone, be they pro, amateur, novice, or noob will definitely answer.

 

thanks for being so helpful so far everyone

ok, so the way to format is not to right click C drive icon in my computer and select format?

also, i know how to back up all my software and programs etc, but with drivers, i know theres a program to do them.
WinDriver saves all the drivers into an installable exe, but the only problem is you have to pay/register to install them. are there any other similar programs which are free?

 

You can't format Windows from inside Windows, so right clicking on C and selecting format won't work.

Try this driver backup tool: http://www.simtel.net/pub/pd/60861.shtml
although it may not work in XP...

You could go through device mangler and write down all the specifics of your hardware, then search the web for drivers.

Is this a whitebox, homebuilt, or name brand computer?

 

homemade

(not by me, my dad's friend did it)

 

You could also use Aida32 http://www.aida32.hu/aida-download.php?bit=32 to tell you exactly what hardware is in the system, and then get drivers.
I have links for just about everything, from modems to NIC's, video, sound, etc...they're not that difficult to find.

 

ok, one more question...

how long will it take?

 

i got another question (sorry!!)

shall i bother with partitioning my drive? considering that i don't really know how to do it.

thank you

 

For me, I have two partitions.
One strictly for the operating system and the other for programs I install.

Reason I do this is because if I want a clean install of Windows, I simply format the partition that has Windows and reinstall.

When you reinstall your other programs on the other partition, 99% of the time they will still their default settings.
And depending on what program that have their own .dll file(s), a simple shortcut is all that is needed.

If you want more than one OS, of course more partitions are needed.

I have done this for years. It is much easier when reinstalling Windows.

 

There are so many good reasons to partition a drive, especially if it's on the big side (60 gig or more).
Defrag time.
Safe storage.
Faster pagefile.
Etc.
I have over 150 gig (and 3 OS's) spread over 3 drives, and partitions C through N. It's the only way to keep all my stuff sorted, and if one parition crashes, I always have others to use.

 

Ahhh, but if the hard drive crashes hard it will still effect all the partitions.


Btw, My OS partition is 10Mb. Currently using 4Mb of that. Have to leave some for growth. Rest is in second partition.

 

Thank you so much everyone.

I am ready to format, and will do it next week. (i have exams i should be revising for...)

so if there's anything extra you think i should be aware of, please tell me in the next couple of days.

And i don't think i'll bother with partitioning it this time round. need to make sure i format and re-install correctly first!

Thanks,
Quadri