I need to wipe my HD clean, and re-install Windows!

Hello everyone! I'm brand new, and I'm here for some hardcore help (jk)..nah, I just need help with something I'm sure all of you can do in a heartbeat. I want to completely wipe my harddrive of EVERYTHING, including my OS, and then I want to re-install Windows XP. Now, I have my Windows XP cd right in front of me, I tried to do a clean install, and now I'm having a ton of problems. But, I did do this once before, and the first time I did it, I wiped my harddrive first and then installed Windows, and it worked great. The only problem is, I booted my computer from my Driver Resource, Diagnostic Tools cd-rom, and when I went to factory restore, it said the backup whatever image or something like that, couldn't be found on the computer. So now, I can't do that. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks a ton!

 

HI Masna, welcome to the board.

The easiest way would be to place your Windows XP cd in the cd drive and and restart the computer. Let Windows format the hard drive and then install XP. You stated you did it this way before and it worked well so why change a good thing? If it ain't broke.....

You also mentioned "factory restore ". Does this mean you have an OEM such as a Dell, Compac, or HP computer? The older ones don't come with a xp disk only restore disks, but the newer ones do have a xp disk I believe.

You can use the restore disks to format and restore to factory condition like it was when you purchased it or the xp disk will format and install. Either way should be a painless procedure.

I have two computers running xp. One is a HP which came with restore disks. If I have to format I can use the recovery disks to restore the computer to the way it was when I bought it. The second I had build for me and I use the Windows Xp disk to format and install Windows.

You mentioned your only problem was booting from your Driver Resourse, Diagnostic Tools cd. Instead of using it try the windows cd and let it format and install xp.

If I missed anything from your thread, just post back to clear things up for us, well for me anyway.

 

Full walk-through for formatting and starting a fresh using the XP CD
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxphome/installxpcdoldhdd/index.htm

 

read u'r system docs on restore if that is u'r intention. i'm guessing here but ... i'd bet that the restore image WAS on the driver prior to u'r last clean install and that install wiped it out. if that's the case, u can't factory restore w/o contacting the maker of the pc and requesting an image disc.

 

That's two conflicting statements. Do you have a factory restore CD or an XP install CD? Or both?

There's a huge difference. Sounds to me like you may have neither.