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General discussion

Steps for Reformatting Hardrive and Reinstalling Windows XP

by jeelee Jun 20, 2006 1:39AM PDT

Can anyone provide steps or know of a website that clearly defines the steps/procedures for properly reformatting the hardrive and then properly reinstalling windows xp?
my computer has been acting up and functioning very slowly. i have a dell desktop pentium 4. i suspect it has a virus of some sort so i would just want to clean it all out and start a new fresh os system.

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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Sadly not possible.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 20, 2006 1:51AM PDT

While we have hundreds of web sites on installing Windows XP none are perfect, and I can safely bet none are tuned exactly to your machine or hardware. As such we have general instructions and you tune them in with more information or drivers for your particular hardware.

For Dell, it's pretty much a 2 CD operation. You boot the XP CD and install that, then after the Microsoft CD you pop in the Dell drivers or supplemental CD for the other drivers and software. Finally you head to Dell.com for driver updates for your machine.

Bob

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reformat hardrive?
by jeelee Jun 20, 2006 1:54AM PDT

But what about reformatting the hardrive to start clean?

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When you boot the XP CD...
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 20, 2006 2:06AM PDT

Such is something you can do. Either by going to the RECOVERY CONSOLE (google.com) and it's format command or by using XP's installer menu to remove the old partition and make a new one. XP's installer will format it for you if you take that route.

As you will discover, with so many possible decision points and options there is no one true install method. Your want to format gives us 2 methods and not just one.

Bob

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not as helpful as i thought
by jeelee Jun 20, 2006 7:19AM PDT

I was looking for a more intelligent and detailed answer but thanks anyways. generally, a standard reformat and reinstall for dell xp windows should follow the same set of instructions more or less...

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Try this.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jun 20, 2006 8:50AM PDT
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XP DOES IT FOR YOU
by Scrotes4Life Jun 24, 2006 10:32AM PDT

First, make sure that you need a new hard drive.
If that's the case, buy one and install it. Read the directions! More importantly, configure the jumper exactly like the original configuration.
Power up and install XP. XP will offer the formatting options, if your system is working as it should.
It sounds to me like you are still shell-shocked from the Windows 98 days.
Remember when you used to have to reload W98 every other week for some reason or another? Glad those days are gone!
One other thing.............
I purchased a Western Digital several months ago. WD sends formatting software with theirs.
Good luck!

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