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Question

Windows XP - get to Cmd prompt before Win XP loads to wipe h

by Mar 25, 2012 12:49AM PDT

I need to delete everything on my hard drive (command + space + c:), as I bought a new computer. I tried pressing F8 or f9 during startup, but the menu that appears doesn't contain a pure DOS prompt. I have the XP CD that came with the computer, but I may be having cd disk drive issues and it will not boot from the CD. help!

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Answer
Re: wiping disk
by Forum moderator Mar 25, 2012 1:06AM PDT

You can't wipe a disk while Windows is active. So you need to boot from either a cd or a USB-stick.

For wiping we recommend DBAN. You can download an .iso file that you burn to CD (using imgburn, for example), but http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-dban-to-a-usb-flash-drive-using-windows/ tells how to make a bootable USB-stick from it.

If that doesn't work, see if you can replace the CD-drive by one that does boot, or use a USB-connected external drive.

Kees

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Booting from an external drive
by Boop01810 Apr 1, 2012 6:04AM PDT

Thanks for your reply.

I have backed up[ my complete Windows XP System onto an external drive. Question: How do I get Windows to boot from the external drive, rather than the internal drive, so that I can wipe the internal drive?

I very much appreciate your help and guidance. thanks in advance. - Betty

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You can't.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 1, 2012 9:59AM PDT

"Question: How do I get Windows to boot from the external drive, rather than the internal drive, so that I can wipe the internal drive?"

Sorry but once Windows starts, it's game over. This is why I'll boot the machine to the other drive. That is usally a BIOS setting.
Bob

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