dumb ???

hi
I want to install a fresh copy of XP.

how do i format??

I try to install it but says there is an exsisting operating system

or do I just go ahead and use the same partition?

 

During Windows setp one of the first screens asks if you want to delete the partition. Do that then install Windows onto the empty drive.

 

I never got that promt I don't think

 

You need to boot from the CD.

 

like use f10 and change prompt to load CD first

 

Make sure the CD drive is #1 in the boot devices.

Insert the OS CD into the drive restart, and boot from disc when prompted.

Follow the setup until it asks you where to install windows. There will be an option to delete the C:\ partition, as zazonz said. Delete it, and create a new partition.

Setup will then format the partition (30 mins or more, depends on the size of the drive), and will go through the rest of the setup. It's mostly automatic, except for some settings you have to specify.

 

If you need a guide, I have a step by step guide to formatting in our dell forums that can be applied to any laptop for the most part. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=23363

There is also the follwoing one that has pictures for a more visual guide.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

SG

 

Why do you tell him to delete the partition? I always reinstall a fresh copy of my windows in the old c:\windows folder. It just tells me it's going to overide completely the previous installation and that's it. I find it helpful if I can preserve some programs from the older windows, without intalling them again /given they work of course/. Thus the registry file, I feel, is lighter

 

thats why I was worried

why do I have to delete the partition?

this is retarded


why is there so much work involved in this???

I miss win98

 

that's not a true fresh install. if all you are doing is reinstalling the OS into an existing install without a clean sweep, your registry file actually is more predisposed to conflicts and corruption which is one of the main reasons to do a fresh install on a clean partition rather than simply uninstalling apps / running a reg cleaner.

note that you can simply reformat the existing partition without deleting / creating a partition. this will accomplish the same goal. however, since deleting / creating a parition takes all of 10 seconds, it's not that big a burden.

 

you don't have to delete the partition as long as you format the existing partition. deleting and creating a partition takes about 10 seconds so it's not that big a burden (see above post).

the work required to install a fresh copy of your OS, in my opinion, is quite minimal. you boot from the CD, make a couple choices during the install and it's done.

i would recommend running NTFS rather than fat32 for cluster size and security purposes. actually, reinstalling win98 has about the same level of complexity as reinstalling XP does.

 

ok, it worked

the only reason I was worried was because I read that it won't partition a drive over 32gb, thats a crock of bull, mine did it no problem


now on to this update stuff



8 hours later


in other words all of microsofts mistakes.....