dv4000 clean windows xp install!

I'd like to get a clean install of Windows xp. I have a dv4000.
I was wondering if someone please could help me with that?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=23363
I found this on the Dell furum and I was wondering if I actually can use those directions?
If I can, I have a few questions.


On point #4 they say ''Get the most important drivers --- see Drivers for more information''
what drivers ate those for a dv4000/x700?
And how do I do that? Before I reformat the harddrive or after?

Also, what partition should i choose?

Do I choose NTFS or fat32?
anything else I should think about?

If I can't use those dell directions can someone please give me directions

I really appreciate this forum and all of you helping out. Thanks in advance

 

You want to use the large partition - the small one is the Linux partition with the QuickPlay stuff on it.

You can actually get away with just the two discs that came with your dv4000 - one is Windows XP and one is the drivers. You don't need to copy anything off of your computer. Just reformat that large partition and put in your XP disc.

Make sure you run Microsoft Update afterward, and for drivers you can go to HP's support site and get updates for any that aren't on your disc.

 

When I'm done with formatting the harddrive and I have installed windows xp, do I put in the driver cd, will it all install by itself?Or how do I intall the drivers? I've never done it before. Oh, and do I need to install any ATI drivers or is that also on the drivers disc?

 

You format JUST THE LARGE PARTITION, not the whole disk. If you format the whole hard disk, you'll lose your QuickPlay partition.

Put in the Windows XP disc and install that, and when you get to the first boot it will start asking for drivers. That's when you put in the drivers disc. It should install most of what you need for you; anything it doesn't, HP's support site has a software update link that will scan your system and find out what drivers you need.

You may have to install the ATI drivers off the disc manually, but finish the Windows install and the online updates first. That might take care if it for you - it did for me.

 

this is what i did for my partitions. for my c: drive i used fat32. just in case my windows does crash i can always boot to dos and back my stuff out. dos only recognizes fat32. ntfs then you wont have much luck.

bigger drivers are better with ntfs because its more secure and faster i believe. i read it somewhere but i forgot.

be sure you back up all your driver softwares before you format. laptops are a bit different than pcs so you have to install some stuff separately.

 

so should I use fat32 or Ntfs?Slappy, what did you use?
Also, this is how I understand it, I reformat my harddrive(I basically follow the dell instructions) when that is done I use the windows xp cd and install it. Then, I use the drivers cd to install most of th needed drivers. I go to HP, see if I need to install more drivers. I run windows update and install everything they say I need. I'm just concerned about drivers that won't get installed like sound and video drivers.
What do I do if I need to install ati drivers/
Anything I missed or should be aware about?

 

I use NTFS for security, but I also back everything up to an external hard-drive. If you don't have an external back-up for your important files (documents, pictures you don't want to lose...) like an external HD or a USB memory key, then Tiger's fat32 suggestion is the way to go.

Again, I'm leary of your statement that you "reformat the hard drive" because you don't want to reformat the whole thing. Just the large partition; leave the small partition with the Linux QuickPlay alone, or else you won't have that functionality anymore.

If you need to install the ATI drivers, just run them from the driver disc that HP included.

Do you know somebody who has experience with setting up an O.S.? If so, it might be helpful to have her/him there to walk you through it.

 

ok I think I understand everything now. Thanks again for all your help Slappy and azn.

Just one thing, how will I know which partition is the largest partition?

 

When you're formatting, it will tell you how many megs/gigs each partition is. Choose the big one to format.

 

Any indication of whether all of this was fine for the dv4000? I get mine on Wednesday and would like to get rid of all the crap that comes installed on it. Also what would the original formatting be? fat32 or ntfs??

 

Boydy, right when I recieved my dv4000 I put in my own xp pro disk formatted the large partition just like they said and left the small partition for the quickplay. After windows was installed I ran windows update about 5 times until I had everything from that then put in the Hp driver disk. Then you choose custom install or something where you choose what to install. Only install what you need and don't do most of the things that say HP like hp support and such. And yes it works very well and then you won't have all that junk that they pre-install.

 

Hi.It all worked out great.
My dv4000 is awesome