How do I format my HD

I have a Compaq Presario (sr1020nx). I would like to know how to format the hard drive and reload my XP operating system.

 

You may be able to just do a factory reset with the recovery partition if it has one. See Recovering during Startup
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...45/loc:2&cc=us&dlc=&lc=en&product=403789#N286

 

It`s usually a case of having the xp operating system disc, and inserting that into the disc drive and then going into boot mode when the laptop starts to load(there`ll be some white words on the bottom left corner of the screen for the button you should press it`s F8 usually), and then selecting boot from DVD/cd drive.Then turn off the laptop and then turn it on again and it`ll load from the disc, you then just follow the introductions.
NOTE:But before you do all this make sure you have the product key to the Xp Disc, as you`ll need it, also backup the documents and stuff you don`t want to loose.

 

If it is the restore disc, it will auto-format. If it is a cd from Microsoft, it will ask you which partition you wish to format, or load on available space.

 

The restore partion is corrupted. We tried this several months back. The restore disks I made when we first got the PC are also corrupted. I have the XP disk and the key.

 

Again, when you run the XP cd, it will ask you how you wish to install the OS. Pick your poison at that point, by either using free space, or formating the whole drive. As for the restore partition being corrupted, that only means that the drive may be fubar possible.

 

Why do you want to reinstall the OS? Is it failing to boot?

If you want to just reinstall the OS and leave your own files intact you can give that a try. If you are able to boot into windows, back up any files you wish to keep, in case the repair fails. Then boot up with the XP disk. When the Disk boots up to the XP install screen, you will see this message: Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver. If you are using a Windows XP disk with at least SP2, this step is probably not necessary - based on the age of your computer it should be at least SP2.

On the screen indicated here, select Press enter to Set up Windows XP now. Do not select the Recovery Console option. Press F8 on the next screen if you agree with the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.

The next screen should give you the option to Repair an existing XP installation, or do a complete re-install. You want to try to repair it, so Press R. Just follow the prompts from there.

This way any files you have on the computer should still be there (photos, documents, etc). You will need to go to Microsoft update and reinstall all the security and operating system updates that have come out since your version of XP was issued. I've done several repair installs of XP Pro and never had an issue with it - though some people have reported problems.

 

The system will boot, but always does the checkdisk thing. When we tried to restore the HD after the last crash, the restore failed and left duplicates of some of the programs. I get numerous errors when the system does run, that programs are already running when I try to start them, yet I can't see them running on the system. Also, the device just hangs. I can be on the internet, or working on family photos, it just stops. I have to reboot to get it to run and then the whole checkdisk thing again. Basically, I want to wipe the thing clean and start from scratch. All the photos have been downloaded, and there are no programs on the deivce that need to be saved.

 

In that case a full reinstall sounds like your best bet.

The only thing I would suggest is to go to the manufacturer's website and download the drivers offered there for that model computer and save them to a CD or a USB drive. While XP setup will usually recognize the hardware and install appropriate drivers for you, sometimes it can't - most often I have found audio and NIC drivers to be a problem.

I hope you get it squared away

 

In that case, the drive is failing. Doing a reinstall is not going to fix the hard drive. Replace it, reinstall the OS. And with XP no longer being supported, move to 7, run the XP VM if you have some old legacy gear that you can not ditch.

 

I have been told that XP Pro will be supported for two more years. After support ends, it will still be useful for years. I expect there will still be a lot of users a decade from now.

It sounds like the OP, when the system hangs, is shutting down the computer by holding down the power button. If so, checkdisc will always occur during the following boot up.

I have not used ALT/CNTL/Delete in a long time, so don't remember if that also causes checkdisc to run.

 

:confused Ummm, not necessarily. Besides, the OP inquired on how to format his hard drive and re-install XP. If that fails, then some diagnostics on the hardware are in order at that time. Suggesting purchasing new hard drives and another operating system is a tad-bit premature at this juncture, in my opinion . . .

 

Not premature. He is getting errors, and the drive is corrupted in all partitions. Only two things that can cause that. A drive going bad, or a failing Master Boot Record, due to a drive going bad. No jumping too quick on this one. Been there, done that.

 

I've been there and done that also. Many times. Sometimes the drive was bad . . . but sometimes it wasn't. Other events can cause corruption of the MBR and partitions besides a failing drive, such as virus activity, mal-ware, and poorly written software. I have rebuilt and refurbished many older computers, and know for a fact that often an attempted recovery from a factory restore partition fails.

The OP has simply not provided enough data for anyone to make the determination his hard drive is failing. We have no idea what kind of software he was running, nor what kind of anti-virus, etc. was or was not protecting his system. I am not saying you are wrong - you could very well be right. I am saying you are making a premature diagnosis. Suggesting the OP shell out money for a hard drive at this stage is unwarranted till the success or failure of the attempt to reinstall the operating system is known, assuming he posts back with the results.

However, your suggestion that XP is no longer a supported OS was in error, as Microsoft is going to provide security updates till 2014. At any rate, suggesting he shell out more money on another operating system is beyond the scope of the OPs original post.