Reformatting is easy... is it?

When i installed WinXP Pro on my computer (previously used Win98), i chose the "clean install" option ~ or something like that, not the "upgrade" option. It didn't really do a clean install as there were a lot of files left over in my Program files folder and things like that. Now i am having some little issues and i want to just reformat and do a nice clean install.

So, do i just go to a dos prompt, type format:c, and when it does it's business, i just pop in my XP cd-rom? Then it takes care of the rest? Or do i need to install something else first? how will it know to use my cd-rom, and will the drive even work, since the drivers will presumably have been erased?


any help is appreciated.

 

You can do this if you started the computer with a start up disk, but you can boot the computer with the WinXP CD and then it will bring up a screen showing your partitions and you can have it do the format for you, and then continue with the clean install

Remember: EVERYTHING ON THE DISK WILL BE DESTROYED!
Some people forget that little part, so make sure you have a backup of anything you want to save

 

Ok, cool, thanks. Yes, i backed everything up and indeed i want everything destroyed. i don't need to know anything about partitioning, do i? Windows does all the work? i am best at just clicking "next".

For the record i only have a 10 gig HardDrive, so it isnt like i need any fancy partitions.


Also mine is currently FAT-32, but my freind says NTFS is better, is this true?

 

with 10 GB... just one partition so Yes, the install will take care of it.
NTFS is more secure and more organized. and it fragments less.....

 

ummm...depending on how new your xp cd is, you may have a problem using your xp cd as a boot disk. it may say that this program cannot be run in dos mode. if it does, then you'll have to download xp boot disks from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310994.

 

thanks everyone!

 

thanks everyone!

 

agreed and true if just using win xp format, files can be recovered thru some data recovery software or program easily. But if low level format using boot harddrive utility on floppy and perform low level format to wipe out every clusters on harddrive, rewrite the harddrive to zeros. then data recovery software or program would be useless. so far, I know maxtor and western digital has this kind of utility.

 

LMAO

 

True, but for the home user just starting over with the XP format is just fine...

Agreed that if selling your drive on e-bay or Agent Smith is coming to your cubicle, then a low level is the way to go.