Windows Xp, Reformatting Hard Drive

[keestha]

One of my computers, which is running on Win XP, needs to be reformatted. When this computer is used, continuously all kinds of error messages pop up.

I reformatted computers running on Win 98 or ME many times, going into MS DOS and using the command line format c:/u. With XP this doesn't seem to work. Using the command line format/? produces the advice that the volume label has to be added to the command line, but I have no idea how to find the volume label.

I also tried pressing delete when the computer started up, in order to go into advanced settings and put in the original Win XP CD as the first boot device. As first boot device is listed LITE-ON CD-ROM LTN-, starting up with the Win XP CD in the CD ROM drive does not make any difference though.

I know that sometimes a start up floppy disc can come in useful for reformatting, but with Win XP it doesn't seem so easy to make a start up disk.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Mid]

2. Reformat the Hard Drive and Re-install the Operating System

Reformatting a disk prepares it to accept a new operating system. It also wipes out everything on the hard drive. That's your goal.

Past versions of Windows (through Windows ME) allow you to create a start-up disk. You'll need one to reformat your hard drive. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Click Start-up Disk. Click Create Disk.

On Windows XP, you'll need to download the disk information. Go to BootDisk.com and click "DOS — Windows 9X/NT4/2000/XP Excellent Bootdisks." Download the Windows XP Custom Install Disk and save it to a floppy.

On all systems, shut down all open programs. Restart the computer with the floppy in the A: drive. At the A: prompt, type Format: C. Answer "yes" to the warning; you want to wipe out all the data. When the reformat finishes, put the Windows installation CD in the CD drive and remove the floppy. Restart and re-install Windows.

Reformatting will keep most people out of your old files. But specialised shareware exists to reclaim files after reformatting. If you do not know who will get the computer — or you do know and you don't trust them — stronger measures are required.

microsoft.com

[RKASA]

Did you maybe get two cd's with your PC one which is restore and repair the other applications and drivers. Some only come with OS cd and some with nothing at all. If you did power down with the cd tray open put the restore and repair cd in and power up. it will give you the option to repair the installation or replace it and will format the drive when doing so. Should be a step by step instruction with the PC doc's, but you can find that at the manufactures web site each manufacture has little differances in things like the f key which gets you into set up stuff so use the one for your PC model, most are downloadable in pdf format. At any rate it should cover a reinstall for your PC brand and model. Hope you have backed up any files you want to keep because they will be gone after the set up and you will have to download all the updates which last time I did it ran 80mb. Would be a good idea to make a check list and have your ducks lined up before starting it sounds hard but if you get ready first it goes pretty well.