Posted on 12/30/2004 5:02:15 PM PST by jonboy
I am trying to erase my hard drive and start over. I have done nothing but transfer one hard drive's info to the next for the last 8 years and now have an opportunity to wipe it clean and start all over. I have backed up the files that I needed to. My problem is that I have Windows XP and cannot get to a DOS prompt. Plus I cannot change my BIOS settings for some reason to boot from disk. If anyone can help me I would be most appreciative.
Windows XP Home Edition
Uhm, how do you intend to install XP home without the disk?
The first thing you need to do before installing Windows XP Home Edition is the following:
Find the make and model of your motherboard.
Check the manufacturer to see if there is an update for the BIOS for that board. Also check for the latest drivers for your video card and save them to a disk.
Flash the BIOS using a floppy boot disk.
Turn off computer and erase the CMOS.
Turn on computer and go into the BIOS by hitting DEL key.
Then set the boot up to BOOT FROM CD-ROM and Save the settings and exit.
Insert Windows XP Home installation disk.
It should start up and take you through the setup program.
Erase the current Partition on the hard drive, then create a new partition and format it with a Quick or Full format (I usually use a full format).
(*I usually set the Windows XP OS on a 30 Gig partition. I also create a seperate partition for my other programs I load like games and pictures as that way you can always defrag it easier and/or reformat only the first partition and leave all the other saved files alone.) I have a 250Gig HD.
If enough people want it I will upload to ezyshare etc for my FReeping buddies.
I would not direct someone who has never formatted a drive to flash their BIOS. Down that road lies danger.
It is always better to replace the whole BIOS chip instead of flashing if a BIOS upgrade is warranted.
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