HELP! I Am Trying To Erase My Hard Drive

Windows XP Home Edition

21 posted on 12/30/2004 5:58:57 PM PST by jonboy

Uhm, how do you intend to install XP home without the disk?

22 posted on 12/30/2004 6:07:46 PM PST by Malsua

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.

23 posted on 12/30/2004 6:45:38 PM PST by Chewbacca (Where am I going? I don't know. How'll I get there? I ain't certain. All I know is I'm on my way!)

If you are a newbie then you really need to settle down and read some good articles about reformatting etc. It takes a while to absorb it all and you need the tools ( software) to make it easier.

24 posted on 12/30/2004 7:10:04 PM PST by Critical Bill

Also you will want to save serial #'s etc of all the software installs on the old HD. I recommend Belarc Advisor for that. Many times I need to know stuff I have deleted in my zeal to have a new clean zippy HD.

25 posted on 12/30/2004 7:15:52 PM PST by Critical Bill

A good tool to have is Hiren's BootCD 6.0

If enough people want it I will upload to ezyshare etc for my FReeping buddies.

26 posted on 12/30/2004 8:17:01 PM PST by Critical Bill

While I am in a Xmas mood I have 6 Gmail invites to give away. First 6 FReepers to email me get'em.

27 posted on 12/30/2004 8:23:50 PM PST by Critical Bill

Flash the BIOS using a floppy boot disk.

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.

28 posted on 12/31/2004 8:23:44 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (All I ask from livin' is to have no chains on me. All I ask from dyin' is to go naturally.)

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