Re: How can I completely wipe my entire system and do a fresh install

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From: Michael Stevens (mstevens_at_bogusmvps.org)
Date: 12/29/04 

Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 16:27:52 -0800

Alias wrote:
>> "Michael Stevens" <mstevens@bogusmvps.org> wrote
>>
>>> Why is that easier?
>>> It is an alternate method, but not easier.
>>>
>>> 1. Search for floppy image on web site.
>>> 2. Make floppy disk.
>>> 3. boot with floppy disk utility.
>>> 4. run utility to wipe hard drive. [Alias' note: AND partition the
>>> hard
>> drive]
>>> 5. reboot with XP CD.
>>> 6. Run setup.
>>>
>>> As opposed to
>>>
>>> 1. Boot with XP CD.
>>> 2. Run setup.
>>>
>>> Easier? 8-)
>>> --
>>> Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
>>> xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
>>> http://michaelstevenstech.com
>>> For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
>>> http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
>>
>> XP can create partitions? I didn't know that.

Yes, any size you want.

>> Can it write zeros to the
>> drive too?

Not necessary in the OP's situation. Nothing important on the hard drive to
wipe out securely.

>> Once you have the floppy made, you can use it again and you can
>> use it to check your hard drive's health, etc. Handy things to have
>> :-)

I agree, but that doesn't make it easier does it?

You boot from the CD and do a clean install.
Click on or copy and paste the link below into your web browser address bar.
How to clean install XP.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html 

-- 
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
>> --
>> Alias
>>
>> Use the Reply to Sender function of your news reader program to
>> email me.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Alias" <aka@maskedandanonymous.com> wrote in message
>>> news:33dkteF3u43h4U1@individual.net...
>>>>
>>>> "dev" <noreply@noreply.com> wrote
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:ejne4PQ7EHA.2572@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools
>>>>>> necessary to partition and format your drive.  Follow this
>>>>>> procedure and allow Windows XP to partition and format your
>>>>>> drive:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> NOTE:  It would be best to physically disconnect all your
>>>>>> peripheral hardware
>>>>>>              devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard,
>>>>>> before installing XP.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> NOTE:  If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically
>>>> disconnect
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>              EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding,
>>>>>> otherwise
>>>> your
>>>>>> main
>>>>>>              hard drive may not be assigned the customary C:
>>>>>> drive
>>>> letter.
>>>>>>              After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect
>>>>>> it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1.    Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable
>>>> device".
>>>>>>
>>>>>>       ===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
>>>>>>       ===>
>>>>>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2.    Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your
>>>> computer.
>>>>>> 3.    You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the
>>>> instructions.
>>>>>> 4.    The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete
>>>>>> all
>>>> the
>>>>>> existing
>>>>>>       Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then
>>>>>> format
>> the
>>>>>> primary
>>>>>>       partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows
>>>>>> XP.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 5.    Clean Install Windows XP
>>>>>>        http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thankyou for that info, the bit I got stuck on last time was the
>>>>> bit
>>>> where
>>>>> it asked you if you want to delete this or that partition,
>>>>> I chose not to delete so I ended up with several instances of
>> Windows..
>>>>
>>>> Here's an easier way:
>>>>
>>>> Find out what the brand name of your hard drive is.
>>>>
>>>> Go to the hard drive's manufacturer's web site and download the
>>>> FLOPPY, not
>>>> CD, utilities to format and partition your hard drive.
>>>>
>>>> Once you have the floppy or floppies (some HDs have two floppies),
>>>> stick it
>>>> in the floppy drive and  boot up.
>>>>
>>>> Follow the instructions after the HD program loads.
>>>>
>>>> Once you've formatted (a quick format should suffice) and
>>>> partitioned
>> your
>>>> hard drive, go into the BIOS and set your CDROM as the first to
>>>> boot.
>>>>
>>>> Put the XP CD in your CDROM.
>>>>
>>>> Reboot and install XP.
>>>>
>>>> Go into safe mode and do a clean up/chkdsk/defrag.
>>>>
>>>> Boot back into normal mode.
>>>>
>>>> Reboot into the BIOS and change your boot order back to the way it
>>>> was.
>>>>
>>>> Go back to Normal Mode and install SP2 from a CD.
>>>>
>>>> Go into safe mode and do a clean up/chkdsk/defrag.
>>>>
>>>> Install your programs and go into safe mode and do a clean
>>>> up/chkdsk/defrag
>>>> after each installation if big and after three or four if the
>>>> programs
>> are
>>>> small.
>>>>
>>>> Install your devices like your printer, camera, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Enjoy.
>>>> --
>>>> Alias
>>>>
>>>> Use the Reply to Sender function of your news reader program to
>>>> email
>> me.

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