Reinstall XP Pro

[RyanGlas]

This is a very embarrasing question for me to ask. I would like to wipe out all the data on my PC and reinstall XP Pro so I can have a fresh start on my PC. Any sugestions on how to go about this process.
Thank you,
Ryan

 

[bcastner]

Boot with your XP CD and refuse any recovery, repair or upgrade option. You can elect to format the drive.

If you only have a recovery disk from your manufacturer, that does a pretty effective job of re-creating your machine as new.

Before taking this step you may want to do a little research on the XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. See if there are any settings you would like to keep. It can be selective.

If you have downloaded driver or firmware updates in the past for your devices, make sure you make a copy of the original files you downloaded, (not the drivers themselves, the whole package) so as not to have to go through that process again. If you did not keep the files, you may want to look in Date Modified Sorted order:
c:\windows
c:\windows\system
c:\windows\system32
c:\windows\system32\drivers

See if there is anything there that rings a bell and write it down on a list so that you can go to the manufacturer's Web Sites and renew your driver and firmware files. It helps when doing this to turn "baloon tips" back on if you have it off.

I make a point to backup my hal.dll file. This is a hidden system file in c:\windows\system32 that among other things determines whether your system license has been activated. After XP is installed, from safe mode, rename the new hal.dll hal_old, and copy back your saved version.

Best of luck.

 

[smah]

Assuming that you have backups of any important files and a real xp pro cd (not an OEM restore disc)... Just put the xp cd in the drive and reboot. When the computer starts, enter the bios and make sure that your CD rom is set to be the first boot device. Exit the bios and let your computer boot from the cd (you may have to hit a key if prompted to boot from the cd). Start the xp installation and when prompted, delete the existing partition on the hard drive. The installation will do the rest.

 

[RyanGlas]

Sounds good. thank you so much to the both of you for the helpful advice!! Just one more question... How do I make sure that my PC will boot from the CD?

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

Both already answered that.. Boot into BIOS and make sure the 1st boot device is the cd-rom. That's all there is to it..

BTW, this won't work if you are using a bootlegged (pirated) version of XP.. If you are, then you are on your own as no one here will help you.

Murray

 

[RyanGlas]

No worries there. I should be able to use the XP CD that came with my computer correct?

 

[smah]

Yes, as long as you have a MS XP cd with the hologram and the corresponding product key which may be stuck on your case or in the package with the cd.

 

[RyanGlas]

Everything is working now. Install a sucess. Thank you everyone!!!

 

[smah]

That was a very fast installation. Is this one of the machines mentioned in your other thread? Glad you got it working.