Want to start clean

[hikermann]

Please / Thanks: I want to clear my harddrive and start fresh; how does one do that? Have existing partitions (C:\programs, etc.; D:\all data files); know how to reload WINXP Home from my disk and other programs, but don't want to replace or overwrite XP again.

Any direction(s) much appreciated.

 

[rclarke250]

If you want to delete everything on the drive, and start fresh, backup all of the data you want to save, pictures,txt files,movies,downloaded applications, and save it either on dvd, or if you have one, or can get one, and external hard drive. After that is done, and you better be sure you want to do this, because recovering is very difficult after this is done. Boot the windows xp install media, and when it asks where you want to install the OS to. Go to advanced, and then delete the partition, or both of them, if you want to erase D: also. Then either create a partition for C: and leave space to create a D: partition after windows is installed, or just let windows choose the size of the drive, it will create a single drive of the largest partition it can. Then you can have the fun of installing all of your drivers and programs, and recovering your saved data, setting up email, and network again.

 

[strongm]

>I want to clear my harddrive and start fresh
>don't want to replace or overwrite XP

I'm confused ...

 

[mscallisto]

It sounds like the original poster would like to clean the HD of everything except XP which I believe is near impossible since XP has initiated so many updates/downloads/registry settings ETC over the years.

The best method IMHO is to follow rclarke250's advice just as posted, especially if any partition changes are needed.

I believe I read somewhere in this forum, a way to load XP from CD then perform all of the updates at once as opposed to the cumbersome one at a time.

Good Luck

Sam

 

[strongm]

>which I believe is near impossible

My point exactly

 

[hairlessupportmonkey]

I read the OPs post about ten times just after he posted, then lost the will to live.

You have your answer from rclarke250. Let us know how you get on!

ACSS - SME
General Geek

 

[hikermann]

Thanks for your replies. Cleaned everything off, reinstalled WINXP in its partition; only issue now is that in WinExplorer the C: and D: drives are listed as ("Local Disk) C:" and "(Local Disk) D:" -- the partitions are right, but I can't figure out how to get rid of the (Local Disk) designation, which negates all my macros specifying "D:"; any direction about how to delete that? Much appreciated.

 

[strongm]

>the (Local Disk) designation, which negates all my macros specifying "D:";

Er, that's just a display name, it isn't the actual name of the drive, so should not affect macros at all.

 

[hikermann]

OP here: job done a while ago and life has moved on ... thanks for answers.