Reformatting my HD...steps/tips?

Okay so basically when I get back from Europe, ive decided that I am going to completely erase my HD (after I sync it to my external HD of course).

So basically all I have to do is erase everything and resync it right?

After I back it up, how do I totally erase everything? Dont you have to like hit a F button or something while windows is loading or something?

Also, any other tips from you people that have done this before? Ive only did it once to my parents computer when they had a nasty virus but I forgot how to do it. Thanks yall!

Just pop in a XP disc and format it and reinstall windows ;)

Basically, after you back up all the information you want to save, reboot your computer with the Windows disc in the drive. When booting, you need to enter the setup (on mine it is F10, I think), and select "Boot from CD". Then follow the directions to reformat/reinstall Windows.

Also, one thing I generally recommend is to create a separate partition on your HD to install windows. That way, if it crashes in the future all your data should be safe on the larger, separate partition.

[quotea8018e76f0="moviemadnessman"]Basically, after you back up all the information you want to save, reboot your computer with the Windows disc in the drive. When booting, you need to enter the setup (on mine it is F10, I think), and select "Boot from CD". Then follow the directions to reformat/reinstall Windows.

Also, one thing I generally recommend is to create a separate partition on your HD to install windows. That way, if it crashes in the future all your data should be safe on the larger, separate partition.[/quotea8018e76f0]

How do you create a seperate partition...and i hope that I have my windows CD!!! shock shock

When booting from the disc, it should be one of the options you can select before reinstalling Windows. It will ask you where you want to install it, and you should be able to create a new partition at that point.

I wrote a tutorial before. Lemme search for it...

Here it is!

http//forum.freeipodguide.com/viewtopic.php?p=475479#475479

[quote43dc4d498d="TFOAF"]I wrote a tutorial before. Lemme search for it...

Here it is!

http//forum.freeipodguide.com/viewtopic.php?p=475479#475479[/quote43dc4d498d]

thanks yall!

Oh, it's XP, right?

OKay now i couldnt find MY XP disc but I have my roomates disc (XP Professional).

If i follow the normal steps to reformat my HD, will I run into any problems using a different Xp disc besides my own?

[quotee297d80e1c="zr2152"]OKay now i couldnt find MY XP disc but I have my roomates disc (XP Professional).

If i follow the normal steps to reformat my HD, will I run into any problems using a different Xp disc besides my own?[/quotee297d80e1c]

You will go to jail


heh, use any disc you want.

[quote904bfc86e3="O4F-Manofice"][quote904bfc86e3="zr2152"]OKay now i couldnt find MY XP disc but I have my roomates disc (XP Professional).

If i follow the normal steps to reformat my HD, will I run into any problems using a different Xp disc besides my own?[/quote904bfc86e3]

You will go to jail


heh, use any disc you want.[/quote904bfc86e3]


haha i meant like formating problems and/or restoring the settings that I have on my external.

[quote49f8676ce1="zr2152"][quote49f8676ce1="O4F-Manofice"][quote49f8676ce1="zr2152"]OKay now i couldnt find MY XP disc but I have my roomates disc (XP Professional).

If i follow the normal steps to reformat my HD, will I run into any problems using a different Xp disc besides my own?[/quote49f8676ce1]

You will go to jail


heh, use any disc you want.[/quote49f8676ce1]


haha i meant like formating problems and/or restoring the settings that I have on my external.[/quote49f8676ce1]

You can use any XP disc to format your pc

Well, the answer isn't quite that simple. There are multiple types of XP media, including but probably not limited to

- Full Retail
- Upgrade Retail
- OEM Bundled
- OEM Retail
- Volume Licensed

If you both have the same type of XP disc you'll be fine with his media, just use your CD-key.

However if one of you has a retail copy, for example, and the other an OEM or VLK copy, then they probably won't accept each others' keys. It just depends really. Some OEM's actually include retail copies that can be activated with a retail key. Other OEM's only work with an "OEM key" and still other OEM versions will only install on the system it was included with (or the same brand).