How can I format my PC....?

Question

hey, can anyone tell me the steps of formatting a PC. I got my XP CD.

Answer 1

if you are dumping it then delete the partition when you dump it  have the cd create a new partition and go from there  

Answer 2

Assuming you've made backup copies of your PC data files (documents, music, video, photos etc), you'll need set the BIOS to attempt to boot from the CD drive before it boots the C drive. To access the BIOS settings you usually have to press a button on the keyboard (usually the delete button) as soon as you start your PC (best thing to do is to press and hold down the button until the BIOS settings pop up). Use your motherboard manual to navigate to the relevant settings if you're unfamiliar with the BIOS. Once you've made the the PC seek to boot the Cd drive first, you just need to put the Xp CD in the tray and restart the machine. It should boot from the CD and display the windows setup. From there you can select to install or reinstall XP as well as to format the whole drive or partition prior to beginning the installation.

Answer 3

If you want to take the PC back to FACTORY SPECS, I'd first contact the manufacturer and request a recovery console.  Most companies will be glad to send you one, depending on the warranty, for a nominal fee.  If you're just reformatting the hard drive then drop into a DOS shell and type FORMAT driveletter:/U (for unconditional formatting).  This erases EVERYTHING, so you may also need to do a SYS to transfer the boot sector (IO.COM and BIOS.COM hidden files, and COMMAND.COM) or add the /S option to the format as well (FORMAT /S /U).  This assumes, of course that the PARTITIONS are still intact. ;)

Answer 4

boot with the xp cd

as opposed to running it from within windows

early on it should give you the option of formatting the disk

if you remove the partitions within xp install setup it will then create the partition and format it

if not

boot from windows 98 boot disk -  

www.bootdisk.com

at the prompt  type fdisk

if not go to maker of the drive

they will have tools to format drive

if really desperate use a product called killdisk

www.killdisk.com

they have a free version

it will write ones and zeros to the drives wiping it out fully

it will take a lot of time

then reinstall windows fresh

Answer 5

formatting PC is very simple (and it depends on ur needs). If u need to just format whole PC and install a fresh copy of XP and nothing else. Put the XP cd in the tray and reboot PC from CD.

                   To boot from CD there is boot option in BIOS, set it to boot from CD.

    --------------->After booting u get XP installation wizard. Follow the instruction on the screen up to partition menu.  

  

    ---------------->Here u decide whether to keep the existing partition or delete them. Every step by step instruction is there.

    ---------------->Give it try ur self only them u know the easiness of the procedure. If any mistake happen nothing will happened to ur PC. So give it a try and experience ur self. It is very easy....

Answer 6

put the cd of xp and restart your computer press esc continuously and select boot from cd rom and the setup will continue then a format something will come format your partion and make how many partions select partion where you want  and wait 1 hour till the setup will continue its self in between it will ask the cd key and the time

believe me i have format it!!!!!

want more information here is my id [e-mail]

Answer 7

Restart your computer. Make sure to put the CD.

Press DEL repeatedly as soon as u start the PC.

BIOS should pop-up.

Now change the set ur CD drive as ur first boot priority.

Now restart from BIOS.

It should say 'Press any key to boot from CD'

Windows XP setup will load.

Then follow the instructions, delete all partitions if u want.

Create partitions if u want and select a partition to install XP into.

All this is very easy, dont think its tough.

Format the partition if u want, and install XP.

Then, when computer automaticaly restarts, press DEL again repeatedly.

In BIOS restore the default settings.

restart and you're done!

Answer 8

Right click on C:/ and select format... I think thats what you wanted to know.