Is it possible to erase everything on my hard drive except Windows XP

Question

without the CD? My computer came used and I did not get a disk.

Answer 1

Just right click on any file or folder scroll down to delete and delete them but only do it to programs you know you have installed find a good registry cleaner and use it afterward

you will have to empty recycle bin regularly

Answer 2

Not possible.

Answer 3

well.. it is possible if you do it manually.like deleting the files and your documents and using the controll panell and add/remove feature to un install the softwares that has been installed.and leave the windows folder alone.and it should be fine i think.i dont know what the purpose of this is?but if should be fine to do it manully.

Answer 4

not really....  

Answer 5

Deleting Files and folders manually or By Format method will

take much time  & energy and might be that you're deleting/formatting a windows installed Disk.

WHY DON'T YOU FORMAT ALL DRIVES AND THEN

INSTALL WINDOWS :

> purchase or create a Windows 98 Bootable disk (as other bootable disk are not so good enough)

> insert bootable disk, when you're in windows.

> Re-start system. And then Enter BIOS by pressing Esc or DEL or F1 or other related key.

> in Boot menu, shift upwards "CD Drive" or "ATAPI CD/DVD Drive" upwards by pressing related key shown in right/left side of menu.

> now goto EXIT tab. Choose Exit Saving changes.

> System will auto-restart.

> Now Bootable C.D will be run.

> Now if DOS menu appears select "Command prompt" or

   menu doesn't appear a Dos Prompt like C:\> will appear

now goto each and every drive and format it.

> Now after formatting, Remove Bootable Disk, and insert

Windows XP / Vista Setup C.D Installation C.D

> Now Re-start System by pressing Hardware restart button.

> Now Win XP / Vista Setup C.D will run, follow screen instructions

and choose "C:" drive to install Windows. Don't Choose formatting again as u've already done it.

> When Windows Setup C.D says "Restarting system..." Remove the

Setup C.D .

Hope it works !

Answer 6

caution try at your own risk!!!

right click each drive icon except windows drive(default c:\)

select format drive

follow the instructions

Answer 7

hi zach, without software you are extremely handicapped recommend that you get your own software so you can use your computer without being in trouble with your install all the time. good luck hope i was helpful to you  

Answer 8

Ah, well, yes by going through your files and deleting them.

It is a pretty long way around it usually.

Back up files you are not sure of to disk before deleting them just in case.

Have you considered switching to a Linux based system?

http://www.linux.org/

Maybe Ubuntu?

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Ubuntu is linux based and really does everything you expect windows to do. It comes with free office applications as well as media.

Best of all it is free.

All you have to be able to do is download and burn a CD image.