Windows XP forum: How do I delete my operating system?

New/Clean Install/Re-Install



1=Set Bios to boot from CD/ROM as first boot device
2=Place the OS/CD in the CD/ROM drive and Re-Boot
3=Watch for the prompt to "press any key to boot from CD/ROM" Press ASAP(Ignore when prompt appears on any reboot)
(You will only get this prompt if there is an XP/OS installed on the HDD)
4=windows Setup (Loads Files)
5=To setup XP now press "enter"
6=Press F8 for license
7=To continue installing a fresh copy of windows without repairing press "ESC"
8=For a new or unpartitioned drive press"C"
9=For a drive that has partitions, operating system or any data on it, you should press "D" to delete the partition and start out with a clean drive.
10=Press "enter"
11=You will be prompted again, press "L"(You will do this for each partition) , Now you are ready to partition and format
12=Press "C"
13=To create a new partition, enter a size below and press "Enter" (Note=You can create more than one partition here or press "Enter" to utilize the entire drive
14=To setup windows on the selected partition press "enter"
15=Select format NTFS with quick option, (Should be the top selection)
16=Press "enter'
17=Wait for format to complete
18=Computer will start copying files to the installation folders (this may take several minutes)
19=Computer will re-boot, do not press any key to boot from CD/ROM when prompted.
20=follow the on-screen instructions to complete loading windows.

Hi , I am very new(newbie) at computers and retired as well. My question of you is off topic, quite often I see people refer to bios settings and to read or change them. How does one get into the bios screen?
I'm having an unrelated problem with ram and was told to change some bios settings, but I don't know how to get to the bios section??

in his profile.

What you can do, using search, is in one of his most recent posts, Just advise him/her about enabling email in his/her profile.

In the same message you can make your comment. Then that thread will pop up to the top of the first page of that forum, and it might be read by the person.

Many people simply don't take time to update their profile, may be afraid that someone will get their email address [which they won't] and don't know that they can limit the numbers of emails that they will accept in a month.

That is what I needed to know. Things like this are easy for people involved with computers, but being new how does one learn? But this is off topic and I will shut up for now, on this string at least.

1.In Windows XP: Plug in a flash drive or external hard drive (or a floppy disk if you really want to). If you want, you can also use a blank CD-R , as long as you have a CD burner(CD-R/CD-RW).

2. Open the My Documents folder, as well as any other folders that you have files stored in. Open My Computer, and find the HDD, floppy, or flash drive you want to use. If it's a CD, then double-click it to get to a blank burning folder; XP can burn CDs.

3. Drag and drop all files into the folder from My Computer.

4. Click Start>Programs and make a list of all programs you have installed.

5. Make sure you have the driver install CDs handy, they should have come with the computer.

6. Insert your legit XP disk. Restart the computer.

7. When the DELL(tm) logo appears, start hitting the F2 key repeatedly until the Dell screen disapears and a screen like this one appears: (pic here http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pblan/b1.jpg).

8. Push the arrow keys to get to the Boot menu. Press the indicated keys to move the CD drive to the top, then the HDD. (pic here http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pblan/b5.jpg)

9. Push F10 to save changes and exit the BIOS.

10. When the "Press any key to boot from CD..." message appears, press any key (or just whack the keyboard like I do, as it'll hit a few random keys).

11. Once your computer gets to the screen "Welcome to setup" press ENTER.

12. Look at the license agreement and push F8 if you agree.

13. You should now be at a step for partitioning. Push D to delete the partition, the L to confirm. Then push C to create a new one. Push Enter. Choose to format with NTFS (Quick) and push enter.

14. Wait a while. Your computer will format the Hard drive, copy files, and then restart. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears, DON'T PRESS ANY KEY. The computer will say "Microsoft Windows XP" like the startup screen.

15. The computer will now boot into the second part of second. Here you have the graphical interface and mouse. Follow the steps, they're pretty obvious. For the TCP/IP networking one, leave it at the default. Know that your computer's name CANNOT be the same as the user account's name.

16.For the workgroup or domain, leave it at the default workgroup unless you're sure of what you want it to be. this can be changed later if necessary.

17.Your computer will restart.

18. If asked about screen resolution, click Ok, the ok again.

19. Finish the rest, then click Finish.

(pics http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx )



20. Restart the computer. Press F2 to enter the BIOS as I said earlier, go to the boot menu, and set the HDD to be the first boot device. Remove the XP CD. Press F10 to save and exit.

21. You computer should load XP. Login.

22. Insert the driver CD, and install drivers as indicated here: (http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pblan/driver2k.htm)

23. Plugin the flash drive, external HDD, floppy(s), or CD that you used earlier for your data. Open My computer, or use autoplay if it comes up to get to the drive. Copy all of your files back to the places they were like My Documents.

24. Look at your list of programs that you made, and download or install them from the CDs.

You should now be finished reinstalling Microsoft Windows XP!

I did this and now I have 3 operating systems on my computer. Can anyone help on what to do, all I wanted to do was do a clean install and now I do not know what is going on HELP!!!

when the setup prompts you for partitioning, MAKE SURE TO DELETE ALL PARTITIONS AND THEN CREATE ONE NEW ONE (NTFS quick or FAT quick) RATHER THAN LEAVING THE EXISTING PARTITIONS OR INSTALLING OVER ANOTHER PARTITION!!! It is critical that you do so to make sure you do not end up with multiple Operating System Installs on the computer!

Hi My name is Mystique. I didn't realize it I had two Operating Systems on my hard drive. I though I had deleted XP, and I upgraded Vista. How can I deleted my XP?

There is a useful utility called KillDisk which you can download to a floppy which, which automatically runs on boot-up and wipes everything off you drive. The change bott-up to run from CD and install your new XPpro and then spend ages downloading/installing Microsoft's security and SP2.

LSASS.EXE is an XP porogram, so no problem there.

This is what I have for my XP Pro:
Version Number: 5.1.2600.2180
Description: LSA Shell (Export Version)
Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Simplest method is just re-install from CD Rom Boot because it will ask you if you wish to replace the operating system. Try this 1st.

If XP won't re-install the new CD, then next step is needed.

This step is much harder:
Do you know how to move around in the registry? If so, you could look for the key number & change it to the new disk key #.

Look at the System Properties General Tab for the Registered To: # under your name.
Copy this & search the registry for it with regedit. When regedit opens, click on edit > find > (paste in the #) & hit enter.
You will see ProductID > # is to the right on same line.
Right mouse click on ProductID & click on Modify. Delete this field & close regedit.
Re-start & boot to XP CD & re-install XP.

You should not have a problem.

You don't have to wipe your drive unless you want to.

Posting to someone else's discussion on page 2 is likely to go unnoticed.

Bob