Windows XP - get to Cmd prompt before Win XP loads to wipe h

Answer Best answer as chosen by user Boop01810

Re: wiping disk

by Kees_B - 3/25/12 8:06 AM

In Reply to: Windows XP - get to Cmd prompt before Win XP loads to wipe h by Boop01810

You can't wipe a disk while Windows is active. So you need to boot from either a cd or a USB-stick.

For wiping we recommend DBAN. You can download an .iso file that you burn to CD (using imgburn, for example), but http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-dban-to-a-usb-flash-drive-using-windows/ tells how to make a bootable USB-stick from it.

If that doesn't work, see if you can replace the CD-drive by one that does boot, or use a USB-connected external drive.

Kees

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Booting from an external drive

by Boop01810 - 4/1/12 1:04 PM

In Reply to: Re: wiping disk by Kees_B

Thanks for your reply.

I have backed up[ my complete Windows XP System onto an external drive. Question: How do I get Windows to boot from the external drive, rather than the internal drive, so that I can wipe the internal drive?

I very much appreciate your help and guidance. thanks in advance. - Betty

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You can't.

by R. Proffitt - 4/1/12 4:59 PM

In Reply to: Booting from an external drive by Boop01810

"Question: How do I get Windows to boot from the external drive, rather than the internal drive, so that I can wipe the internal drive?"

Sorry but once Windows starts, it's game over. This is why I'll boot the machine to the other drive. That is usally a BIOS setting.
Bob