 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reformatting without a boot disk?
 |
•
•
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 165
Reputation: 
Solved Threads: 5
Junior Poster
My friends computer is all f***** up and definitely needs reformatting (trust me) except, he doesn't have the quick restore disks. Is there any other way to reformat his computer?
He has the windows XP disk
He has the windows XP disk
•
•
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 211
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
I don't think you need a boot disk for XP - you just boot the computer with the XP CD in the drive, and it should ask you if you want to boot from the CD (it should say something like "Press any key to boot from CD..."). After that, just go to install XP as normal, and it should ask you if you want to format the hard drive prior to installing the O/S. You could probably find a more detailed explanation on www.windowsreinstall.com or something similar. I'm not sure if you are using XP Pro or Home, and I'm not sure of other elements of your system that may have an effect on what method of installation is best, so that site I mentioned will probably help you a lot as it covers most/all scenarios 
Good luck
Good luck
Since you don't have the restore disks, before you reformat, make sure you have all the drivers you will need (especailly the motherboard drivers).
Here are step by step instructions
See also the link in my sig relating to installing Windows.
See also the link in my sig relating to installing Windows.
Need to install Windows again?
Catweazle's News Desk
Search the expert answer database
'Flame free' PC games discussion.
Catweazle's News Desk
Search the expert answer database
'Flame free' PC games discussion.
•
•
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 165
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 5
Junior Poster
I forgot to mention he has two hard drives a C: and a D:
what does that change?
what does that change?
It changes nothing really- the operating system will be on the C: drive, so that's the one you want to format.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
•
•
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 211
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 3
Posting Whiz in Training
Oh yeah, as dlh6213 pointed out, make sure you get the necessary drivers! I should have mentioned that...oopsy...lol
*walks away in shame* hehe
*Stumbles back* As DMR mentioned, the extra drive won't affect anything, but when you come to format the drive you will be asked if you want to format it as a FAT32 or NTFS drive. NTFS is generally the better option
*walks away in shame* hehe
*Stumbles back* As DMR mentioned, the extra drive won't affect anything, but when you come to format the drive you will be asked if you want to format it as a FAT32 or NTFS drive. NTFS is generally the better option
•
•
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 165
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 5
Junior Poster
ok thanks (inserting more characters)
I have XP home edition and I tried to follow the links instructions for adding partitions and formatting them but it will not allow me to format or add partitions is there something I need to turn on or does xp home edition not allow this.
I have xp pro on another computer and I can do it on that computer.
I have xp pro on another computer and I can do it on that computer.
•
•
•
•
Originally Posted by bpsman
I have XP home edition and I tried to follow the links instructions for adding partitions and formatting them but it will not allow me to format or add partitions is there something I need to turn on or does xp home edition not allow this.
I have xp pro on another computer and I can do it on that computer.
|
Similar Threads
- Help Help Xp Boot Disk Error (Windows NT / 2000 / XP)
- Creating a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition (Windows tips 'n' tweaks)
- Mandrake 9.2 boot disk (*nix Hardware Configuration)
- unable to get into BIOS to change my priority boot disk!!cant reformat my computer!!! (Windows NT / 2000 / XP)
- looking for boot disk loading scsi, sata, all drivers for any hardrive (Windows NT / 2000 / XP)
- USB Boot Disk (Windows NT / 2000 / XP)
Other Threads in the Windows NT / 2000 / XP Forum
- Previous Thread: XP failure to detect second CD-ROM
- Next Thread: XP Recovery Hanging
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
You need to join our community in order to build your list of favorite forums. You can visit the forum index for a listing of all forums.
Related Forum Features
Latest Windows NT / 2000 / XP Posts
- Today's Posts
- Unanswered Threads
.net 64bit 2007 2010 a.exe activedirectory address android application appstore automatically black blue bsod bulletin canonical chinese chkdsk codeplex combofix cursor deployment deployments desktop dns domain drive dual eartlink error explorer fax fontmanagers fonts format framework freeze hardware home internet interoperability laptop laptops lcd linux login mac markshuttleworth memory microsoft minimalizes monitor motionle1600 netbooks open opensource operatingsystems options oracle osinstallationproblem osx outlook palm partition printer program proxy raid reformat remotedesktop repair replacingraiddrive retail retrieve screen security server. sharepoint simplifiedchinese sitetositevpn slowperformance sp3 spyware studios technology ubuntu uninstall update upgrade videodrivers virus vista visual vpn windows windows7 windowsxp windowsxpnotstartingup. xp xpde
