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

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.

I forgot to mention he has two hard drives a C: and a D:
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.

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

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.

bpsman, you should ask this question in the thread you already have going, not in someone else's.