Re-installing a computer.

[Sim1013 1]

Hi all! I have gotten a new computer recentaly and have decide to give my old one to my grandmother who really needs a new computer!  So here's my question, how do I go about erasing everything on the old computer and re-installing the operating system?

[greyveil 37]

If you will let me know the version of the operating system you will be installing I can give you a step by step in doing this

[Praetorian Cohort 0]

Wave a magnet over the hard drive.

Stick the Windows XP cd into the drive, restart the computer, and re-install the OS from there.  It will format the hard drive.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Praetorian Cohort Wave a magnet over the hard drive.

Stick the Windows XP cd into the drive, restart the computer, and re-install the OS from there.  It will format the hard drive.quote>

 

What he said ^^^

[Sim1013 1]

The operating system is Windows XP Home Edition. The computer is a Dell Dimension 8250. 

A step by step guide would be extremely helpful!

[jacqulina 162]

all you have to do is put the disk in to the rom and the xp disk does the rest you just need to press the odd key and fill out details now and again but it is as simple as that

[greyveil 37]

jacqulina is exactly correct, put the cd in restart the machine and when it boots just tell it to reformat the drive, and then just follow what it tells you to do

[Sim1013 1]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm still not exactly clear on how to un-install My old Windows XP version.

[Praetorian Cohort 0]

You don't. When you format the drive, it will be overwritten by the fresh install.

[Sim1013 1]

When I loaded the CD by pushing F12 and opening it, the install said that it is not a good idea to have 2 operating systems on the computer. What do I need to do here?

[greyveil 37]

when you format the harddrive it will completely whip out whats there and create a fresh install

you can check out this guide at dell.com

you can check out this step by step guide at microsoft.com also

if you need any advice along the way, you can PM me

hope this helps...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you are really feeling that wonky about this, then you need a Windows 98 startup floppy.

Start from the floppy and when you get the prompt, go to FDISK and use it to delete all hard drive partitions.  You can then create a partition and low-level format it.

The XP install will think you have a naked machine, and behave accordingly.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body If you are really feeling that wonky about this, then you need a Windows 98 startup floppy.

Start from the floppy and when you get the prompt, go to FDISK and use it to delete all hard drive partitions.  You can then create a partition and low-level format it.

The XP install will think you have a naked machine, and behave accordingly.quote>

 

Thats a good idea. Iv always thought that when you let the program do the re-install it never totlay gets rid of everything on the drive.

[SamFlash 0]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Originally posted by: N_O_Body If you are really feeling that wonky about this, then you need a Windows 98 startup floppy.

Start from the floppy and when you get the prompt, go to FDISK and use it to delete all hard drive partitions.  You can then create a partition and low-level format it.

The XP install will think you have a naked machine, and behave accordingly.quote>

 

Thats a good idea. Iv always thought that when you let the program do the re-install it never totlay gets rid of everything on the drive.

quote>

 

Your correct in thinking that a re-install does not always wipe out everything on your hard drive.  A re-install only overwrites the system files and leaves your programs and data intact.  

Sim1013 - If your really paranoid about wiping out everything there are some programs that you can put on a CD or floppy and, after changing the bios to boot from the CD crive or floppy drive, will overwrite your hard drive completely making everything on it unrecoverable.  Then you can reformat and do a fresh install of WinXP Home for your grandmother.  You can Google for them.

If your not that paranoid then follow Greyveil's or Jacqulina's advice.

[Sim1013 1]

THANKS SOOOO MUCH to all of you! I did it and it turned out great! I'm going to give it to her this Saturday! Your all awesome!

[Praetorian Cohort 0]

I know.