formatting XP ??

[macojoe]

I loaded SP2 and my computer is now all messed up!!

I had to uninstall SP2 just to get it to allow the XP disk to work.

Well I then reloaded the machine with a new install, but all my old stuff is still there?? I have 2 of everything??

I can't see how to format the drive so I can get a total empty drive and then a clean install??

I thought it did this automatic when it said all data will be lost on this drive??

Can anyone help?? Thanks all!

[DaveS]

Sham shame. What y shoulda done before you installed SP2, was create a "RESTORE POINT" in case something got goofed like it did. With a restore point, you can unistall SP2, and restore your PC to the point before you installed SP2. I create restore points any time I am going to install new hardware, drivers, games, etc. It's a fall back just in case.

Make sure when you put you put your restore disk in the CD-ROm drive, you reboot your PC, then proceed to reformatt your HD. Make sure sure that the reformatt includes a wipe and rebuild of your WinXP partition on the HD also. If all else fails, call the maufacturers support people and have them talk ya thru it.

[green meanie]

reboot off the cd rom and go from there.

[macojoe]

Ok I got it all set!! I was reading another thread and it said I had to boot off the 98 start up disk and Fdisk and format from there to clean the drive. Thgen I was able to install a new clean XP.

Its done and as you can see I am back!! I just have to go and reinstall all my progrems and files

[jugstah]

Always create a C: and a D:, save all important files on your D: and if your C: where WinXP resides should ever get ruined, you can reinstall your programs, and the data on the D: should be still intact.

Peace.

[macojoe]

Thanks all!!

Everything is going fine! All programs and data was backed up to CD Rom before I reformatted and it is all good now!!

I guess I should learn how to partition my drive, so I can do what you say jugstah. I have a 160 GB Hard drive and it is set up as one.

O well maybe next time??

This is the first time I have had to do this in the 4 years of owning this computer!!

The first time was when I bought the new hard drive and all I did that time was install the drive as a slave and copyed all files to it then removed the old drive and made the new one the main deal.

So this was my first reformatt and it went well I guess.

[jugstah]

That's a plenty big hard drive for any regular user. I'd set it up as a 120/40 with the 40 for data files. You could purchase something like Partition Magic so that you can partition your hard drive without having to FDISK or reinstall.

Or you can just buy a uber-cheap 40GB hard drive and make that the slave and use that for backing up DATA. Of course, it being a hard drive, you also want to back up to CDROM media or DVD-R media if you have a bottomless wallet.

[macojoe]

Well I will do nothing till I have a problem again!! But when I do I will do like you say 120/40 or something like that.

I save everthing on CDROM now. And I back up my stuff every few months depending on what I have been doing.

So I have pleanty of CD's hanging around!!

[jugstah]

If you have a storage unit offsite or a family member who has plenty of room at his place, store a few CDs there just in case of a major calamity.