Re-installing Windows XP Question

[Laura]

I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the re-
installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a complete
rebuild of the entire system.

So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.

Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of the
OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
programs etc. there.

Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind of
multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I want
to use. But both entries say Windows XP Professional. I
didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
set it up on the re-install.

I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?

Thanks.

[Richter]

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html Try this site for
info...Matt


"Laura" > wrote in message
...
> I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the re-
> installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
> DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a complete
> rebuild of the entire system.
>
> So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
> Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.
>
> Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of the
> OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
> far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
> now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
> But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
> programs etc. there.
>
> Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind of
> multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I want
> to use. But both entries say Windows XP Professional. I
> didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
> set it up on the re-install.
>
> I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
> install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?
>
> Thanks.

[Laura]

How do you know if you have a "bootable" cd-rom or not?
The article I linked to from this site says if you don't
have a bootable cd drive you should create the setup
disks. How do I know?

>-----Original Message-----
>http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
Try this site for
>info...Matt
>
>
>"Laura" > wrote in message
...
>> I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the
re-
>> installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
>> DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a
complete
>> rebuild of the entire system.
>>
>> So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
>> Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.
>>
>> Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of
the
>> OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
>> far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
>> now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
>> But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
>> programs etc. there.
>>
>> Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind
of
>> multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I
want
>> to use. But both entries say Windows XP
Professional. I
>> didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
>> set it up on the re-install.
>>
>> I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
>> install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>
>.
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Laura" > wrote in message
...
> I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the re-
> installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
> DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a complete
> rebuild of the entire system.
>
> So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
> Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.
>
> Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of the
> OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
> far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
> now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
> But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
> programs etc. there.
>
> Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind of
> multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I want
> to use. But both entries say Windows XP Professional. I
> didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
> set it up on the re-install.
>
> I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
> install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?
>
> Thanks.

[Laura]

I tried this. It doesn't do what I want it to do, which
is delete all the crap on my harddrive. It re-installs
the OS, sure, but I still have everything under the C
drive there.

Or perhaps I chose the wrong option. If I do a "fix"
then will it clean up my hard drive?

Laura - getting more confused by the minute

>-----Original Message-----
>Greetings --
>
> Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll
be offered the
>opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as
part of the
>installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the
order of boot
>devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)
>
>HOW TO Install Windows XP
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
us;316941
>
>http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>
>http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
>
>
>Bruce Chambers
>
>--
>Help us help you:
>http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't
ever count on
>having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
>"Laura" > wrote in message
...
>> I wanted to rebuild my PC. I tried going through the
re-
>> installation of Windows XP Professional, and while that
>> DID re-install Windows, what I wanted to do is a
complete
>> rebuild of the entire system.
>>
>> So first question is..... Is there any way to do this?
>> Like a complete reformat of the hard drive.
>>
>> Next, if this isn't possible and a re-installation of
the
>> OS is all I can do, then how do I clean up my system as
>> far as software previously loaded, etc. goes? Because
>> now when I go into Add/Remove Software NOTHING appears.
>> But if I go into Windows Explorer, I've got all my
>> programs etc. there.
>>
>> Additionally, now when I boot up, it goes to some kind
of
>> multiple boot menu, where I get to choose what OS I
want
>> to use. But both entries say Windows XP
Professional. I
>> didn't have multiple boot before and I certainly didn't
>> set it up on the re-install.
>>
>> I think I really screwed up my PC by doing the re-
>> install, but now I'm just trying to recover. Any help?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>
>.
>

[Ken Blake]

In ,
Laura > typed:

> How do you know if you have a "bootable" cd-rom or not?
> The article I linked to from this site says if you don't
> have a bootable cd drive you should create the setup
> disks. How do I know?


All Windows XP CDs are bootable, but if you want to make sure
yours is, simply try to boot from it.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Sharon F]

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 08:18:07 -0700, Laura wrote:

> I tried this. It doesn't do what I want it to do, which
> is delete all the crap on my harddrive. It re-installs
> the OS, sure, but I still have everything under the C
> drive there.
>
> Or perhaps I chose the wrong option. If I do a "fix"
> then will it clean up my hard drive?
>
> Laura - getting more confused by the minute
>
>> [4 quoted line(s) supressed]
> be offered the
>> [1 quoted line(s) supressed]
> part of the
>> [1 quoted line(s) supressed]
> order of boot
>> [4 quoted line(s) supressed]
> us;316941
>> [14 quoted line(s) supressed]
> ever count on
>> [6 quoted line(s) supressed]
> re-
>> [2 quoted line(s) supressed]
> complete
>> [6 quoted line(s) supressed]
> the
>> [7 quoted line(s) supressed]
> of
>> [1 quoted line(s) supressed]
> want
>> [1 quoted line(s) supressed]
> Professional. I
>> [11 quoted line(s) supressed]

Laura, print out the directions from Michael Stevens site so that you have
them on hand while doing the setup. At almost the very end - right before
XP starts to install - you need to answer the questions very carefully.
This is the stage where you tell setup whether you want to delete
partitions (wiping off all contents on the drive) and to create new ones
before proceeding with setup. Step 9B in Michael's directions.

You may also want to look over your Dell documentation. They may have
different directions for doing a "restore to factory state" recovery. There
are drivers specific to the hardware that came with your system that their
restore/recovery program will install for you. After reading that
information, you may decide to use their method instead of the standard
setup you've been trying to follow.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP - Windows XP Shell/User

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No, you have to select "New Installation," select the partition
onto which you want to install the OS. Somewhere along the way will
be an option to format the chosen partition, or leave it as it is.
You'll want to format.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Laura" > wrote in message
...
> I tried this. It doesn't do what I want it to do, which
> is delete all the crap on my harddrive. It re-installs
> the OS, sure, but I still have everything under the C
> drive there.
>
> Or perhaps I chose the wrong option. If I do a "fix"
> then will it clean up my hard drive?
>
> Laura - getting more confused by the minute
>