Re: Format C on New Laptop

[Gary Tsang]

Easiest way is to take your Windows XP Pro Installation CD, and boot your
computer off of the CD.
You may have to go into your BIOS to tell your computer to boot off your
cdrom.

Once it starts booting off the cd, this will startup the Windows XP
installation process.
During the process, it'll ask you where you want to install your Windows and
options are given if you want to delete the partition and format the hard
drive.

Choose the format hard drive option and continue the setup and you'll have a
fresh brand new install of Windows XP.


--
Gary Tsang
Microsoft MVP - Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp


"Demetri" > wrote in message
...
> I have a new DELL Laptop computer on the way. It's going to be preloaded
with Windows Home Edition and other software. However, I would like to
format it and start totally from scratch and load Windows XP Professional as
well as whatever software I WANT and not what DELL wants me to have. ;)
>
> It will have a CD RW drive. There is no floppy drive.
>
> How do I format it and be able to load Windows XP Professional on it
afterwards?

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Boot the WinXP Pro CD, start a new installation. You can format as part of
it.

Know that:

a) doing this will probably void your warranty
b) the retail version of WinXP Pro may not have all the necessary drivers
for the laptop hardware, you may need to check with Dell for the
availability of any needed ones.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Demetri" > wrote in message
...
> I have a new DELL Laptop computer on the way. It's going to be preloaded
with Windows Home Edition and other software. However, I would like to
format it and start totally from scratch and load Windows XP Professional as
well as whatever software I WANT and not what DELL wants me to have. ;)
>
> It will have a CD RW drive. There is no floppy drive.
>
> How do I format it and be able to load Windows XP Professional on it
afterwards?

[Gordon Burgess-Parker]

Demetri wrote:
> I have a new DELL Laptop computer on the way. It's going to be
> preloaded with Windows Home Edition and other software. However, I
> would like to format it and start totally from scratch and load
> Windows XP Professional as well as whatever software I WANT and not
> what DELL wants me to have. ;)
>
> It will have a CD RW drive. There is no floppy drive.
>
> How do I format it and be able to load Windows XP Professional on it
> afterwards?

Dell will sell you a laptop with the OS of your choice. Why not get one with
Pro already installed?