format problem~help~

[ericjai]

I ask my friends how to format my XP,they said just put the XP install CD into the CD-ROM,then when the computer is starting, the boot device choose boot from CD-ROM, then I can format it.But the problem is when I choose " boot from CD-ROM" my computer load into XP as usual, and I can't format it.
Can you tell me why this happen?
And have other meathod to format my XP?

 

[grassapa]

make sure in the BIOS, your cd drive is in the first boot order and that you are using the win xp cd .

you can format your hd also by putting in a boot floppy disk and use fdisk to format your hard drive. get the files from <A HREF="http://www.bootdisk.com" target="_new">http://www.bootdisk.com</A> and put them in a floppy. then go to your computer bios, and make sure the floppy is on the first boot order. then insert the boot disk into the floppy drive and restart the computer. then it should go into dos and you should be able to format your hd using fdisk.

gl, i hope its not too confusing

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My computer is so fast it proves the theory of relativity wrong...

 

[jon_west_uk]

on most pc's it will also ask you to press a button to load from CD. So look out for a message when you start your pc. It usually counts down from 20 and if you dont press the button in time it will simply load from HD.

If you need to bypass this you can simply change your bios so that the CD drive is the only thing in the boot order that way it cant load from HD.

note if you are reinstalling XP and have have saved any encrypted info on a second drive you will loose all your data as your encryption key will be lost. If you are in this situation then you will need to save your encyption keys to unlock the files - safest way - ensure there is no encryption before formating!

Someone please unwire me...the gadgets are taking over!

 

[Guest]

Have you got it going yet? In addition to what grassapa said you can get the XP setup floppies from microsoft.

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994&Product=winxp" target="_new">Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks</A>

Hope that helps.

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Your arrogance is boring!