OT - How do I format a XP box the best way?

Hi All,

Mr. Off-Topic here!!

My stepson has been given a computer by his Grand-dad. It's running XP
Home. It has a lot of old legacy problems due to missing drivers, old
software,, etc.

I want to reformat the drive and install a new copy of XP on it. We
have a copy of XP Pro here with a universal license.

Can someone tell me the simplest and best way to erase everything and
prepare it for a new OS?

TIA - Mr. OT

On Nov 13, 4:53 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Mr. Off-Topic here!!
>
> My stepson has been given a computer by his Grand-dad. It's running XP
> Home. It has a lot of old legacy problems due to missing drivers, old
> software,, etc.
>
> I want to reformat the drive and install a new copy of XP on it. We
> have a copy of XP Pro here with a universal license.
>
> Can someone tell me the simplest and best way to erase everything and
> prepare it for a new OS?
>
> TIA - Mr. OT

Go to BIOS Setup (check computer manual, but otherwise, the key is
displayed first time when computers boots up, usually is del or page
down or a F-key)

Update the boot startup to start at the cd-rom, then, the hard disk.

Put XP cd on drive

Restart computer.

XP cd will boot and ask to press any key to contine booting from CD,
press it.

follow on-screen instructions.

If you want to get wild, erase all the partitions - the instructions
are on-screen - remember that is near impossible to phisically damage
a PC using the XP installation CD.

-- Tiago

On Nov 13, 2:58 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 13, 4:53 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
>
> > Mr. Off-Topic here!!
>
> > My stepson has been given a computer by his Grand-dad. It's running XP
> > Home. It has a lot of old legacy problems due to missing drivers, old
> > software,, etc.
>
> > I want to reformat the drive and install a new copy of XP on it. We
> > have a copy of XP Pro here with a universal license.
>
> > Can someone tell me the simplest and best way to erase everything and
> > prepare it for a new OS?
>
> > TIA - Mr. OT
>
> Go to BIOS Setup (check computer manual, but otherwise, the key is
> displayed first time when computers boots up, usually is del or page
> down or a F-key)
>
> Update the boot startup to start at the cd-rom, then, the hard disk.
>
> Put XP cd on drive
>
> Restart computer.
>
> XP cd will boot and ask to press any key to contine booting from CD,
> press it.
>
> follow on-screen instructions.
>
> If you want to get wild, erase all the partitions - the instructions
> are on-screen - remember that is near impossible to phisically damage
> a PC using the XP installation CD.
>
> -- Tiago

Hi Tiago,

Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!

> Hi Tiago,
>
> Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
> blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!

If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will erase
everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...

If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
what is installed and what is missing.

If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
delete the partition, this is the easier way...

-- Tiago

On Nov 13, 3:20 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Tiago,
>
> > Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
> > blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!
>
> If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will erase
> everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
> everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...
>
> If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
> previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
> what is installed and what is missing.
>
> If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
> delete the partition, this is the easier way...
>
> -- Tiago

No we don't want to keep any of Grampa's old data! So we will delete
the partition. And then what? Does it rebuilt the partition based on
the file type - NTFS vs FAT32?

On Nov 13, 2:58 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 13, 4:53 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
>
> > Mr. Off-Topic here!!
>
> > My stepson has been given a computer by his Grand-dad. It's running XP
> > Home. It has a lot of old legacy problems due to missing drivers, old
> > software,, etc.
>
> > I want to reformat the drive and install a new copy of XP on it. We
> > have a copy of XP Pro here with a universal license.
>
> > Can someone tell me the simplest and best way to erase everything and
> > prepare it for a new OS?
>
> > TIA - Mr. OT
>
> Go to BIOS Setup (check computer manual, but otherwise, the key is
> displayed first time when computers boots up, usually is del or page
> down or a F-key)
>
> Update the boot startup to start at the cd-rom, then, the hard disk.
>
> Put XP cd on drive
>
> Restart computer.
>
> XP cd will boot and ask to press any key to contine booting from CD,
> press it.
>
> follow on-screen instructions.
>
> If you want to get wild, erase all the partitions - the instructions
> are on-screen - remember that is near impossible to phisically damage
> a PC using the XP installation CD.
>
> -- Tiago

Definitely erase all the partitions and create new ones. You can do
that as part of the installation procedure... it will give you that
option. When you are done you should have one brand spank'n new
Windows XP Pro opsys. You will also have to re-install everything else
that you want that is not part of Windows.

On Nov 13, 3:41 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> On Nov 13, 3:20 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > > Hi Tiago,
>
> > > Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
> > > blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!
>
> > If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will erase
> > everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
> > everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...
>
> > If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
> > previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
> > what is installed and what is missing.
>
> > If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
> > delete the partition, this is the easier way...
>
> > -- Tiago
>
> No we don't want to keep any of Grampa's old data! So we will delete
> the partition. And then what? Does it rebuilt the partition based on
> the file type - NTFS vs FAT32?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Yes, it give you the opportunity to create new partisions.
You can choose NTFS or FAT... I'd choose NTFS unless I had some
specific unusual reason not too.

typically what i do to make a freash box is
search internet for the computer mfg original drivers
burn them to a cd.

then take the OS i intend to install and check the install disk for
read/write errors.

then do a search for all *.doc, *.xls *.jpg .... burn them to a cd
make a copy of the favorite shortcuts, mail folder, & address book & misc
passwords

then i reboot the pc with OS install disk & repartition the drive 2 times

then do a freash install of the OS & comon programs configure the email &
browser

then make a backup image of the freash install for "just incase"

macintosh's latest OS likes to have new drives repartitioned 2 times befor
it wants to talk nice to them?? i know not why but hey that's just the way
it is.


"Tiago Rocha" <diariodastrilhas@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1194985238.779074.317160@v2g2000hsf.googlegro ups.com...
>
>> Hi Tiago,
>>
>> Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
>> blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!
>
> If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will erase
> everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
> everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...
>
> If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
> previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
> what is installed and what is missing.
>
> If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
> delete the partition, this is the easier way...
>
> -- Tiago
>

In article <1194988369.989335.199060@22g2000hsm.googlegroups. com>,
dsc-ky <Dudley.Cornman@eku.edu> wrote:

> On Nov 13, 3:41 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> > On Nov 13, 3:20 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Hi Tiago,
> >
> > > > Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or will it
> > > > blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!
> >
> > > If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will erase
> > > everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
> > > everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...
> >
> > > If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
> > > previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
> > > what is installed and what is missing.
> >
> > > If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
> > > delete the partition, this is the easier way...
> >
> > > -- Tiago
> >
> > No we don't want to keep any of Grampa's old data! So we will delete
> > the partition. And then what? Does it rebuilt the partition based on
> > the file type - NTFS vs FAT32?- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Yes, it give you the opportunity to create new partisions.
> You can choose NTFS or FAT... I'd choose NTFS unless I had some
> specific unusual reason not too.

Definitely go with NTFS. Better options for compression, backups,
security, and encryption. There's really no advantage to using FAT32
unless you're a Rooneyite (rhymes with Luddite) and still want to use
DOS...

Wow, I'm actually offering windoze advice...

Repartition the sucker and start the install.

--
Charles
'99 YZ250

In article <fhe2i6$nv7$1@aioe.org>,
"Joseph Rooney" <ikerooneyat@pcmagic.net> wrote:

> "HardWorkingDog" <harvey@mush.man> wrote in message
> news:harvey-4CA712.19460513112007@individual.net...
> > In article <1194988369.989335.199060@22g2000hsm.googlegroups. com>,
> > dsc-ky <Dudley.Cornman@eku.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > On Nov 13, 3:41 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> > > > On Nov 13, 3:20 pm, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > Hi Tiago,
> > > >
> > > > > > Will this have any issues as there already is XP installed? Or
> will it
> > > > > > blow right by that fact? Thank Brazilian Bro!
> > > >
> > > > > If you, during install, chose to delete the partition, you will
> erase
> > > > > everything on the disk. It takes about 10 seconds to wipe out
> > > > > everything and only FBI would be able to recover the data...
> > > >
> > > > > If you do not erase the partition, XP will try to install over
> > > > > previous version. This might solve your problems, or not. Depends on
> > > > > what is installed and what is missing.
> > > >
> > > > > If you don't want anything data-wise from the computer, go for it,
> > > > > delete the partition, this is the easier way...
> > > >
> > > > > -- Tiago
> > > >
> > > > No we don't want to keep any of Grampa's old data! So we will delete
> > > > the partition. And then what? Does it rebuilt the partition based on
> > > > the file type - NTFS vs FAT32?- Hide quoted text -
> > > >
> > > > - Show quoted text -
> > >
> > > Yes, it give you the opportunity to create new partisions.
> > > You can choose NTFS or FAT... I'd choose NTFS unless I had some
> > > specific unusual reason not too.
> >
> > Definitely go with NTFS. Better options for compression, backups,
> > security, and encryption. There's really no advantage to using FAT32
> > unless you're a Rooneyite (rhymes with Luddite) and still want to use
> > DOS...
> >
> > Wow, I'm actually offering windoze advice...
> >
> > Repartition the sucker and start the install.
> >
> > --
> > Charles
> > '99 YZ250
>
> Charles,
>
> FAT32 rulz! FAT16 is the shiznitz OSX is for toad suckers.
>
> Joe
>
> XLuddite600R

Them Gain Setters
(sing to the tune of "Them Toad Suckers" by Mason Williams)

How about Them Gain Setters
Ain't they a gasser?
Tunin' them tubes up with
EMI_MASTER.

Settin' they light level,
Settin' they delay,
Settin' on they skinny ass
Day after day.

Look at Them Gain Setters
Ain't they weary?
Scope-starin' eyes all
Teary and bleary.

Them gawky, gangly Gain Setters
Smoothin' up signals;
Terminatin' outputs to
Get rid of wiggles.

How to be a gain setter?
Don't take too much brains --
Monkeys on CALTECHPUB
Could set some great gains.

--
Charles
'99 YZ250