Difference between revisions of "Format the C Drive on a Windows XP SP2"
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Is your Windows installation completely broken? If you've tried everything you can to fix it, the only option left may be to format the drive and reinstall Windows (or another operating system). Formatting the drive will delete everything on it, so it should only be used as a last-resort. | Is your Windows installation completely broken? If you've tried everything you can to fix it, the only option left may be to format the drive and reinstall Windows (or another operating system). Formatting the drive will delete everything on it, so it should only be used as a last-resort. | ||
| − | [[Category:System Maintenance and Repair]] | + | [[Category: System Maintenance and Repair]] |
| − | [[Category:XP Instructions]] | + | [[Category: XP Instructions]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
#Backup anything you want to keep. Formatting your C: drive will completely delete your Windows installation, as well as any data stored on the C: drive. This usually includes all of your documents, pictures, and downloaded files. Make sure to save anything you want to keep to another location. | #Backup anything you want to keep. Formatting your C: drive will completely delete your Windows installation, as well as any data stored on the C: drive. This usually includes all of your documents, pictures, and downloaded files. Make sure to save anything you want to keep to another location. | ||
| − | #*See [[Back | + | #*See [[Back Up Data|this guide]] for more details on how to backup data. |
#Insert your Windows XP installation disc. Formatting the C: drive requires uninstalling your current installation of Windows. To do this, you'll need your Windows XP installation disc. You can also use any other version of Windows' installation disc. | #Insert your Windows XP installation disc. Formatting the C: drive requires uninstalling your current installation of Windows. To do this, you'll need your Windows XP installation disc. You can also use any other version of Windows' installation disc. | ||
| − | #*If you can't find your disc, you can [[Download | + | #*If you can't find your disc, you can [[Download Torrents|download an ISO]] of the Windows installation disc and [[Burn ISO Files to DVD|burn it to a blank DVD]]. This is legal if you own Windows. |
#Set your computer to boot from the disc drive. Once you've inserted the disc, you will need to set your computer to boot from it instead of the hard drive. You can change the boot order from the BIOS, which can be accessed by pressing the setup key as your computer boots. | #Set your computer to boot from the disc drive. Once you've inserted the disc, you will need to set your computer to boot from it instead of the hard drive. You can change the boot order from the BIOS, which can be accessed by pressing the setup key as your computer boots. | ||
#*The setup key is usually F2, F10, or Delete. | #*The setup key is usually F2, F10, or Delete. | ||
#*You can change the boot order from the '''Boot''' or '''Boot Order''' menu. Make sure that the optical drive is set as the first boot device. | #*You can change the boot order from the '''Boot''' or '''Boot Order''' menu. Make sure that the optical drive is set as the first boot device. | ||
| − | #*See [[Enter | + | #*See [[Enter BIOS|this guide]] for more details on opening your BIOS and changing the boot order. |
#Start the installer. Once the boot order is set, restart the computer. You will see the message {{samp|Press any key to boot from CD}}. Press a key on your keyboard to start the setup program. | #Start the installer. Once the boot order is set, restart the computer. You will see the message {{samp|Press any key to boot from CD}}. Press a key on your keyboard to start the setup program. | ||
#*The setup program may take a few minutes to load. | #*The setup program may take a few minutes to load. | ||
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#*Avoid choosing a quick format, as this will not fix any errors you might be experiencing with the drive. | #*Avoid choosing a quick format, as this will not fix any errors you might be experiencing with the drive. | ||
#Install your new operating system. Once you've formatted your C: drive, you will need to install a new operating system in order to use your computer. | #Install your new operating system. Once you've formatted your C: drive, you will need to install a new operating system in order to use your computer. | ||
| − | #*[[Install | + | #*[[Install Windows XP|Install Windows XP]] |
| − | #*[[Install | + | #*[[Install Windows 7|Install Windows 7]] |
| − | #*[[Install | + | #*[[Install Windows 8|Install Windows 8]] |
| − | #*[[Install | + | #*[[Install Linux|Install Linux]] |
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== Warnings == | == Warnings == | ||
