I tried to reformat my HDD external Using an xp cd,but i was confused wether i will install windows?
928886
to reformat an external drive\nplug it into your pc\nrigh click on the drive icon\nselect format
1153145
Try to get an external USB drive with a cd rom and do it from there, since XP is still running.  Also a very strong recomendation, get another copy of win xp and make sure that it has the Service Pack 2.  And if none of these work, try to get your HD out of the case and make the instalation on someone else computer, putting your HD as a slave and running the instalation on it.\n\nHope I´ve given you a guide to solving your issue.
868791
If you have an installation disk for Windows, you should be able to format your computer and make a fresh installation of Windows in place of your existing one.\n\nThis will delete all your settings and current files, and will be replaced with an original copy of Windows. So you should backup all your files onto a CD before you proceed.\n\nYou can't reverse this process, but it will do the job, and will give you a clean install of Windows to work with.\n\nIf you have a Dell or other branded computer, it may have a utility which can clean reinstall Windows for you.
397722
As long as you have the original Windows CD and its CD Key, plus keep regular backups, you should be OK.\n\nIf you got no windows XP CD or no Key (sometimes stuck to the edge of your PC Box should be shiny and have holographic background)\n\nBring it straight back to the store.
796010
If you're using a system recovery CD from the manufacturer then it will probably do it for you.  If it's a Windows XP operating system CD then insert it, boot off it (you may need to change your bios settings to select the CD drive as the first boot device) and start the windows setup program.  Once in it (after hitting F8 to accept the agreement) you can select the current partition and delete it.  After deleting it then select it again and hit ENTER to install on the new partition.  After that you'll get a screen asking you how to format it.  You can select NTFS quick and that will work ok.
1059060
Windows 95!! Haven't done that in a while...\n\nInsert the first of the disk into the floppy drive of the computer.  It should boot up from that disk and offer you an option to install Windows.  Tell it yes and simply follow the prompts from there.  You will need to switch disk whenever it tells you to.  Beyond that, it is pretty simple and straight forward and you should be able to do it.\n\nIf you have problems, e-mail with the question and I will try to help you through it.
757407
no...you need the windows xp disc
862515
Hey ,\nInsert the windows XP disk , close the autorun window , restart your computer , when ( press any key to boot from CD .. ) shows up , press any key .\nWait a few minutes , the setup will copy some files , then a message will appear that you already have an operating system (sure choose the same partition that the Windows is installed in )\nand will ask you what to do .....\nChoose the way you want to format this partition ; Quick/Normal , Fat/NTFS\nand proceed , then continue installing the new operating system .\nNOTE : If the (Press any key to boot ....) doesn't appear , modify the bios settings to boot from CD before it boot from HardDisk .\nHope this will help
486651
Hi,\n\nHere is a step by step guide that will help you out with installing windows Xp.
1018139
Assuming you used followed all steps in the Windows XP setup you will most likely have formatted the drive in an NTFS file system. Unfortunately 98 uses FAT32 file system and they are incompatible. To install 98 you will have to format and start from scratch using a win 98 CD. I have to agree with the others though going to 98 is a major step backwards, stick with XP. If your desperate to change OS either go to linux or wait for vista which is just around the conrer
538424
If you have a WinXP disk\npop it in\npress ENTER to load disc when it asks\nyou can format from the winxp installation\nby selecting a partition and choosing to delete it\nformat as NTSF quick, best choice for today's world - the full format is useless and needlessly LONG\n\nif you don't have a XP disk..you shouldnt't be deleting your computer
1185696
Ahh i got it i understand u say can not be formatted on disk as hard drive Bec U are using windows.. u need to get win 98 Or  me or 2000 or XP cd rom and put cd in ur cdrom then restart ur computer then boot up the cd boot up to get win 98 startup u enter yes with cd support and setup or etcs and u want to format u say Yes  then reinstall the win etcs that is ur answer ur questions. i m computer tech A+\nGood Luck and all u can do it for all best of U
102382
When you start the installation for XP, it'll ask you to format or remove the current partition.  You can remove all partitions and reformat this way.
582218
if you are runnin windows xp, dos does not exist. This is why you are having such a hard time. You will need to boot from the xp cd. During the setup process you will be giving the opportunity to reformat. \n\nIf by chance the previous OS was Xp and you are trying to install 95, 98, or ME and this is where you are having issues with reformating your drive that is because XP typically is setup to partition the disk with NTFS. NTFS is not supported in 95, 98, or me. You can however use your XP disk to put the format of your C: drive back to FAT32 with your XP disk and then install.\n\nBest of luck.
121179
Have you got any data on the drive you want to keep ?\n\nIf not just make a boot disk ( www.bootdisk.com ) and use fdisk to partition the drive and then install windows.\n\nIf you do have data then I suggest you connect the hard drive to another machine as a slave and back it up and then put it back into the machine and format it and re install windows.\n\nThere are other ways of backing up the data, please post back and let me know if you need further help.
921077
Honestly if you are trying to fix your computer, reformatting it will only wipe the data off of the hard drive, there is a lot more to fixing the PC than formatting the hard drive.\nIf you want to 'fix' the laptop by wiping it out and installing XP fresh, then the best way is to boot from the XP CD you got with the laptop. Some laptop don't ship with CDs now, you have to make them (using a utility included with the OS), buy them from the company, or access a hidden partition containing the discs (usually pressing F6 before the windows boot screen)
1011966
you need to get the CD first. You can get a Windows XP CD for like $40 these days, especially on http://www.ebay.com\n\nJust install it and it will erase all data and install Windows XP for you. So you should back up everything using a data CD or a file hosting server online.\n\nIf you need help with it, just contact me.