Can i format only Windows in drive C during install Windows XP and leave My Documents and programs untouched?
956113
No Friggin Way...Your Docs Yes But Yor Programs No...They Need Registy Entries To Function Properly...Windows XP Has This Nifty Little Feature That Allows You To 'Update' From A Previous Version Of Windows And Keep All Your Files And Settings...You Might Wanna Try That.....
696654
Here's a great 'how to'\nhttp://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php\n\n///
491672
If you want to start over then just reformat the drive and reinstall Win XP
806748
you don not unisttall windows, you just put CD with windows to your drive  and fallow instructions, if you wanna format Drive anyway, hand delating windows make no sense as format delates everything from partition.\ngood luck :)
844313
Make sure you do not have any disk in any of your drives.\n\nIf your drive is formatted FAT or FAT32 you can copy the file to the root of your c: drive.\n\nIf your drive is formatted NTFS \n1.) reinstall Windows from CD - Do not format drive and select a different Install location something other then c:&#92;windows use c:&#92;win2 for your install path\n\n2.) After the install files are copied to your drive you will have 2 boot options.   Do not select the option to complete installation.  Select the option that read Microsoft Windows XP (Home or Professional) depending on your version.\n\n3.) Once you have booted right click on "My Computer" and select properties.  Go to the "Advanced" tab and click the setting button in the "Startup and Recovery" section\n\n4.)  In the top section click "Edit" to Edit you start up file manually.\n\n5.)  Look for a line similar to "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)&#92;WIN2=".  This is the location of your second install.  Delete the line and save the file.\n\n6.)  Reboot your machine and it should boot normally.  Once it boots normally you can delete the "c:&#92;win2" directory that you created for the install.\n\nAfter this you will have access to all of your programs and application data.  Nothing will be lost.
1142351
To format your harddrive you will need to get a recovery disc or a Windows CD. \nNo boot disc is necessary unless you are trying to install Windows 95. \nThe recovery disc will usually come with your computer, if you dont have one, you will need to call your computer manufacturing company and order one. \nThe recovery disc and the windows CD will partition your harddrive and it will wipe out your memory and start from fresh. \nThis will kill all the viruses and other harmful agents from your computer. \nYou should get an antivirus and pest control to avoid these agents from entering your system after you reformat.
841305
the only way is to do a complete reformat of your hard drive and relaod windows XP
602520
While reinstalling fresh windows XP, select the C drive partion to install OS, this wont delete the files on D drive, make sure you dont delete the partitions..or you have to struggle to get those files back...\n\nHowever if you have by mistake formatted the hard disk, try using some recovery softwares..\nThat would help you..
649466
Formatting would be your best bet. Though there are certain commercial softwares which do this for you and then rewrite junk on the drive so that all previous info is lost but since nothing important is there a simple reformat would do. In order to do it you would have to boot into the command prompt. if you are using a certain brand like Dell or HP they have system restore which allows you to reset your computer to the day you bought it thus in effect starting out on a clean slate for any new user.\nI would personally recommend this(provided of course you have this feature)\n\nCheck out the link on Cnet about deleting data, it also has some links for softwares which will help you erase your HardDisk.
163417
Be sure to copy all files you need from your PC Desktop, MyDocuments, MyPictures,..etc. and the C: root directory because formating will destroy all files on drive C:\n\nI am not sure about the exact steps. I need to reinstall WindowsXP to write them to you.
653338
format c:/\nYou can also format the drive by just putting the xp disk into the drive and restarting the computer, when it asks which drive to install it too look at your options.  Delete the partition and create a new one.  Through the process you will format your drive.
1159198
For windows based system>>>\nXP- Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt \nNow write  (format c:) c is the name of the drive, replace with the letter of ur drive that u wan2 format.\n\nWin 98- Start Menu>Programs>Command Prompt or Start ur computer in DOS mode and write the same command as XP\n\n\n\nRemember formatting a drive will erase all data from it.\n\n\nNeo
255801
The simple answer is yes.\nThe XP install program will let you install a clean OS.\nThis will wipe out any data on yor hard drive.\nXP also has a System Restore Utility that lets you return the computer to a privious state, so in the future you may be able to prevent these sorts of problems.
1157948
Press start, shut down and then restart in MS-DOS mode. After  that you should see a black screen and C:&#92; written on it. At the C:&#92; prompt, type format C: and then press enter (or type the letter of the hard rive your Windows is installed). An so the formatting begins. Save all important data before you format.
206173
To do this, you need to have a copy of your OS (Windows XP for example). First begin by backing up everything on your hard drive you want to keep, then put in the CD of Windows XP and after the system scan at the very beginning you will see options to boot from CD or from Hard Disk. Choose to boot from CD and then select to Install Windows. \nIt will ask you do select a partition. Your hard drive may be partitioned already, so if it is, select each of the partitions and hit the proper key to delete each. Then hit the letter to create a new partition and make as many partitions as you need (somewhere between 1 and 4 should be a good number). Then select the partition to put windows on and then hit the key to proceed with installation. At this point it will either tell you that the partition is not formatted or ask if you would like to format it. Select yes and format it using NTFS. Afterward follow the instructions on the screen to finish installing windows and you will begin with a computer with nothing but Windows on it. Good luck!
281733
If you are using it on another computer of your own, just plug it in as a slave drive and then if using Win XP, just go to My Computer and right click on the drive. Then select format and it will wipe it clean for you. \n\nIf you are just going to install windows on it then just format at windows setup.\n\nIf you are not going to be the user of this computer and want to protect your privacy use a tool from http://www.download.com to do a deep format - one in which data cannot be recovered.\n\nGood Luck
79443
How do you mean clean?  If you mean data wise, then boot from your windows CD and do a low level Format, but you will lose all data on that drive.  If you mean dust, then use a can of compressed air.