Thanks Dave, I'll try this again -just as you have suggested...I have no
recollections of reaching a spot where I COULD delete anything ,this was my
problem I think,nonetheless I'll give it another whirl!
The Windows Genuine Advantage Kit I got from Microsoft "includes the
latest version of windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2"

"Dave Patrick" wrote:

> To do a clean install boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. When you get to
> the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions found. After you
> delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again restart the pc booting
> the CD-Rom to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with your new
> install.
>
> Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
> connecting to any network.
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../MS03-043.mspx
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../MS03-049.mspx
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
> Microsoft Certified Professional
> Microsoft MVP [Windows]
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "ed geddes" wrote:
> |I learned I had an unacceptable copy of XP installed on my machine,I bought
> a
> | valid copy from Microsoft.and decided to do a clean install,this did not
> | appear to be sucessful,I repeated the process twice.
> | I now have a machine with 350K + files on it as the files appear to have
> | just replicated rather than performing a "clean" installion.
> | Any suggestions as to what I do now would be very much appreciated
> |
>
>
>