Boot with the Windows XP CD and proceed to do a clean install. This will
remove all data, programs and operating system from the partition you
install XP onto. Read this site for help
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;316941 and here
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html (thanks Michael.)

Once this is installed, make sure the Windows firewall (at least) is running
and start updating the operating system to SP 2 and later patches from the
internet and/or disks provided by the manufacturer or downloaded. Make sure
all drivers (motherboard, video, sound, USB devices, etc.) are available and
installed before trying to install any programs.


"Nathan Sokalski" <njsokalski@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uuweIL$DGHA.1384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>I have a laptop on which I want to completely reset the hard drive, and
>then put Windows XP back on. Although this sounds simple, I cannot remember
>the steps to completely reset the drive (I seem to remember something about
>pressing some key combination during bootup, or something like that). Can
>someone please tell me how to reset the hard drive without leaving anything
>behind, or possibly direct me to a site that gives instructions on how to
>do this? Thanks.
> --
> Nathan Sokalski
> njsokalski@hotmail.com
> http://www.nathansokalski.com/
>
>