Resetting my hard drive

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/

If you provided the make and model, I might be able to help you!!

"Nathan Sokalski" wrote:

> 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/
>
>
>

Boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom.

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Microsoft Windows XP
Professional screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size. Windows will by default use all available
space.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Nathan Sokalski" wrote:
|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/
|
|

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/
>
>

In news:uuweIL$DGHA.1384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl,
Nathan Sokalski <njsokalski@hotmail.com> replied with a ;-)
> 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.

Check the manual that came with the laptop. Check in Help and Support,
usually there is manufacturer specific info on restoring the system. Check
the manufacturers web site.
Since no one know what make or model laptop you have, that is the best I can
do.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm

Most laptops have some factory restoration CD or restore from hidden
partition to original factory XP installation.
Again the mind meld thing with another MVP to another OP. Must be something
in the soup.

--
Jonny
"Dave Patrick" <DSPatrick@nospam.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23g7zrV$DGHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom.
>
> Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
> install the Setup and driver files. When the Microsoft Windows XP
> Professional screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows XP
Professional.
>
> Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms
of
> the license agreement and continue the installation.
>
> When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
> partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
> disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
> existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you
must
> then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
> partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
> step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are
deleted
> press F3 to exit setup, restart the pc then when you get to this point in
> setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a
new
> partition and specify the size. Windows will by default use all available
> space.
>
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
> Microsoft Certified Professional
> Microsoft MVP [Windows]
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "Nathan Sokalski" wrote:
> |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/
> |
> |
>
>

Alright Mike!
Please share your insight with your MVP comrades.

--
Jonny
"Michael Stevens" <mstevens@bogusmvps.org> wrote in message
news:elgqDf$DGHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> In news:uuweIL$DGHA.1384@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl,
> Nathan Sokalski <njsokalski@hotmail.com> replied with a ;-)
> > 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.
>
> Check the manual that came with the laptop. Check in Help and Support,
> usually there is manufacturer specific info on restoring the system. Check
> the manufacturers web site.
> Since no one know what make or model laptop you have, that is the best I
can
> do.
> --
> Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
> xpnews@bogusmichaelstevenstech.com
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
> For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm
>
>
>