I believe you used to be able to go to "start" "run" and type "c:\fdisk" to format your HDD.
I have a windows xp pro that I want to replace with xp home. I can't seem to get it to restart in dos mode either.
How do I get to the screen to format the HDD?
2006-08-17 12:53:15 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Put the XP Home CD into the CD drive
Reboot the computer from the CD
Should start the Windows install
After you do the f8 to agree, it will ask if you want to format the hard drive before it installs Windows
2006-08-17 13:00:58 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the XP Home Edition in. Restart the system and follow the process. Make sure the first boot device is the CD-ROM in the BIOS. The old days are pretty much gone.
You can put the CD-ROM in and the menu should come up.
I prefer the first method. It will be a clean install.
2006-08-17 13:01:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do know that formatting your hard drive will erase all data, including Windows XP?
If so, and you want to proceed...
Put your XP Pro CD in the drive and boot from the CD.
It will give you the option to start installing, it will tell you you already have Windows, it should give you the option to install and ask where...you should then be able to select your Hard Drive and format it.
2006-08-17 13:01:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boot from the XP cd you want to install. It will give you the choice of deleting the partition and starting over.
2006-08-17 13:02:04 · answer #4 · answered by Glenn N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get to dos prompt. Restart the computer and hold the F8 button. Choose start with ms dos prompt. Voila. Remember to Reformat with system files intact.
2006-08-17 13:01:08 · answer #5 · answered by rowbear2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋