Could someone tell me in simple english language (not computer language) how to reformat my Windows XP Home Ed

Question

I have already backed up everything, and all I want to do is to reformat my computer. I've got the Reinstallation CD, but I'm really bad at computers so I just cannot follow the instructions I searched for online!! Please tell me how to do it instead of giving me another website that teaches u how to do it...cause it didnt work..! Thank you!!!

Oh yeah I did put in the disk but it turned into this black screen that has all the functions which i did not understand...

Answer 1

1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM and reboot the computer.
If you see a message about hitting any key to boot the CD, do so now.

2. MS-DOS portion of Setup begins
In the first stage of Setup, you will see a series of blue and gray MS-DOS-based screens.
Wait until the Welcome screen appears.

3. Welcome to Setup
Finally, Setup begins. Press ENTER to continue Setup, and it will examine your hard drives and removable disks.

4. Read the license agreement
Next, you'll have to agree to Microsoft's complex licensing agreement. Among the highlights: You don't actually own Windows XP and you can only install it on one PC.
No one reads this!! Press F8

5. Choose an installation partition
This crucial step lets you choose where to install XP. On a clean install, you will typically install to the C: drive. Setup will show you all of your available disks (in this case, just one) and let you create and delete partitions as needed. So, for example, if you have one disk, but would like to create two partitions, one for XP and one for your data, you can do that here. For ur convenience, plz choose C: drive.

6. Select the file system.
Select the 1st option "Format the partition using NTFS file system(Quick)".
Press Enter.

7. Format the partition
Hit F to continue, and a yellow progress bar will indicate the status of the format. When this is complete, Setup will again examine your disks, and create a list of files to copy.

8. Setup folder copy phase and reboot
Setup will now copy system files to the system/boot partition(s) you just created. This will allow the PC to boot from the C: drive and continue Setup in GUI mode.

When the file copy is complete, Setup will initialize and save your XP configuration. It will then reboot your PC.

When the system reboots, you will probably see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message again. If this happens, "DO NOT" press a key: Setup will now boot from your C: drive. In the event that you cannot prevent the CD-based Setup from reloading, eject the CD and reboot. Setup will ask for the CD when needed

9. GUI Setup begins
Once the system reboots, you will be presented with the GUI Setup phase, which is much more attractive than the DOS-mode phase. As you progress through GUI Setup, you can read promotional information about XP on the right side of the screen if you're bored.

Next, your hardware devices are detected. This could take several minutes.

10. Regional and language Options
In the first interactive portion of GUI Setup, you can choose to customize the regional and language settings that will be used by XP, as well as the text input language you'd like. Users in the United States will not normally need to change anything here.

Click Next to continue.

11. Personalize your software
Now, enter your name and, optionally, your company.

The name you enter is not the same as your user name, incidentally, so you should enter your real name here (i.e. Paul Thurrott or whatever).

Click Next to continue.

12. Enter your product key
Now you must enter the 25-character product key that is located on the orange sticker found on the back of the CD holder that came with Windows XP. You cannot install XP without a valid product key.

Later on, you will be asked to activate and optionally register your copy of Windows XP. A product key can be used to install XP on only one PC.

Click Next to continue.

For the rest of the steps, plz visit the following web site:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Answer 2

First make sure you have everything you want to save is placed on removable storage..ie: CD, DVD, Flash drive or external hard drive...

AS EVERYTHING ON YOUR HARD DRIVE MIGHT BE WIPED OUT.

When I replaced my hard drive, I made sure that no other programs were running. I got together the three CDs I would need ...WindowsXP, Drivers and Software applications. They come with every computer.

Then I put the WindowsXP installation CD into the CD drive. Within a few seconds....10 or 20 I could hear it start to run the program, when you see the Welcome to Windows screen click ' Install Windows XP. You will be asked if you want to partition or not... I choose NO. The CD automatically re-formatted the hard drive and then installed.

Then I took that CD out and put in the drivers CD , it ran and installed.

Then the same thing for the software applications CD. After that you should be good to go.

The KnowledgeBase at http://www.microsoft.com is an excellent resource.

Answer 3

XP in easy to install. If you have a genuine XP disk , then when you boot up the pc with the disk in the cd drive it will start the install.
It will know you have a system on already , but will ask you do you wish to do a fresh install, which I asume you do. Then just follow what it says.

Answer 4

When you put the CD in.. wait until the CD loads.. you will get a blue screen... dont press F6 at the beginning.. just wait... it will eventually tell you to delete your partition which you should do.. and then it will tell you to format it it.. choose quick formate (NTFS) the rest is self explanitory

Answer 5

when your computer just starting up there should be a message that tells you to push delete to go to setup or F8 or maybe even F2. this is to go to you bios. then try to read everything. you kinda need to make your computer boot from you CD or DVD rom drive. now look for something that tells you Boot from. be sure to change the 1st one to be you CD/DVD drive. then go to exit and then you have the option to exit with out save or save and exit. make sure you put save and exit. they should pop up with a question save changes and exit. put y or yes. your computer should restart on its own then put the windows CD in the CD/DVD drive and restart it again. it should come up with a message like boot from CD or press enter on any key to boot from CD. Push enter. and then just wait for it to load. u should be in a blue screen by then. wait and just read it all. you should get it.

Answer 6

stick the disk in and then when it opens up click reinstall