Advice needed on how to completely format a hard drive and install new operating system?

Question

I want to format my C drive, and install a new OS.

1. Do I just insert the CD with the OS, and let it run automatically?

2. Because the OS version I want to install is an older version of the one I am currently using - am I to expect any conflicts?

Well the procedure described in 1 allow me to completely remove all content in the c drive before I install the OS?

Answer 1

You didn't give enough information for an accurate answer.
BUT
USUALLY, you can start your system from the OS CD; choose "Run from CD".
Most will find that there is an OS system and ask what to do. At that point, tell it to format C: (NOTE: You will lose ALL data on C:. Also, if your current system uses NTFS, an older system that uses FAT may not be able to "see" the C drive at all.)
IN THAT CASE, you need to be able to start from a OS that can "see" the drive, I recommend Linux ("Live" CD's of Linux are available from several sources.)
Follow formating instructions to locate the partitions, usually fdisk, or cfdisk. "Reset" the C: drive to a standard FAT16 partition, and "write to table". If asked you can format the disk
THEN use an MS-DOS disk OS to restart the system, use "Format C: /u" command to format the drive. (This makes sure there is no "residue" saved from the other system as it means "format unconditional"),
OR simply try your "new" old OS disk again, It should then "find" the drive. If it wants to format it, let it; then load your OS.

In most cases the above will work fine. Just remember that some older OS's may not be able to "see" all of your HD, or if your drive is a SATA, It may not even be able to find it.

Answer 2

If you are going with an older windows operating system you could run into problems fast on some faster computers. But if it is an older one it should take the older system just fine. You may be stuck with loading the drivers for your self would be your biggest concern. Windows xp loads almost all the drivers everytime on a big percentage of computers.
There are many different avenues to formating a drive also.
Some windows disk will offer format and some you will have to do it manually thru menus.
Windows XP will always ask if you want to format your drive even if you have already formatted it manually or with other software. You may need a startup disk with some computers.
You can make one on a floppy disk if you are running windows 98 se by going to add programs in the control panel. It has that option there. Just do what it says.
After you make the disk put it into your computer and restart it and it should boot up with the floppy and give you an option like
A:\ then type in Format C: enter
After the format is over you may need to run fdisk to enable it to use the full size of the hard drive. Reboot again and type in fdisk and go with the first menu until it is all complete. reboot and this time type in E:\ setup and it should be ready to load windows again. This is if every thing goes well.
Best of Luck

Answer 3

You may experience some real conflicts - newer versions of Windows won't let you retrograde.

I would suggest you first purchase a product called SecurErase, which deletes and cleans up the HD to the stringent military specs (rather than just show the data as being deleted), and then insert the OS CD and install fresh.

I've included a link to the product below, best to you.

Answer 4

Too many problems in trying to answer that question. The old OS is how much older?
To format the drive is pretty simple, but even that can create a conflict if the older OS doesn't use NTFS systems.

Do some research on the web before you blow it!

Answer 5

you can always do an Fdisk to format the hard drive, then install the CD from a restart, that way you have no OS on your computer when you install the new(old) one. As long as it isn't windows 98 or anything older you should be ok, 98 and below are now considered obsolete

Answer 6

Easiest way to do this is insert the CD, reboot your computer, and it should lead you to the setup menu. What you'll want to do is delete all partitions, create a new partition, and then it should give you an option to format it. After formatting, install the new OS on the newly formatted partition.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

honestly if you have never done this before, your best bet is to get someone over to your house to show you how. XP is easy to reinstall, delete partion, create partion and then install your OS. I don't know how many times I have done it on my computer. Just remember to delete and then Create. Just read the instructions on the screen, Its pretty basic.

Answer 8

Losing data on a hard drive is the worst nightmare of any computer owner. However, some hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful