Topic: need to format my xp hard drive

[spooner]

hi guys
have formatted before but this was on win 98, now need to format my hard drive but on xp.
not got a clue, could someone please talk me though it
cheers guys

spooner

[Dack]

Have you already got XP installed?

If so then go to:
start->control panel->administrative tools->computer management and select "Disc management" from the program that appears. From here you can partition a drive and also format it.

If you have the computer set up to the 'category view" for the control panel then you need to use:
Start->control panel->performance and maintenance->administrative tools->computer management to get to the same place.

If you do not have XP installed then when you get to install it you can select a partition. If you delete the existing partition and then create a new one it will allow you to chose NTFS etc. and allow you to format the drive.

[spooner]

ok, got to the disc management bit, how do i format from here ?

cheers

[Sandra]

Are you formatting a second hard drive or a partition thats not your boot partition ?
You cant format your boot partition while in windows as its in use you but if its a different partition or drive that you want to format then select the drive/partition in disk manager where you say you have found and right click it and select format  

[spooner]

no it`s not a 2nd hard drive, just need to wipe the lot clean load on windows and start again.
in win 98 i used to type the command press enter and that was that, how come xp ain`t that easy ?

[Sandra]

Xp is even easier than that  
Ok set your BIOS to boot from the CD rom as the first boot device.
Stick your XP cd in the CD rom and it will ask you where you want to install it as it will detect that there is already an installation of XP on the drive.
Select the same partition and it will say something about its not recommeneded, click next and then it will give you the option to format it.
Select which type of format you want, Fat32 or NTFS, it will only give you that option if the drive or partition that you are installing to is 32 gig or less.
It will allow you to select the size of partition too, if you want to resize it or create another partition.
If you do create another partition then once XP is up and running go to the Disk Management again and select the other partition/s and right click and select format  

[spooner]

sandra,
done it mate, your a top gal
thanks

spooner