reformat my HDD

Download a copy of dban and wipe the drive. Then install WinXP Home.

or ....when installing XP, it asks if you want FAT or HPFS -chose HPFS.

You don't need any third party tool.

James

Does the inherited HDD contains any data which is important, if it has then back them up if not boot from cd and follow the Win XP Installation procedure.

Microsoft provides comprehensive step-by-step instructions on how to prepare for and complete an upgrade from w98 to XP here - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316639

The first thing you must do is ensure that the machine has the required minimum hardware specs -you can find them on the same link above or alternatively MS offer a free web-based tool that will interrogate your system for you.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/checkcompat.mspx

Personnally, I dont recommend upgrading, your always better off backing up your data, formatting the drive and then installing the new OS clean.

Enjoy!

Bret B

Contrary to popular belief this is not rocket science.

If you can read the messsage on the screen you can do this.

Boot to the XP cd and follow the instructions. When it ask if you want to format or leave the file system intact select format, NTFS.

Enjoy