How to format C

When you install XP it will automatically format of the drive. You just need to run the setup and select to overwrite the current and create a new partition.

Get into your BIOS and make sure the CD drive is the first choice in the boot devices. This is usually in the Advanced Settings section.

Boot to the windows XP CD and follow the instructions to do a new install of the operating system.

You can boot from the ME disk and run the setup from there.

If its the upgrade you'll need a Windows CD from a previous version.

If your Win XP cd is bootable, then just boot off the cd and when you select the partition to install to you have the option to reformat the drive.

If your CD is not bootable then boot of your ME dos disk.
If your current filesystem is ntfs then you need to run fdisk to delete and recreate you partition as a fat partition. Then you reboot so that the drive letters are assigned and then run format c:
then cd i386 directory on your cdrom and run winnt.exe

that will copy some files to c: and then start the installation.

Try writting zeros to the drive with debug. my roomate used it and it worked great. the site I believe its at is www.firmware.com/support/bios/hdclear.htm
or do a google search for hdclear.txt and you will get the instruction to use a floppy with a lot of typing but well worth it. This will give you a clean install if that is what you desire or just pop the disk and redo it.

after your boot order in the BIOS is set to boot floppy, boot CD, boot HDD-0 insert your windows me boot disk AND your Windows XP CD. The computer will boot to the floppy up to the A:\ prompt. at the A:\ prompt type in format C: and press enter. this will format your C: drive or primary partition. You can also do this will the Windows CD is you wish. Just boot to the CD and follow the on screen instruction noting that you'll want to DELETE the exising Windows Installation. After which windows will ask whether you want to format in FAT32 or NTFS. Windows will format your disk and install XP.

Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup boot disk into the floppy disk drive if you are starting from Setup boot disks, and then restart the computer.

NOTE: To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM (or from the Setup boot disk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive (or the floppy disk drive). In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive (or the floppy disk drive), see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.
If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.

If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. Press ESC (do not repair).
All existing partitions and unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the arrow keys to select the partition or unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition, and then press D to delete an existing partition or press C to create a new partition using unpartitioned space. If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. you can then select the resulting unpartitioned space and then press C to create the new partition
If you want to install Windows XP, use the arrow keys to select the partition you want to install Windows XP on, and then press ENTER.
Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then press ENTER. The options are:

302686 Differences Between a Quick Format and Format During Windows XP Setup

Looks like everything is in hand here.

What I do to clean a hard drive with XP on it is, boot from a W98 or Me startup disk (assuming the drive is under 120GB) then run fdisk and delete the partition.

I then boot up from the XP CD and partition the drive as desired as part of installing XP.

Keep in mind, that if your drive is a NTFS volume, you cannot access it from a DOS boot.

As to startup floppies, Microsoft did not include a startup disk utility.

You can create a DOS Boot Disk from either My Computer, or Windows Explorer.
(Right click on the A: drive)

To create a set of startup disks for XP, you need to download and run the startup disk creation utility from Microsoft.
There are 4 versions:
Home
Pro
With SP1
Without SP1

Chas

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