Win XP SP2 Installation?

Question

I have a desktop that initially had windows 98se. Since this machine was about 5 years old, it had a lot of clutter. I meanwhile had the full version of windows XP pro SP2. The funny thing is that since I wanted to remove all the old files with my old OS and load from scratch win XP I tried to install it. However, the system only allowed me to install XP while I was logged in, which surely installed XP but left the old clutter of files.
I read that the old files can be removed if the installation is done by booting to a Win XP, that protocol is supposed to format the hard drive completely. I checked that my boot preference was from the CD. But to my dismay the I dont get the format option and the computer boots up to the installed XP. Maybe something is not right with the CD. But I tried to check the CD if it boots up to give the format option at the start on my old laptop and I got the same response as above.
I really want to format and do a clean install of Win XP on my desktop.

Answer 1

Read this, Print it out and follow the instructions http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/reformat-xp-alt-method.html

Answer 2

first, put in the win98se disk and boot from cd. You should get to an A: prompt. type in fdisk and hit enter. follow the prompts with yes to everything until you get to a menu screen. Choose delete the primary dos partition. Then put the winxp cd in and reboot from the cd. you now should be able to do a clean install of win xp.

Win98 uses dos while winxp uses the ntfs file system and you have to remove the dos partition before you can install winxp

Answer 3

Try using an older version of XP. If that doesn't work, you may need boot disk in order to enter a command prompt mode in order to manually format your HD. If you can enter the command prompt by hitting the safe mode key (which I forgot) if you still have 98 then you can format from there.

Answer 4

First what you do is get yourself win98 floppy start-up disk. Boot the system with floppy.



At A prompt type

FORMAT C: /S



ONCE YOU FORMATED YOUR HARD DRIVE THEN USE YOUR XP TO BE installed



this should get the old stuff off.

Answer 5

delete all your partition in your hard drive, then create again a partition to your hard disk, use boot up disk, either CD or floppy



thank you!