How do I reinstall my hard drive and Windows XP?

Question

Okay, I got way too many responses from people on my last question and it looked like all Greek to me. I tried the system restore and would'nt let me into it. I booted the computer in safe mode but would'nt let me get inside of system restore to even restore before the bug in the system. I am on a Dell computer. It is Windows XP. I tried finding the uninstallation for Windows XP in the Change/Remove section but it's not there. How do I restore my hard drive and system to the beginning? I don't have much stuff on it I need to save, at this point I just want it all back the way it was when everything was working. Just to add I think it's presumpitous to tell me how to fix my problem when it could be doing more harm than good to my system.

Answer 1

Did it come with restore cd's? If it did, put it in th cd drive and reboot. If it didn't, which is most likely the case if it's a newer dell, reboot, and as it's booting hit the ctrl key and f11 at the same time.

Answer 2

I agree with you, However you might not have an option. the best way I know it to insert your xp cd and reinstall windows from the begining, it will format the drive so you will lose what you on it. You may have to set the boot preferences as well. This easy to do, when your computer starts up if you see nothing on the screen press the escape key, (The very top left hand key) and press the key to enter setup, this often different on a lot of computers but it will tell you to press whatever key to enter set up. once in the setup look for boot preferences or something like that. make sure it is set to boot from the CD first, if not set it to boot from cd.



save your settings and reboot (do not touch anything else in there unless you know what you are doing.)



you will see a message to press any key to boot the cd. press space bar and then follow the prompts as they are presented. It is not a hard job, just takes a while, most settings will be already set. Make sure you have the serial number with you. If you bought the computer with xp already on it, there should be a sticker on the side with the code you need.



If you do not have an xp cd you will have to find one from somewhere. otherwise it is not hard and if you are careful you will have no troubles installing it again.





Hope this is of some help



Kowhai

Answer 3

Wow all of thoese steps that people gave you wont do the trick.



System restore is really only meant for going back a few days at a time. And Safe mode wont give you the options, and then going into add/remove is tottally the wrong place.



So here is what you do, since you seem to want to format your hard drive, click stat, my computer right click the hard drive and click format. And then follow any directions it gives you after that.



In order to reinstall windows, you must have the CD that came with your computer or one you may have bought seperate from it. If no CD came with the computer and you did not buy one, then you were supposed to create the cd from a program on your computer. it should be located in the start menu in the all programs. In any case to obtain a cd you can call the manufacture of your computer and they will send you the cd, it shouldn't cost you anything. it didn't for my sister.



Once you have the cd, put it in your computer, turn the computer off and then turn the computer on and let the cd run. If the cd those not start, get back to me, depending on your computer, you might have to go into the bios menu and switch it to read from the cd first before the hard drive.

Answer 4

If you have a Dell Windows XP restore CD just put the CD in and boot to it. Follow the instructions and choose to format the drive. This will load a fresh new copy of Windows XP on the system. If it is a Dell CD there will be not serial number or activation necessary.

Answer 5

cd boot it. Follow the instructions press F6 for automated recovery, try removing any new h/w added recently to your system also clear cmos before u run the setup again.

if necessary call dell care with your xp serial no where they can help you online.

or press r for using recovery console under cd boot (dont choose new installation if u have tried the new installation u do not have other choice from basic setup. thats defininig partition and formating and loading sys files and goes on...

Answer 6

if anything's metal... give it a good bash xD jk

um i think you have to get a "ghost" cd that lets you like re install everything on your hard drive