[gemini1]

I have a Packard Bell Duel Core desktop computer running Windows XP Media Centre Edition, i want to completly wipe everything from my harddrives and reinstall Windows XP Media Centre Edition from scratch, using my Windows master cd's i have transferred all my important files to cd rom discs, you probably think im mad wanting to perform such a drastic step but i just want to get my computer running again like it was when it was new, i have erased all unused programmes and got rid of all temp files etc but the harddrives are still full of stuff that just will not deleate, and the harddrives are still very full, is there a way to completely clear my harddrives of everything and start again from scratch.

[bhus12]

gemini1, on 08 November 2009 - 03:05 PM, said:

I have a Packard Bell Duel Core desktop computer running Windows XP Media Centre Edition, i want to completly wipe everything from my harddrives and reinstall Windows XP Media Centre Edition from scratch, using my Windows master cd's i have transferred all my important files to cd rom discs, you probably think im mad wanting to perform such a drastic step but i just want to get my computer running again like it was when it was new, i have erased all unused programmes and got rid of all temp files etc but the harddrives are still full of stuff that just will not deleate, and the harddrives are still very full, is there a way to completely clear my harddrives of everything and start again from scratch.

go this link here its explained step by step how to do clean installation of windows xp :My link

This post has been edited by bhus12: 08 November 2009 - 07:22 AM

[coastie65]

Hi. The link provided in the above post was for XP Pro. XP MCE is a bit different as it comes on three discs and can be tricky to get a clean install. You will need to first put in Disc 1 and then reboot your computer. It will ask if you want to boot from CD. Click yes. Tou will reformat the Hdd thus clearing all the stuff that is on it. During installation, you will go from Disc 1 to disc 2 and then back to disc 1. Disc 3 is the Net Framework updates. This is assuming you are installing from a Windows XP MCE installation disc and not a disc supplied by the manufacturer. Once the OS is installed and set up, you will then need to insatll the drivers.

[coastie65]

Here is a link for the set up of XP Media Center edition 2005:

http://www.retrosigh...nstructions.pdf coastie

[gemini1]

Hi Many thanks to everyone for their help, i am still however a bit confused, how do i completly erase my OS from my harddrive before installing it again and how do i completly remove everythong from HDD{C} and DATA(D) to leave me with 2 completly clean harddrives.

[smax013]

gemini1, on 08 November 2009 - 12:02 PM, said:

Hi Many thanks to everyone for their help, i am still however a bit confused, how do i completly erase my OS from my harddrive before installing it again and how do i completly remove everythong from HDD{C} and DATA(D) to leave me with 2 completly clean harddrives.

You should have the ability to completely wipe the drive (reformat it) when you install Windows (i.e. boot up off the install disk).

Now, if your two "drives" (C: and D:) are actually two partitions on one drive, then it might kill both those partitions and leave you with only one partition. If so and you want a second partition, then you will have to use some third party software to repartition the software.

If they are physically two different drives, then it will only format the one drive that you want to install Windows on (if you choose that option).

[Rommel]

gemini1, on 08 November 2009 - 12:02 PM, said:

Hi Many thanks to everyone for their help, i am still however a bit confused, how do i completly erase my OS from my harddrive before installing it again and how do i completly remove everythong from HDD{C} and DATA(D) to leave me with 2 completly clean harddrives.

When you boot from disc 1 as coastie explained it will ask you what you want to do.
During the process, though I am more familiar with win 95, 98, xp, when you choose to install, not quick install, it will warn you that all your info will be lost, choose continue. That is what you want, then it will reformat your drive after asking you where do you want to install it.
It will bythis time have already scanned your pc and will ask if you want it on drive C or D. Choose C.

If Drive D is actually a second hard drive, it will not be effected as far as being erased or reformatted. After you install on drive C, right click on drive D and choose reformat. This can be done in the windows enviroment.

I didn't check coasties link but I am sure he steered you right.

I hope I explained well enough tp help answer your question.
And as already asked, do you have your driver CD to reinstall them?

Rommel

[gemini1]

Rommel, on 09 November 2009 - 03:46 AM, said:

gemini1, on 08 November 2009 - 12:02 PM, said:

Hi Many thanks to everyone for their help, i am still however a bit confused, how do i completly erase my OS from my harddrive before installing it again and how do i completly remove everythong from HDD{C} and DATA(D) to leave me with 2 completly clean harddrives.

When you boot from disc 1 as coastie explained it will ask you what you want to do.
During the process, though I am more familiar with win 95, 98, xp, when you choose to install, not quick install, it will warn you that all your info will be lost, choose continue. That is what you want, then it will reformat your drive after asking you where do you want to install it.
It will bythis time have already scanned your pc and will ask if you want it on drive C or D. Choose C.

If Drive D is actually a second hard drive, it will not be effected as far as being erased or reformatted. After you install on drive C, right click on drive D and choose reformat. This can be done in the windows enviroment.

I didn't check coasties link but I am sure he steered you right.

I hope I explained well enough tp help answer your question.
And as already asked, do you have your driver CD to reinstall them?

Rommel

Hi Thankes for your help, unfortunately i am still having problems, i keep getting the following message when i try to format Data disc (D), Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disc utilities or other programmes that are using this drive. Then try formatting again. As far as i can tell i have no programmes running and what exactly are disc utilities? Any help much appreciated.

[smax013]

gemini1, on 09 November 2009 - 11:57 AM, said:

Hi Thankes for your help, unfortunately i am still having problems, i keep getting the following message when i try to format Data disc (D), Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disc utilities or other programmes that are using this drive. Then try formatting again. As far as i can tell i have no programmes running and what exactly are disc utilities? Any help much appreciated.

What is on the D drive? How big is it?

Do you have a model number for your computer?