Windows XP Pro Fresh Install

[M1k3-+i3]

How do you install a Fresh copy of Windows XP Professional with all the settings from the previous install gone?
And I am not going to change my HDD (yet maybe in a year or so).

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

[Grant Palin]

If you have the Windows XP install CD, insert it into the CD drive and restart the computer. Upon restart, the computer should detect the bootable CD and prompt to you start the installation process.

[M1k3-+i3]

Thanks for your advice..
But it doesn't reset every single setting in Windows XP Pro.

What I'm trying to do is format and install Windows XP again but with all settings reset to like on a brand new PC with XP thats only been installed once do you see what I'm getting at here?

And I don't need tutorials on how to start the XP setup procedure I have bin with PCs a few years and know how to install OSs.

But what seems to be the problem with XP it has a tendancy to keep the settings of the old installation and I want those settings to disappear and be replaced with new settings like on a new machine sorry to repeat myself but I get really annoyed with XP for backing up its settings because I see a format and re-install as fresh start unfortunately Windows XP does not.

And I tell you what Microsoft may think they have provided the best OS in the world but I think Windows is like a giant piece of cloth full of holes. I have heard so many good rumors about Linux/Unix that I might just throw Windows in the bin and have a look at Linux/Unix.

Sorry if it looks like I'm shouting because I'm not shouting I'm just expressing my opinion that Windows is probably gonna go down the drain along with its frickin viruses :D

Help please anyone help will be greatly appreciated

[sad69]

Can you not just drop to the command prompt, and type in "format c:" ?

I've not tried that in XP before..

What I've done in the past is booted up with a version of linux and typed in a command that deletes the structure of the hard drive. I forget the command, but if you're interested (meaning you can get a copy of a small linux bootable -- I can get you the name of the copy I've got..) I can get that information to you.

Then you just reboot with the XP CD and install it like it was the very first time.

Sadiq.

[Grant Palin]

Hmm. I never had a problem when doing a complete reinstall of Windows XP (and I've done it a few times!). I just boot off the CD, choose new install, tell it to do a complete format (not quick format - maybe this is what you're doing?), and just let it work. Again, I've never had a problem with this...

I really like Windows XP - I think it's a great operating system. It has many great features, like hot plug and play, playing DVDs, etc. But I'll admit to being frustrated with having to download security updates whenever they come out, and dealing with occasional problems. I wish Microsoft had spent more time testing the system for problems before releasing it, but there we are. I still think it's a great system, and has a lot of potential.

And I've recently installed Linux on my Windows XP computer, set up to dual-boot, so I can use either system whenever I want. I'd been meaning to try Linux for some time, and finally got around to it, and I'm hapy with it. But I'm not going to ditch Windows XP, personally. I like it too much. ;)

Seriously though, I'm just used to Windows XP, and Linux is fairly different. I'm still adjusting. Besides, I have so many Windows applications that would be useless if I went Linux-only. But that's your choice!

I agree that Windows has it's share of problems, and that Microsoft could have spent more time on testing and fixing potential holes. But it is what it is. If you want to try Linux, go for it!

[oracleguy]

Hmm. I never had a problem when doing a complete reinstall of Windows XP (and I've done it a few times!). I just boot off the CD, choose new install, tell it to do a complete format (not quick format - maybe this is what you're doing?), and just let it work. Again, I've never had a problem with this...

Grant's on the right track here. You might have just been installing over your old copy without actually re-formatting your hard drive. Once your format the drive, it will wipe everything out and you'll start fresh.

[Grant Palin]

Grant's on the right track here. You might have just been installing over your old copy without actually re-formatting your hard drive. Once your format the drive, it will wipe everything out and you'll start fresh.

I'm right???

I'm right!!! :D :D

Thanks OracleGuy! Way to boost my ego! :thumbsup:

[M1k3-+i3]

I always re-format its become like some sort of personal tradition if you see what I meen.

What I do is fdisk (if I want to sort my partitions), format and then install XP.

So no your not right in the respect that I don't re-format before installation.

[Grant Palin]

I was referring to OracleGuy saying that I was "on the right track"...

[M1k3-+i3]

OK in that sense you were more or less right :)

So can you provide any methods of getting rid of those settings please?

[Grant Palin]

What I do is fdisk (if I want to sort my partitions), format and then install XP.

Where do you do the formatting? Through fdisk? Or through the Windows XP installer?

I'm just wondering because of that statement of yours...

[oracleguy]

I'm confused too, if you fdisk'd the drive and then formatted it, everything should be gone. There are no "settings" left.

[sad69]

If I may, what settings are being kept that you're so concerned about?

Sadiq.

[M1k3-+i3]

I format using Windows 98se CD in DOS. And I just want a clean install fresh settings like new because thats why people fdisk format and start again.

And in fact there is one particulary annoying setting it seems to linger and never go away but in Oxygen Phone Manager some muppet removed my phone and now I can't use my phone on it no matter what I do its there taunting me I almost flattened the person that did it.

[M1k3-+i3]

Anyone help please.

[M1k3-+i3]

OK lets try a different approach..

How are these settings stored is it like some hidden files or something because if its all in files then i could overwrite them in DOS several times over to make sure there completely gone then format and install XP.

[Spookster]

There are no hidden settings being stored. Grant Palin has alread explained how to do this. Insert the WinXP CD and reboot. Your system should detect and boot from the CD and WinXP will give you some options. One of those options being format the drive and then install. When the disk gets formatted there are no settings being stored for WinXP. It's as simple as that. There is not trick to it.

[sad69]

It might have something to do with this Oxygen thing you're talking about. Perhaps the settings that have been changed in that program do not reside on your computer, and actually on some server?

I don't know anything about this Oxygen software you speak of, but if that's the case, it really doesn't matter how many times you reload your computer, the settings aren't there to be reset.

Perhaps you should contact the support for Oxygen to figure out how to solve this issue.

Sadiq.

[digits4554]

If u have the WINXP setup in CD then, When u boot with the Win98 CD it will ask for with CD support or not... select the CD support.

It will load all the CD Rom support and will stop in Ms prompt.. select the CD drive and select the folder called I386, then in the prompt type "winnt"

The WinXP setup should Load...


Before this for Fast installing load the smartdrv from ur Win98 CD