Hi, I have a dell inspirion 8100 laptop with win xp on it , i wanted to format the entire hard disk as well as the OS and reinstall the win XP OS as it was giving me problems. Could anyone tell me how i would be able to do this for a laptop with XP on it as i was not able to find this information anywhere. Thanks

Before doing the format make sure you have a cd burned with all the drivers for xp from the dell support website

thanks...will get the drivers...but i do not know the procedure to format the OS and the hard disk and then re-install WIN XP ..if anyone knows please let me know..

if you have a recovery cd, use that. If you don't, make sure the cd's you do have are the real deal. Most brand name computers install everything on a hidden partition on your hard drive...a format would erase all of that data. The recovery cd's simply use the hidden partition to restore your computer to how it was when you bought it. 1. access bios, and set it so it will boot off the cdrom. 2. put the win xp cd in, and boot off of it. 3. computer will ask whether you want to install win xp or repair it. select to install it. 4. when you get to the screen that shows the partitions currently on the hard drive, delete all the partitions. 5. follow the instructions and install win xp. it'll format the hard drive for you and install win xp.

ok will follow the procedure...i also had one more question...about the recovery cd...i recieved one cd from dell and it contains.. device drivers antivirus diagnostics and utilities support software etc it says on the cd "FOR REINSTALLING DELL INSPIRION SYSTEM SOFTWARE" and is called resource cd...i wanted to know if this is the recovery cd u are talking about...thanks alot