ok, I'm really new to formatting and all, and I don't have a clue what nfts or whatever it is is, lol, so you guys may have to explain all this to me. My computer has a lot of errors, and I wanna just start over, so I'm trying to format my C: drive, where XP is. I don't have a backup drive or anything, just a D: driver and E: drive for CDRom and Burning, A: Floppy. I'm mainly trying to figure out how to get into DOS to do the format. In windows the msdos prompt won't let me format, so I restart, press F8, go to start comp in safe mode and command prompt, then I try it but it won't work. OK, lol, forgive my stupidness, but what do i do now? thanks!

Your file system is NTFS so you can't just type format c: Boot from the WinXP CD then you will be able to format your C: if you don't know... You need to change the bios to CD-ROM to the first Boot sequence...

Just use the win xp cd to install the win xp. The installation routine will allow you to format. You will see a menu that allows you to choose whether you want to format the partition using NTFS or FAT32 file sytem. Make sure you select the correct partition where the old win xp files are. Hope this helps. Bye

I too have had the same problem as above. I'm wanting to format and reinstall XP pro however no matter what I try it won't let me. I've tried through the disk however I get to the point of the install and it says that there are temporary files on my hard drive needed for the install and therefore won't allow me to format. Any ideas? Perhaps a boot disk? How would I do that? Thankx

FORMATTING While running your current version of XP , insert the XP CD in the drive. When the setup menu appears, select "New Installation" (clean install) from the pull-down menu. Also, select "Advanced" and place checkmarks in the two boxes. 2. Next, your computer will start copying files and then reboot. At this point, select the same drive/partition that Windows XP is currently installed on. Select the option to "format" this partition using either FAT32 or NTFS. 3. After the drive/partition is formatted, XP will begin the setup process and install "clean". 4. After registering and activating XP, be sure to run a "Defrag". For details: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp Note: It is important to visit the web site of the manufacturer of your computer to obtain any special XP drivers.

boot up from windows me or windows98 startup floppy, then type fdisk, answer yes to everything. then delete ntfs partition, it will ask you if your sure y or n choose y then it will delete ntfs the choose number 1 to install and make active a primary partition, when it asks you if you want to use one large partition choose yes or y then of xours you have to click on esc key on your keyboard, reboot again to bootup floppy, choose boot with cdrom support, make sure you have your windows xp disk in drive, it should trll you your your cdrom drive is E:\, at this point type format c:\ , after formating again boot up to startup floppy, and choose start windows with cdrom support, go to e:\ or where ever it tell you your cdrom is on, then type cd\ i386, hit enter, then use backspace key to wipe out i386 leaving you with e:\ , hit enter, you should see a blue screen with the message saying copying windows xp files to your computer or words to that effect, sit back & wait, takes about 2 to 3 hours for nice clean install. Frank