Hey thanks to anyone actually reading this right now ;)... I just got Windows XP Pro and I installed it because my Windows 98 was not working PERIOD (permanent blue screen of death when I rebooted)...now I want to reformat my HD(s) effectively wiping everything clean and I want to install Windows XP as the sole OS (as opposed to having 98 AND XP, b/c 98 is still on my computer). What steps do I need to take to make sure that I can reformat my hard drives and reinstall XP without turning my PC into a $3000 paperweight? Do I need a boot disk (I think I already got it at the MS website) and what do I need to do to make sure my drivers and such work when I reinstall? (BTW I believe my XP is bootable b/c when I put the CD in my disk drive it loaded automatically and asked me if I wanted to install...) Thanks to anyone and everyone for any advice or guidance. I appreciate it.

If you can boot from a cd try that or you are going to have to use a friends computer and get a windows 98 boot disk or better. If you have another computer around or at your friends house go to control panel and add remove programs and startup disk and make the disk. Hope this helps if it does not work after you tried all that email me because i can solve your problems except giving away product keys. Jason Comp Tech

Sorry forgot to add when you boot up select cd mode and when it boots up type format c: and when the hd is done formatting then go to the cd drive and run setup Jason Comp Tech

WinXP (like win2K) can boot directly from the CD, just change the boot order so that your CPU boots from the CD drive first, then restart with the winXP CD in the drive. The setup will give you an option to format and partion you hard drive. Do so and everything on your hard drive will be lost, use a NTFS partion. Very easy to do.

Oh yeah, make sure you change the boot order back when the computer reboots during the setup, the setup needs to reboot from the hard drive to complete the installation.

if u are stuck on that system with the blue screen error... hit the main switch .. shut the goddam thing ooff... goto CMOS setup by pressing DEL after u boot and i assume u know the rest to make the computer boot from the CD ROM i also assume u have the original CDROM .. coz that ll have no peobs booting and the installation will ask u in a few minutes about formatting your drive.. choose format with NTFS.. and pull back on the stick gently... maintain climb at 20 degrees and once you reach 5000 ft. retract flaps and reduce engine power to 78 percent. (sorry) good luck

You can go to this web site http://dxintel.perl.cx/xpframe.htm and download a 98 boot disk and the 6 XP boot disks You can then install from DOS if needed Be prepared!