The proper way to do a clean install of Win XP is as follows: You need a boot up disk with Smartdrv.exe on it, an old Win 98,SE,or Win ME disk will do, but I repeat it must have the above exe on it. After all your formats etc are done; Restart your computer with your boot up disk. 1. When you get to the A:\prompt, type in Smartdrv, it will then revert back to the A:\prompt 2. You then type in your CD ROM DRIVE letter ie D.E,F: 3. At your Cd Rom drive letter Type in cd i386 hit return: 4.Type in Winnt hit return. 5.Just hit the return button again and bingo setup begins, just follow the on screen prompts from then on. This method I have found to be the best way to do a clean install, as opposed to downloading 6 floppy disks on the net. hope this helps someone out there. Regards: Patsym1

I'm sure that the above method works, but an easier way would be to simply boot from the CD and use XP's reformating tools. Especially if you're going to use the NTFS file system (otherwise you'll waste your time formating TWICE, ie. FAT32 with the Win98 boot disk, and then NTFS with the XP CD).

How do i boot from a CD? Do i just go in the BIOS and go to 1st boot device and put it as CD-ROM? I do that, but where do i get XPs reformating tools?