well this computer was given to me from a friend. XP Pro is currently installed on there. i already extracted all of the data on it to another computer on the network. my question is how do you wipe a hard drive and do a fresh install of windows xp? ive never done it before, and i feel this is a good opportunity to do so. if someone can tell me or link me to a site that tells me. i would appreciate it.

use this utility: http://www.download.com/Active-Kill...

How to Format a Hard Drive With Windows XP This page shows 2 ways of using XP to format Hard drives. 1. Formatting a Secondary Hard Drive. This option shows how to format hard drives when XP is already up and running. 2. Formatting and Installing from the Windows XP CD In this option you can delete, create and format partitions on your hard drives prior to installing XP. This is the option you need ___________________________________________ ☺ When everything else fails, read the instructions.

If you have an XP Pro cd, boot from it and during the install you will have the opportunity to repartition/format the disk.

http://www.dban.org/ Read what they have to say; download; make a floppy or CD; boot from same; wipe your disk. Been using it for years. Works good. Wipped two old IDE drives with it last weekend.

In your title and in your post, you mentioned "wipe the hard drive". Remember, that a format will not "wipe" the drive. All the data on the drive will still be recoverable. You'll have to use an app such as what 'chrismr' and 'JimDZ' mentioned. Another wiping program that most everyone already has is Spybot S & D. Just switch to Advanced mode, Tools, Secure Shredder. Don't squat with your spurs on!

thanks for all the help guys. im trying a bunch of different things. reinstall of xp was successful, though i dont have a product key so i have to wait for my friend to find the cd. in the meantime, i am attempting to install windows 98 SE on it, since i have a cd and product key for that. i have another issue though. i am looking to perhaps wipe and reformat a second pc and install windows 98 SE. The issue here is i can't seem to locate my product key for that pc. i tried one of those key finding softwares but it is giving me an incorrect key. i know this because the key that it gave me wouldnt work when i tried to install windows 98 SE on the first pc. however, since i do have that one 98 SE disc and a product key, i used that on the first pc. so to sum up, i have 1 product key for 98 SE (that i was able to find) and 2 pcs i want to install 98 SE on. am i allowed to install 98 SE on two pcs with one product key? since its an older OS, im not sure if microsoft cares anymore. the pcs will be on the same network if that counts for anything.