The word Format can mean quite a few things in the world of computers. You could format text in a word document, have a different file format, or in this case, format the hard drive in your computer. Sometimes you need to format to ultra clean your computer. It makes it faster, new looking and gets rid of errors and viruses.
Windows XP disc is bootable and really does everything for you. (Well nearly) This means that when you insert a Windows XP disc into your computer, it should start automatically.
However before you do format a computer you should backup your data. Some things to backup include: photos, my documents, favourites folder, emails, all contacts, passwords and more….Go and check out my backup list.
Next is to make sure you have a system disk that came with your computer for display drivers, LAN drivers, USB, audio etc. If you do not have this there is a program called XP tools which grabs your drivers and makes them into an exe file…It is a lifesaver.
So when you have formatted your computer, you press on this exe file and your drivers are restored. However if you do not want to spend money you will have to find your computers drivers on the internet and download them. Here is where to find drivers.
How to Format a computer using a Windows XP disc
- First you must put your Windows XP CD in the drive.
- Then restart your computer.
- When it says press any key to boot from cd, Press any key on the keyboard. (Go to step 6)
- If it doesn’t ask you this then restart your computer again.
- Go into the BIOS settings of your PC, usually by pressing the F1, F2, F10, or maybe the delete key. If you are not sure watch the screen at startup and it will say “To enter setup press…….”. You have to be quick and press it. If you miss it restart again. Once you are in the bios you have to change the boot options. You have to make your cd rom the first boot option. Save and exit.
- A blue screen will appear and you are on your way..
- Press Enter to setup Windows XP now. See screenshot above.
- If there is a copy of Windows XP on your computer and you wish to overwrite it you will have to press the escape button when prompted. (screenshot below) Do not install Windows XP in another directory unless you know what you are doing. Just overwrite the previous version as you should have backed up your data anyway.
- You should now make the partition that had windows on it blue and press D to delete the partition. It will ask if you are sure. Press L to confirm. More details on deleting partitions.
- Then Press C to create another partition and Windows will estimate a size for you. If you wanted to partition your hard drive into two equal parts you would have to do some math’s and then type the appropriate number in. Otherwise just going with what Windows puts there will be the minimum partition size.
- Press Enter to confirm size.
- Then it will ask you which partition you want to install Windows on. The default is C: drive. Select this by making it blue and press enter.
- If there are no partitions it will create one for you.
- Then it will ask you to format quick, normal, in fat32 or NTFS. Fat32 suits older computers so I choose a quick format with NTFS. Quick or Slow is fine. If you had errors it is better to use a slow format which can also be known as a low level format.
- From now on you just Follow the prompts and let it go..
- The computer will restart and it will try to boot from cd again…Do not press anything on the keyboard.. Just let it go through the stages of setup.
- Make sure you have your serial number ready to enter in. This can be found on your coa certificate which is a sticker usually put on the side of your computer.
- Do not remove the Windows XP CD until the computer has started up with a new desktop and icons.
Now the next process begins.. Installing your device drivers for your computer. See What are Device Drivers and why do I need them for my computer?
BIOS How to get there and change settings
NOTES
- Follow the instructions carefully. Once you have done this a few times, you will see how easy it is.
- The only way to learn is to try it yourself.
- Be very careful not to make mistakes as restarting this process over and over can corrupt your computer. If you do make a mistake, try pressing the escape button as it can sometimes take you back to the previous screen.
- If you cannot proceed through the format process, maybe you did not delete the old partition??
- If there is more than one partition on your hard drive you can just format the one that has the previous version of Windows on it. That way the data on the other partition will be safe.
- After errors ad viruses have been found on your computer, you should format a computer on on low level format , and not a quick format.
- You can also go to the Microsoft website for more information. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348 You can get all the information from this site, however it can be very confusing for most people, including me!!!
I see that you posted how to format computer but you didn’t said what people should do before getting to computer format . If they have any problem like blue screen because of a power failure they need to enter the console and do chkdsk c: ( or the letter you have windows installed). Ans also if they have a virus or something and can’t remove it they should backup their data ( i suggest a software like Dmailer BackUp Software ) and after that go the the format process
Hi JohnnyBoyClub
You are right about all this..People should try all possible things before formatting… And even if they format, it could have been a hardware failure and formatting won’t help…However I am a format freek!!!! There is nothing like a good format to really clean your computer out…This is not recomended for everyone as you can really start your own problems if you are not experienced… Years ago I started out formatting computers because I had to…It was costing me too much to get them fixed after I had experimented on them. Back in those days there was no one to teach you how to do it… Hey I am not that old though…
Hi JohnnyBoyClub
You are right about all this..People should try all possible things before formatting… This is not recomended for everyone as you can really start your own problems if you are not experienced…
Hi,
i need How to format the computer some clrification from your side.
Thanking you,
Durai.D
Hi,
i need How to formating the computer like XP, Windows 2000,clrificatin help from your side.
Thanking you,
Durai
Hi,
Thanks For your help. I’m trying to format my computer for the first time. I’m having some problems. One of which is I’m not able to reach the Windows setup menu. I tried so many times to reach but still I’m unsuccessful. Can you tell me what shall i do ?
Thanks
Are you using a Windows Xp disc?
What screen do you get to?
Explain a bit deeper and I might be able to help..
What does it say on the screen?
i had changed my First boot device into CDrom. when i inserted the installation CD and restart my pc, it says “press any key to boot from cd”. I tried to press any key on keyboard but nothing happpened, my pc just running as usual. So i can’t format my pc. Why is this happened?
I have some questions for you:
–Is your keyboard working?
–Are you pressing the key on the keyboard fast enough?
It sounds like you have done everyhting right. The computer is seeing the cd in the drive and knows it is auto run. It is as simple as pressing “any key”. I usually press the space bar and have my hand on it ready.
If the keyboards not working you need to try another keyboard.
You can also start the cd when you have the computer running Windows already…From in Windows…but I feel it does not do a great job of formatting. There is nore chance for errors… If you can get this working and press” any key” then it is a much bettter format.
It was my keyboard problem. Now i had done my format pc successfully with seeing this nice article. Thank you very much.
hello, when im formatting the slow 1 not the quick one, it seems to just stop at a random number? normally between 20 and 40 it just freezes am i not waiting long enough?
This has happened to me a million times.
Here are some of the things I try:
Try another disc, and if you do not have one, make a fresh copy of it.
Clean the disc and start again. Maybe it missed some important information.
Try doing a fast format first and then go back and do the slow and thorough one.
Continue trying to do a slow format and you might get lucky.
i have two xps installed on my pc. now i want to remove one and leave the other new one. how do i do that?
then maybe if that isb not possible how do i delete them all and install a fresh one. pls help me i am not all that conversant with these things so. i beg make it easy.
Nasara
Well you need to read the Formatting Xp section ….you will need a disc and a serial number from the COA sticker. You will need to backup files to another device or disc to save…as formatting will clean everything…then insert the disc and it should boot to that…If it doesn’t, you need to change the boot options in the bios….
If the disc starts read every step carefully … delete the partitions and create a fresh one then continue with formatting…
It would be nice to experiment on a spare computer or see someone else do it because it is not as hard as everyone thinks…
i want to format all drives.how it can be done?
I thank you very much i can format my pc now easily however i want , and i shouldn’t pay anymore thanks .
I format my computer recently ! I follow the same procedure that u written ! But now there are some problems are occured ! Many softwares are not been installed and if there any software running , then after some time the error is occured & it told to close that application ! Pls give me some advice about it !!!
It doesn’t sound like you had a smooth format…And if you haven’t installed other drivers and programs correctly then this can cause problems.
If you formatted your computer and it was fine and working…do a system restore or remove the programs that you think are causing the problem.
If there was a problem at the start before installing any extra programs then you might need to format again…very carefully.
When installing drivers and program you should take your time and finish each installation and then see if it has caused a problem.
You can format all at once if they are only a partition of the main hard drive… However if you have actual separate hard drives then you would format C: drive and put Windows on it…and then go into my computer, right click on the other drives and choose to format.
Remember you will lose all your files…
I usually put all the files I want to keep on my second hard drive, then format c: drive, and then put the files back after… Oh so clean…
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It is very amazing tips , and it was very good to help me to format my computer without others help
If we format computer many times , is it affect the computer ?
I used to format my computer every few months and it was fine…
rives and choose to format.
Remember you will lose all your files…
I usually put all the files I want to keep on my second hard drive, then format c: drive, and then put the files back after… Oh so clean…
hi,
if we are formating many time computer then it can be harmful to hard disk???????????????????
how do i download
Thanks a lot Pal. I needed it badly.
I must confess my happines over the activities of thi unique forum. Once again am extending my cudos to all who by one means or the other comtributed greatly to the developmental idea of this forum. May God continue to increase your wisdom. I also want to be part of the forum, but couldn’t find the sign up page.
thank you because can complete my assignment
Thnx friend for ur support
i have a computer problem
when i am starting my pc it starts shows motherboard company name and then writes to open like this “safe mode”, “starts window automatically”
when i am pressing on option “start window automatically” it starting and then restart again. and repeated like this continuesly plz help me frnd iwant to format it but i cannot do it bcoz the xp cd is not booting even my first boot device is CD ROM.
Hi Muntazeer
When a computer restarts it is usually caused by your computer memory. See http://tips4pc.com/articles/computer%20troubleshooting/computer-restarts-after-loading-the-windows-logo-screen.htm
hello
brother plssssss
help me….
ma dvd writer is damaged so can v format ma computer with pendrive or other external devices
plssss ans me in my email id plssssssssssss
i m in prob….
Hi Vivek
If you were to install Windows from a pendrive you would need a special version so it will run from that. Why can’t you replace the dvd drive…Even an old cd drive will do…If we are talking about a desktop, you could even borrow one from a friend…
Hello,
I have the XP disc you mention but my dvd readers dare both damaged and they dont seem to read the disc. I have an exterior cd-reader and my pc reads the disc but it doesnt read it on startup. And I have a major Trojan who took control over my computer and i have to format it. Can anyone help me with this?
Hi Tybo
I would replace the dvd drive which is an easy 5 minute job…and pretty cheap too…$20 or so…maybe $30, depending on where you live. You can also borrow one from a friend just to do the format…
Have you tried to set the external dvd device to start in the bios..