# Computer reformatting?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499 "2004-06-21T19:46:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499/1 "2004-06-21T19:46:26Z")

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I’m going for a reformat of my Dell laptop (winXP home), and I just realized that I’m not certain how to do it. I was about to go ahead, but wanted to confirm how to:

Dos prompt (Don’t remember how to open it)  
“Format C:”

Put in installation disk, restart…

Anything else?

(Yes, I already have everything backed up and in order.)

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**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499/2 "2004-06-21T19:53:51Z")

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Nope. Just boot off the XP CD. During setup, you will have to pick where you want to install XP. Select the correct partition. If you already ahve XP on it, you will be told that there is already an OS there. Press whatever key you have to to continue, then choose for format the partition (Quick Format, NTFS)

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**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499/3 "2004-06-21T20:00:14Z")

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Thanks for the quick response… I’ll post back in a little and let you know that my computer works again.

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**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499/4 "2004-06-22T10:07:44Z")

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are you re-installing the os the computer came with? if not do a low-level format as alot of time on a manufactured computer the rescue and installation disks point to a “hidden” drive secreted away on the hard drive with all the install files for the provided OS. mmmmm… extra space…

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**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-reformatting/251499/5 "2004-06-23T14:27:04Z")

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Ok; everything’s back up (Sorry I didn’t reply before… I left right after I got the OS reinstalled… didn’t even install any of the drivers at that point.)