# Reformatting a computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106 "2004-12-22T03:10:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106/1 "2004-12-22T03:10:11Z")
Hey all. I recently picked up a new pc, and wanted to give the older one to a family member. This computer has all sorts of old components, bits of software, etc. that have been collected over the past couple of years, so I figure the best thing to do is reformat the hard drive and do a clean XP install (I have the CD of course). The last time I did this kind of thing, I could simply type c:/format c. Can I still do this, and then use the BIOS to ensure I boot Windows from CD the first time? I guess I am not so concerned about the boot thing as I recall seeing that in the BIOS, but am unsure about the format process itself. Also, as an aside, is there anything I should be concerned of before reformatting the machine? It is not anything fancy, just a 1.4gHz, 384meg RAM, etc. pc that uses an Intel cpu and no idea what the motherboard is. Any tips/advice would be most welcome. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106/2 "2004-12-22T03:27:25Z")
- Make a bot disk (I forget how. Seems I’ve always just had one) - Stick it in and BOOT - At the A prompt, type: FDISK - View all partitions, and remove 'em all, primary DOS partition last (There’s a menu for all these commands) - Once all partitions are gone, create a new DOS partition. - Reboot onto the boot disk - From the A prompt: FORMAT C: - Once formatted, stick in your Windows XP CD and reboot. Should launch automatic like, but you may have to snoop around for your CD ROM drive and from there type: SETUP \*\*Careful! If all you have is XP Upgrade, I think it’s gonna look for a previous version of Windows. There may be a way around this, but I dunno. I had to load Win 98SE and upgrade from there, then go online and get my drivers (video, audio, etc.) Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106/3 "2004-12-22T03:39:37Z")
[http://www.bootdisk.com/](http://www.bootdisk.com/) ---
**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:** [December 22, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106/4 "2004-12-22T03:44:41Z")
There’s no need to “pre-format” the disk. You will have a chance to do this during the “text-based” portion of XP setup. Just boot off the CD and a few steps in to it setup will examine your disks, You will be given the option to create (and\or delete) a partition, and re-format any existing or new ones. For best results, use XP’s native filesystem (NTFS) instead of FAT32. Also, every Microsoft OS since Windows 98 is capable of doing a clean install without have a previous OS in place. If your XP CD-ROM is an upgrade disc, it will ask for you to insert your previous OS disc at a certain point during setup. After “verification”, setup will continue. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reformatting-a-computer/281106/5 "2004-12-22T03:51:25Z")
Bah…I knew I was doing it the hard way. :smack: