# Trying to reformat a Windows XP computer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 5, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317 "2012-07-05T15:08:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/21 "2012-07-08T14:14:17Z")

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Did you check the BIOS for boot options?  
Usually Del, F1 or F12 when booting and allow booting from the CD drive.

If it doesn’t work with DBan then perhaps [GParted](http://gparted.sourceforge.net/) will fix it for you.

Wipe the partition then reformat as Ext2, then Ext3, then NTFS then Ext4.

Ed: **Just reread your post. Press F2 when booting to alter the BIOS options.**

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**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/22 "2012-07-08T14:15:57Z")

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The error sounds like you don’t have a bootable cd. Did you just burn the files to cd, or did you specifically make it bootable?

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**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/23 "2012-07-08T14:19:10Z")

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> [@AaronX](#):
>
> The error sounds like you don’t have a bootable cd. Did you just burn the files to cd, or did you specifically make it bootable?

It wasn’t a bootable cd :smack:

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**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/24 "2012-07-08T14:33:02Z")

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Ok, I made it bootable this time and it’s up and running right now. Thanks everyone for your answers 🆒

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**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/25 "2012-07-09T01:16:43Z")

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Yeah, sorry I’m on my phone so I can’t find instructions for you.

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**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-reformat-a-windows-xp-computer/627317/26 "2012-07-10T01:59:54Z")

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Ok I found out how I installed it on a USB drive, using another program called Universal USB Installer. I think the instructions I followed were something like [www.pendrivelinux.com/install-dban-to-a-usb-flash-drive-using-windows/](http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-dban-to-a-usb-flash-drive-using-windows/)

In case anybody else wants to know. It worked, but I had to use the default settings for DBAN - any other settings would cause an error.

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