Clean install w/ no OS disk?

iking · 01-05-2008, 02:43 AM

My buddy built my computer about 5 years ago before I knew what I was doing and must have kept the OS disk

I am using XP and want to do clean install.

What do I need, how to do it? I have done this once before a long time ago but had an OS disk and a boot disk but not sure what to do now.

PC eye · 01-05-2008, 03:01 AM

That will depend on the type of XP installation cd you have there. Is that an upgrade or full version disk? For an upgrade you would first see an older version of Windows or even another installation of XP like XP without SP1 if that is and XP with SP1 disk. While Windows was running you would then run the installation to see the present installation replaced as part of the upgrade.

For using the full install type you set the cd rom option as the first in the boot order in the bios itself or with many board press an assigned F key like F8 to see a boot device menu brought up. That allows you to select the optical drive for the optical drive catagory seen there to boot from the disk itself. That will see the installer load up.

Once you see the first splash screen you then follow the onscreen instructions to first create a new primary since an old existing one would be useless after that amount of time. The original would be far too fragmented needing deletion if found where the installer will then be able to create a new replacement.

Once the installation starts the installer will then format the new primary in preparation for seeing the setup installation type files copied to the drive itself. When completed the system will be restarted and you will be prompted at seeing the first desktop to finish setting up Windows then.

This is also when all hardware and devices needing drivers will be seeing new hardwares found popup notifications asking for driver disks or folder where drivers are located. For most the cancel button is used until the rest is completed to then swap disks in the optical drive used in order to see the installer for video and sound cards(unless onboard) following the run of the software disk for the board itself.

Video is generally first so that the screen color depth bit as well as screen resolution can be set. That makes for far easier viewing. The system will go through several restarts with each main software/drivers for hardwares to finish the installation of each. So be prepared to see that.

iking · 01-05-2008, 03:21 AM

Thanks so much for the help first of all.

I have no disk at all. The OS that was put on my computer is XP Pro SP2.

Will I need a Windows XP disk to do a clean install?

PC eye · 01-05-2008, 04:12 AM

If this is on a system where XP was preinstalled for you and you don't have any disk you will now need to buy a full install type copy of XP or other version of Windows to replace the current copy installed. You will also have to download any drivers/software updates still available for the board and other hardwares like video card and sound if any expansion cards were used.

On too old of a system? That's when the fun begins! You may in a hard place after this amount of time and have to search high and low at third party sites that may still carry drivers for things there. In the pc world 5yrs. is like an eternity if you can still see the case restored. A look at any software disks you kept is the first thing if you still have those onhand.

01-05-2008, 02:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
iking Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 28	Clean install w/ no OS disk? My buddy built my computer about 5 years ago before I knew what I was doing and must have kept the OS disk I am using XP and want to do clean install. What do I need, how to do it? I have done this once before a long time ago but had an OS disk and a boot disk but not sure what to do now.

01-05-2008, 03:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	That will depend on the type of XP installation cd you have there. Is that an upgrade or full version disk? For an upgrade you would first see an older version of Windows or even another installation of XP like XP without SP1 if that is and XP with SP1 disk. While Windows was running you would then run the installation to see the present installation replaced as part of the upgrade. For using the full install type you set the cd rom option as the first in the boot order in the bios itself or with many board press an assigned F key like F8 to see a boot device menu brought up. That allows you to select the optical drive for the optical drive catagory seen there to boot from the disk itself. That will see the installer load up. Once you see the first splash screen you then follow the onscreen instructions to first create a new primary since an old existing one would be useless after that amount of time. The original would be far too fragmented needing deletion if found where the installer will then be able to create a new replacement. Once the installation starts the installer will then format the new primary in preparation for seeing the setup installation type files copied to the drive itself. When completed the system will be restarted and you will be prompted at seeing the first desktop to finish setting up Windows then. This is also when all hardware and devices needing drivers will be seeing new hardwares found popup notifications asking for driver disks or folder where drivers are located. For most the cancel button is used until the rest is completed to then swap disks in the optical drive used in order to see the installer for video and sound cards(unless onboard) following the run of the software disk for the board itself. Video is generally first so that the screen color depth bit as well as screen resolution can be set. That makes for far easier viewing. The system will go through several restarts with each main software/drivers for hardwares to finish the installation of each. So be prepared to see that. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

01-05-2008, 04:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	If this is on a system where XP was preinstalled for you and you don't have any disk you will now need to buy a full install type copy of XP or other version of Windows to replace the current copy installed. You will also have to download any drivers/software updates still available for the board and other hardwares like video card and sound if any expansion cards were used. On too old of a system? That's when the fun begins! You may in a hard place after this amount of time and have to search high and low at third party sites that may still carry drivers for things there. In the pc world 5yrs. is like an eternity if you can still see the case restored. A look at any software disks you kept is the first thing if you still have those onhand. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

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01-05-2008, 03:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
iking Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 28	Thanks so much for the help first of all. I have no disk at all. The OS that was put on my computer is XP Pro SP2. Will I need a Windows XP disk to do a clean install?