how do I reformat my hardrive and reinstall windows?

fredde · 06-26-2004, 12:01 PM

Hi!

I have a computer that is about 6 years old now and I'm using Windows 98. My problem is that the computer is really slow and I would like to update my system, so a friend told me that one thing that is possible to do is to reformat my hardrive and then buy a copy of Windows XP and install that. So I can get a good firewall and anti-virus programs...

If I reformat my hardrive, is it possible to install windows XP right afterwards?

Thanks,

/Fred

**[tab]** · 06-26-2004, 01:25 PM

Yep... in fact you can format you HDD as part of your WinXP installation. Make sure you backup any files you want first.

geranimo:// · 06-26-2004, 02:11 PM

yeah, but if ur computer is 6 years old, i dunno if xp will run smoothly, u might need extra memory etc...

akagore · 06-26-2004, 02:37 PM

i agree with geranimo.......if it's that old i'd go with ME....my pc is 5 yrs. old(athlon XP 500..ax59 pro motherboard...no frills video card) XP may be a curse instead of a blessing. I run ME at home and XP at work...ME works fine for me for what I do at home. Good Luck!!

Underground_Evo · 06-26-2004, 05:06 PM

well, there are a few things that you need to make sure that you have in order to run XP, could you please list your PC's specs?

fredde · 06-26-2004, 05:10 PM

Okay, is it Windows ME I should take a look on then?

My computer is a Pentium 2 processor and 128 MB RAM.

I'm not a 'computer person', if you know what I mean, so I would really need some help with this...

Thanks

/Fred

blacktop89 · 07-02-2004, 03:19 PM

haha, i'm not sure how much you know about computers, but if you know how to get into your BIOS, you can set the computer to boot from the cd-drive. once you do this you can put the win ME disc in and it will direct you in the steps to re-format the drive and install the OS. i've never installed win ME before, but that should work!

Alin.s · 07-02-2004, 03:56 PM

if u got windows me disk insert it and it will say format hit yes same for conferm it will do the rest sorry bout my spelling but i am typin fast and make typos when i type fast

**Praetor** · 07-07-2004, 06:10 AM

Quote:

i agree with geranimo.......if it's that old i'd go with ME....my pc is 5 yrs. old(athlon XP 500..ax59 pro motherboard...no frills video card)

Whoa! WindowsME was argueably the worst OS release by Microsoft. Even for an older system WindowsXP -- properly tuned and tweaked will run smoothly. I'd stay away from Windows2000 -- that OS takes a lot more juice to run effectively but a well tweaked XP system can work really well (hell I've redone a few computers spec'd at P2-400 w/32MB to use XP and after some intensive tweaking, they work respectably well considering their age).

72montecarlo · 07-07-2004, 07:11 AM

i agree with praetor above. i have installed xp pro on a pentium 2 300mhz system that has 128mb of ram and a 3gb hard drive and it ran fine. it booted up quick and had no problems. i also suggest not using windows me.

06-26-2004, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
fredde New Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6	how do I reformat my hardrive and reinstall windows? Hi! I have a computer that is about 6 years old now and I'm using Windows 98. My problem is that the computer is really slow and I would like to update my system, so a friend told me that one thing that is possible to do is to reformat my hardrive and then buy a copy of Windows XP and install that. So I can get a good firewall and anti-virus programs... If I reformat my hardrive, is it possible to install windows XP right afterwards? Thanks, /Fred Last edited by fredde; 07-02-2004 at 07:32 PM.

06-26-2004, 01:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
[tab] [...] Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 904	Yep... in fact you can format you HDD as part of your WinXP installation. Make sure you backup any files you want first. __________________ DVDRelease.com - Digital-Camera.org

06-26-2004, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Underground_Evo Silver Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Philly Age: 17 Posts: 103	well, there are a few things that you need to make sure that you have in order to run XP, could you please list your PC's specs? __________________ Nitto Resource Dell Dimension 3000 2.4ghz Intel Celeron · XP Home · 80gig HD · 512MB RAM CD-ROM/RW/DVD-ROM · 21in Monitor Sound Blaster Live! 24bit audio · 5:1 Surround Sound HP Pavilion 513n 1.8ghz Intel Celeron · XP Pro 160gig WD Caviar HD · 512MB RAM CD-ROM/RW/DVD-ROM+/-RW · CD-ROM · 17in Monitor

06-26-2004, 05:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
fredde New Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6	Okay, is it Windows ME I should take a look on then? My computer is a Pentium 2 processor and 128 MB RAM. I'm not a 'computer person', if you know what I mean, so I would really need some help with this... Thanks /Fred Last edited by fredde; 07-02-2004 at 07:34 PM.

07-07-2004, 07:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
72montecarlo Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ohio Age: 20 Posts: 135	i agree with praetor above. i have installed xp pro on a pentium 2 300mhz system that has 128mb of ram and a 3gb hard drive and it ran fine. it booted up quick and had no problems. i also suggest not using windows me. __________________ Dell XPS M170 OS: XP Professional SP2 CPU: Intel Pentium M 2.13Ghz MOBO: Intel 915PM Chipset HDD: 100Gb 7200rpm Ultra ATA OD: DVD-RW CD-RW Burner RAM: 2gb DDR2 533mhz VGA: PCi16x Geforce Go 6800 Ultra 256mb GDDR3 SCREEN: 17' WUXGA Ultrasharp TFT 1920x1200 native AUDIO: 2 Speakers, 1 1" subwoofer

06-26-2004, 02:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
geranimo:// Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Age: 20 Posts: 345	yeah, but if ur computer is 6 years old, i dunno if xp will run smoothly, u might need extra memory etc...

06-26-2004, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
akagore New Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 9	i agree with geranimo.......if it's that old i'd go with ME....my pc is 5 yrs. old(athlon XP 500..ax59 pro motherboard...no frills video card) XP may be a curse instead of a blessing. I run ME at home and XP at work...ME works fine for me for what I do at home. Good Luck!!

07-02-2004, 03:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
blacktop89 New Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 19	haha, i'm not sure how much you know about computers, but if you know how to get into your BIOS, you can set the computer to boot from the cd-drive. once you do this you can put the win ME disc in and it will direct you in the steps to re-format the drive and install the OS. i've never installed win ME before, but that should work!

07-02-2004, 03:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alin.s Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Palatine IL Posts: 53	if u got windows me disk insert it and it will say format hit yes same for conferm it will do the rest sorry bout my spelling but i am typin fast and make typos when i type fast

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