How to do clean install of XP?

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larryq22

New Member
How do I do a clean re-install of Windows XP Home on my Dell desktop pc? Original is years old - pre Service Pack 1 and i'm on SP3. I've backed up all the documents & drivers I can find, but ... when I insert the original XP CD I get a message saying the version on the pc is newer than the one on CD, and it forces me out. Evidently I need to uninstall XP, but ... the advice says to do this from Add/Remove Programs, and XP doesn't appear on my program list. Just XP SP3 and other Windows update-typ-entries. I even went so far as going into BIOS and telling it to boot from the CD but ... all that did was disable my CD drives and network card. My goal is simply to wipe everything off the pc and start clean. Had to resort to System Restore for this. Help!!!!!
 
You have to boot from the XP disc.

When you enable it in the BIOS, there should be a prompt
when you restart the computer, to "Press any key to boot from CD".
 
To add to previous post, you need to make sure that you delete existing partitions and then repartition the drive to do a fresh install.
 
johnb35 said:
To add to previous post, you need to make sure that you delete existing partitions and then repartition the drive to do a fresh install.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say you have to delete the existing partitions.

I just do a full format then install.
 
Bodaggit23 said:
I wouldn't say you have to delete the existing partitions.

I just do a full format then install.
Click to expand...

You can't format the drive using the cd unless you delete the existing partitions. You would have to format using a different method but why would you waste the time using a different method when it only takes a couple seconds to delete the existing partitions and recreate them using the install cd?
 
johnb35 said:
You can't format the drive using the cd unless you delete the existing partitions. You would have to format using a different method but why would you waste the time using a different method when it only takes a couple seconds to delete the existing partitions and recreate them using the install cd?
Click to expand...

You don't have to delete the partition. You just format the current partition unless there is more than one and you want the full drive space.

FYI, the only difference between a full format and a quick format is the quick one doesn't scan the entire drive for errors before formatting. It's just a waste of time.
 
If I'm reading this right the OP has a message "the version on the pc is newer than the one on CD" so XP setup sees his SP updates as a newer version than the CD and refuses to install.

I would agree with John and delete the partition that has XP on it when prompted and re-create it, this would stop setup from seeing the existing OS. Then format and install when prompted.
 
TFT said:
If I'm reading this right the OP has a message "the version on the pc is newer than the one on CD" so XP setup sees his SP updates as a newer version than the CD and refuses to install.
Click to expand...

This is because the OP is running the disc while in his current version of Windows, which is newer than the version on the disc.

Thus, why they need to Boot from the disc and format.
 
To TFT: I'm the OP (original person?) and I've tried changing the boot order in BIOS but it doesn't work. What if I uninstall all service packs, insert XP disk, and reboot? Then theoritically neither version would be "newer". If this makes sense, how does one uninstall SP1,2,3?
 
Well there might be another reason that your CD is not booting. Not all CDs are bootable, especially the older ones of win XP
 
Pimpa said:
Well there might be another reason that your CD is not booting. Not all CDs are bootable, especially the older ones of win XP
Click to expand...

Not true. Mostly all OS CD's are bootable (Hell even windows 98 has a bootable CD). His drive may just be bad and won't allow a boot. It's a common issue with me at the computer store I work at.
 
larryq22 said:
To TFT: I'm the OP (original person?) and I've tried changing the boot order in BIOS but it doesn't work. What if I uninstall all service packs, insert XP disk, and reboot? Then theoritically neither version would be "newer". If this makes sense, how does one uninstall SP1,2,3?
Click to expand...

It's "Original Poster".

Anyway, have you tried Tapping the Del key when you're starting the pc?
Tapping the Esc key while starting the pc?
Tapping the F12 key while starting the pc?

One of these must work, regardless of the BIOS setting.

I haven't encountered a pc yet that would not boot from CD.

If you want to try uninstalling the service packs, here you go:

How To Uninstall Service Pack 3

How To Uninstall Service Pack 2

How To Uninstall Service Pack 1
 
It still sounds like he's trying to install from within windows and he can't. He needs to boot the cd. It's possible the cd is scratched and won't be bootable or its a copy and it wasn't made bootable. The cdrom drive could be bad.
 
You don't need to change the BIOS to boot from CD - when you see the manufacturers logo when you turn it on, theres usually a little legend that says "Press F9 for Boot Menu" or something like that - you want to access the boot menu.
 
Platinum said:
You don't need to change the BIOS to boot from CD - when you see the manufacturers logo when you turn it on, theres usually a little legend that says "Press F9 for Boot Menu" or something like that - you want to access the boot menu.
Click to expand...

Not all computers have that option....
 
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