How to make a boot disk?

W

WillyWonkaPoo361

New Member
I'm new to computers. And I need to reformat, but I dont have an XP disc. Someone told me to make a boot disk with Linux, or Windows Vista.
But I don't know how to make a boot disk....:confused:
Can someone help me?
 
You can reformat with an old 98 startup floppy even with the updated fdisk for larger capacity drives. Are you looking to install a newer version of Windows after the drive is redone? If you are planning to install XP you will need an installation disk or recovery disk that came with the system if bought complete. For simple instructions on making a boot disk, http://www.computing.net/howto/simple/bootdisk/ To download the needed files to prepare a boot disk for various operating systems, http://www.bootdisk.com/
 
it depends. sometimes its just a disc image, linux gives out different types of copies for free, others for a price. a boot disc is just a disc with an operating system on it normally.
i tried vista, its not worth it yet.
linux isn't compatible with everything out there...
windows XP seems like the one right now, one word: compatible.
 
If you are unable to create a boot disk like one for an older OS like 98 or ME the next step would be to download a free zero fill utility that simply writes zeros in binary to the entire drive. That will wipe everything off of it. But without an installation disk you would be unable to install any operating system to run the system. The boot disk made depending on OS would only format the drive meking it bootable to a low level dos or basic NTFS partition depending on how the drive utilities used. Do you intend to install XP or another version afterwards?
 
I have no Discs. My brother took my XP disc without even asking.
So, I need to reformat, buuuut, I don't have an XP disc, or any recovery discs that came with my computer...
 
I would speak to your brother about the need for that disk to start off with before going any further. Without the disks that came with the system along with the XP installation disk you might as well as download and run a Linux distro. Once you reformat the drive you would only have a basic dos partition to work with without the operating system to put back on it.
 
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