Important XP Question

M

Mikeohioukus

New Member
Hello.. recently i installed vista.. didnt like it... reformatted my hard drive.. It seemed to wipe everything off even my factory isntalled XP, I had to install XP from a friends disc using my product key... It worked.. But then after reformatting again with the reformat disk and it started to run.. I noticed it started to run the factory installed xp again.. But heres the situation.. I tested a reformat again, To see if it would lal be normal again.. Like reformatting before it wiped everything off and left the factory xp, But it cleaned it off again, It seems for me to have that used again.. I have to install xp with the friends disc and then reformat straight after? Is there a way around this so it all stays normal as it seems the factory xp is still on the system.. Any ideas anyone.. thanks...
 
Formatting wipes everything from the drive so if XP was on there it is gone. The only difference between the factory one is it is OEM. If XP is working as it should then you have nothing to worry about.
 
It looks like your installing 2 copies over and over, just boot to the XP cd, Delete the partition, create a new one, format the drive and install. That way you will only have one copy on it.
 
Thanks

Thanks... is there a way to check if there are 2 copies installed.. I just dont understand but if i reformat and put that disc in how come that brings the orginal xp back with all its software.. If i let the main install run with the disc it doesnt have the software or any drivers atall... I don't get it..
 
If the main drive partition was formatted, the original installation would have been nuked if had been on it. If it's showing up after a format, it's not on the main partition. Some OEM's put the Windows installation (and other stuff like drivers, software & settings) on a hidden partition. Quite often if they've done this, you access it via the BIOS to recover the PC back to factory defaults.

The sure fire way to be sure the disk is clean is to FDISK it. Destroy all the partitions, then recreate them. I garuntee you no software can remain on the drive if you wipe the partition table.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top