How do you clean your hard drive and reinstall Windows XP?

Is this something you recommend a novice to undertake?

thanks for any info!

P.S.: I've backed up all of my data files I want to save and I have most programs on CD to reinstall.

if you HAVE a Win XP CD-ROM with valid key, then you need to boot the machine into DOS (you can make a bootable DOS floppy disk with XP). Then, once you're at the command prompt, type the following: format c: /y

This will format the drive, and then you just need to reboot with your Win XP disk in the CD-rom drive (and the bootable floppy removed from the floppy drive) and it should boot to the Windows installation routine.

XP provides you the choice to format from the bootable cd before install, from a pleasingly non-DOS graphical interface; either a quick format in NTFS or FAT32, or a normal format in either file system. There is no need for DOS anything, or boot disks. It will pop up warnings first when it detects an existing OS, and then right before formatting. The first warning forces you to acknowledge that you are aware there's an existing OS on the machine, and that you wish to continue with the install process as opposed to the repair process. The second is the standard warning before any format operation - you will lose all the data on this drive.

this is the way to go

just make sure you have the licence and activation key with you

The activation key will be given to you over the internet when you re-activate.

(should say "Microsoft™ Certificate of Authenticity" or something like that) OR on a sticker on the back of the PC case, possibly (if it was an OEM installation). 25 characters in groups of five.

Note that this is just the product key for installation of the OS; you'll need to re-activate it (although you may not need to take this step if you're reinstalling on the same system.)

Am getting the message when I load the Windows XP CD that I have an newer version if XP running, so advice is to:

"To install the version on the CD, restart your computer, boot from this CD, and follow the instructions for a new installation."

thanks to everyone for your knowledge!

it might say "Press any key to boot from this cd"

Press space.

To boot from a CD in BIOS. This can vary depending on your BIOS manufactorer. It's probably Award BIOS so I'll explain that one.
As you're booting, hit the "delete" key. This should get you into the BIOS screen.
In the first screen. Select "Advanced BIOS features" using the arrow keys. Hit "Enter".
Then arrow down to "First boot device" Press "enter" you should get a menu which allows you to select your CD-Rom drive as your first boot device. Press F10, it'll ask you if you want to save changes and exit, type "Y".

Your computer will reboot, and you should be able to boot from your CD now.

Which is not hard, I have been scared to death of formatting my XP machine. I know the horrors of other Windoze OS's.

My question here is...sbp you said, "The first warning forces you to acknowledge that you are aware there's an existing OS on the machine, and that you wish to continue with the install process as opposed to the repair process" <--- does this mean that you are overwriting the existing OS or actually formatting and then installing? It's a slight distinction, but one I am curious about.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm

I am a novice when it comes to computers (I got my first computer 2 years ago), but I have reformatted my computer several times with no problems whatsoever.

perhaps even I can tackle. Thanks!

did that when i gave away my last computer, cleared up all the little bugs i had accumulated over the past 3 years.

Can't even run Windows Explorer at this point, and am only able to access Internet through Safe Mode.

Good free antivirus program is AVG; download @ http://www.grisoft.com ; for spyware removal, AdAware is the best... http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Running several virus scans that can and will eliminate the nasty-ass bastards from your system.

I would recommend the following programs to download that have served me amazingly well in the past:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
Housecall is a site-based cleaning thing and is a very good starter, I don't know if you can get to it right now, but it's worth a try...

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download955.html
Antivir is efficient and discovered (and destroyed) five trojans that all the rest of my vast legions of protective systems overlooked...

http://www.sofotex.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition-download_L21.html
AVG, though nowhere near as competent as Antivir, is good for all-around protection, much like Norton would be if it actually worked for once...(email, vault for holding viruses, etc.). Interestingly enough it's also the virus-killing system a hacker friend of mine uses.

http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/
Panda protects from viruses, worms and trojans, and just might pick up some elusive asshole virus all the others missed.

Many of the others are a waste of time--these are the cream of the crop, and may just save you from having to reformat...

Of course, it's fully up to you. I'm interested to know how it goes, however. Keep us posted. :)

That you don't want someone to be able to access going forward. I'd recommend writing your drive to zeros before formatting/re-installing.

Your drive manufacturer will have the software on their website. You simply create a floppy disk from the software, it will walk you through it, and then boot from the floppy created.

After writing to zeros, your drive will be clean as a brand new drive.

Good luck to ya. :)

but thanks.