[marsh]

I have a HP running Windows XP. I am trying to format C drive. I have a start up disk that I have tried using.When I boot with this disk, it will not let me change to C: therefore I cannot format. I do not know what to do. I need to dump everything and start over. Please Help!

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Do you have an XP CD or a recovery CD / Partition

[Retired Tech]

Do you have an XP CD or a recovery CD / Partition

[marsh]

I do have a XP PRO disk, but not a recovery disk. XP pro is different then the XP I am running, and it will not run.

[Retired Tech]

If you change the boot priority to CD ROM Drive then hard drive and load the XP Pro CD then boot the PC, look for press any key to load from CD and formatting is part of set up, when it asks where to install to, press D to delete the existing partition then type L to confirm, let it format to NTFS in the default mode, not quick

http://www.theelderg...l_-_graphic.htm

[Michael]

Hi

You need to enter the BIOS when you start up your computer by pressing the Del key. You then set the first boot device to you CD drive. Put in your CD and save the setting and exit the BIOS. Now the computer will start form the CD and you can format and reinstall XP.

[marsh]

I cannot get into the Bios with Del Key.

[Michael]

Try F2 then or one of the other Fuction keys

[Retired Tech]

Make sure you are tapping it, right from the off until it enters set up, if it still does not work, try tapping F1 or F2

[marsh]

THANK YOU..I just got it going...it is formatting rightnow!

[Michael]

Good, if you need any more help just post here.