Clean WinXP Install

[jstarman]

I want to make a clean install of WinXP by reformatting my HD. Do I need to use a special utility to completely wipe out any remnants that may exist on my HD prior to reformatting? Years ago, I used a utility called Kill.exe to wipe the HD clean, but seems the program is now used for other purposes.

Thanks!

 

[racefan]

As far as I know just fdisk then partition and then format and it will be clean I beleive. I have never done anything else and never had a problem. Just boot from the XP cd to get a clean install with no preveious OS files on drive. It will prompt you of a OLD version OS cd just to prove you have one them just put XP cd back in and it will load clean.

 

[Nightfang]

Originally posted by: racefan
It will prompt you of a OLD version OS cd just to prove you have one them just put XP cd back in and it will load clean.

This will only happen if you are using an upgrade version of Windows. If you are installing a full version, it will not ask this.

 

[jstarman]

Just remembered the program I used to completely erase the HD...Killdisk.exe. Anyone have any experience with this program? Is it necessary to use?

 

[lonewolf6465]

uh.. xp pro discs that are a full install have a format HD option before you do any installing.. then format ntfs and have fun.. that s what i normally do.

 

[mechBgon]

You might also do this:

1) start Windows setup, and when it gets to showing the disk partitions, delete them all

2) press the F3 key twice to exit Windows Setup after having deleted the partitions

3) take a snack break

4) start Windows Setup a second time and carry on. This two-step approach prevents you from ending up with a sto0pid screen in your boot-up process that offers two WinXP installations, one of which is a phantom.


Also, if you happen to be installing on an SATA drive, make sure there aren't any PATA (regular IDE) drives in the system, or any USB card readers/thumb drives either, because SATA will get bumped down to drive letter E: or something, and then your face will look like this --->

If your WinXP doesn't have Service Pack 2 onboard already, can I suggest that you pre-download the full SP2 installer and burn it to CD, and follow the routine here so you don't get a boatload of worms right off the bat. Good luck!

 

[jstarman]

Many thanks again mechBgon! Worked like a charm!