Wiping and reinstalling a notebook and some general advice needed

[bikebum]

Okay, so my stepson comes back from college and says, "My computer has stopped working." So I turn the computer on, get a whole string of errors when Windows tries to boot, and once Windows is up I can access *nothing* but Task Manager and shutdown. So I am assuming he got some virus, malware, etc. So I boot up in Dell notebook diagnostic mode, but it is not safe mode like I am used to and doesn't really do what I want or expect. Anyhow I cannot get any part of the system to run, to include antivirus programs, adware, etc so I cannot ascertain what the problem truely has become.

Bottom line, I want to wipe this computer clean. There is absolutely nothing on it of value, but have never done anything to a notebook before. So how do I *really* wipe a HD and when I reinstall Windows, should I even worry about installing any of the crap that Dell has on it's disks? I figure once I get windows up and connected to the internet, I can get better drivers for all the computer's hardware anyhow.

Any advice on dealing with a Dell notebook is appreciated. I have never had a "namebrand" computer with all its crap before.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MrChad]

1. Follow these steps for slipstreaming SP2 onto your Dell XP Setup CD.
2. Boot using new setup CD.
3. Reformat and install from XP setup.
4. Download latest drivers from Dell.com.
5. If you want to restore the Dell logo and support information in System Properties, go here.

 

[bikebum]

Okay... Thank you much MrChad, however I still have a couple problems. As far as I can tell, several steps can be done on a seperate computer but some require working on the original computer's HD. I have to add that even in safe mode (F8), I am unable to perform any functions that require an OS.

I had been assuming this problem would require me to work through DOS, which I can still access without problem.

 

[MrChad]

You can setup a slipstreamed XP disc on a separate computer.

 

[bikebum]

Okay, so I have this mostly figured out, however I am vague on 1 point:

In the linked instructions at VBdotNet, it recommends you get a copy of SVCPACK.IN_ however where does this come from?

There is a SVCPACK.IN_ on my Dell OS CD, but the instructions lead me to believe I don't want that one, I want another? Or is it just that when I copy over to the HD that file does not copy correctly? Or gets renamed SVCPACK.INF? Can someone explain if you understand my question?

 

[bikebum]

I need to also add that I have copied the XP CD to my C:\WIN_CD\CD as instructed, but once I look for the SVCPACK folder, it is not present. Is this why they say you need to manually copy SVCPACK.IN_?

 

[MrChad]

You should have the entire CD and all subdirectories on your HD. Can you open up svcpack.in_ in notepad and paste what you have?

 

[bikebum]

Okay, just to clarify where I am at... I have gotten through executing the WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe /x step, have replaced the deploy.cab and am now looking for SVCPACK folder in C:\WIN_CD\CD. That folder does not exist. Also, when looking for the SVCPACK.INF, it only exists in SVCPACK.IN_ form. Here are the contents from C:\WIN_CD\CD\SVCPACK.IN_ :

MSCF î , 


H
? õ*kr svcpack.inf ±«»Ô? ? [??? 0?~  1 [Version]
Signature="$Windows NT$"

[SetupData]
CatalogSubDir="i386\hotfixes"

[ProductCa
alogsToInstall]

[SetupHotfixesToRun]

 

[MrChad]

Leave it alone then and continue with the remaining steps. It looks like it's not trying to install any hotfixes (is the I386\hotfixes folder empty?).

 

[bikebum]

No i386\hotfixes folder exists... So I am good to go?

 

[MrChad]

Yes. It looks like your Dell CD doesn't include any post-SP1 hotfixes. In that case it might be easier to use AutoStreamer to create your new CD.

 

[bikebum]

I will keep it in mind for next time as I am becoming attached to this method.

Thanks for all your help MrChad!