Reinstallation of XP, can't get clean wipe

Planxty

This is my situation.. I lost the XP Home Edtion disc that originally came with my Dell.

I bought an OEM copy. I installed that, product key and activation and everything was appearing fine. Shortcuts etc were all gone, it appeared to be a clean wipe.

However, I then clicked into C: Program Files to see all the program files that were there before the reinstallation. Granted, the folders are empty, though this still bothers me. I want an absolute wipe.

Can anyone tell me where I might be going wrong??

Thanks!

humaxf1

did you choose to format the drive or leave it intact?

one way to wipe the drive is to use dban http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=dban&filename=dban-1.0.7_i386.iso&use_mirror=heanet

It's a 2MB iso file which you burn to a CD with nero etc. then, reboot your PC. enter the BIOS and ensure that first boot device is the CD drive. The PC will boot from the CD rather than the hard drive.

The instructions are easy to follow...here's a tutorial http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=videos/using-dban-to-wipe-a-drive


BEWARE...backup your files first!!!

Planxty

Thanks for your reply. Sorry I'm a bit of a noob, but I don't think I did format the drive. I don't recall seeing an option.

I'll check out your links, thanks!

Edit: Yes I have everything backed up on external hard drive. Just want completely fresh OS

Zorba

Planxty wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. Sorry I'm a bit of a noob, but I don't think I did format the drive. I don't recall seeing an option.

I'll check out your links, thanks!

Edit: Yes I have everything backed up on external hard drive. Just want completely fresh OS

U could try setting the bios to boot from cd first and make the hard drive the second boot device, then put in your Xp cd and boot from it, during the install it should give u the option of formatting C:

Lazarus2.0

During the instal you'll be shown any partitions on your HD . At this point you need to select to delete the partition you want to instal onto (by highlighting it) . If you choose to instal on the partition without deleting and then formatting you wont get a clean instal .

Also back up your drivers as well as any data files to a removable media as you'll need to reload the drivers for any hardware you added and possibly some mobo drivers (onboard audio is a common one to lose , for example) .

Planxty

nessyguin wrote: »

During the instal you'll be shown any partitions on your HD . At this point you need to select to delete the partition you want to instal onto (by highlighting it) . If you choose to instal on the partition without deleting and then formatting you wont get a clean instal .

Also back up your drivers as well as any data files to a removable media as you'll need to reload the drivers for any hardware you added and possibly some mobo drivers (onboard audio is a common one to lose , for example) .

Thank you for your reply. When reinstalling, I did attempt tp delete the partition, however, it wouldn't allow me to do so. Said something like 'necessary system files on the partition' so it couldn't be deleted!

I'm ok regarding drivers, I have all the cd's with me to reinstall those.

Planxty

Zorba wrote: »

U could try setting the bios to boot from cd first and make the hard drive the second boot device, then put in your Xp cd and boot from it, during the install it should give u the option of formatting C:

How can I prioritise the boot devices? I went into F2 setup and I there is a tick beside hard drive and CD Rom Drive.

Lazarus2.0

When in Boot Sequence in BIOS you can usually highlight a device and hit the Enter key or Right Arrow to either change that device's priority or change the device type . It'll depend on your BIOS make/version but trial and error should get you there .

As regards deleting the partition I think you would have got a warning that you were about to delete a system partition but it should allow you to go ahead and delete it by hitting D and then L on the next screen .

Zorba

Planxty wrote: »

How can I prioritise the boot devices? I went into F2 setup and I there is a tick beside hard drive and CD Rom Drive.

Also make sure u make the hard drive the second boot device or else you'll be in trouble

Planxty

Got it sorted guys, thanks very much for your help!

Basically it was because I simply wasn't reformatting the drive, I was just reinstalling.. DUH, i know!

PogMoThoin

Now you need drivers for all the devices in your pc, network card, graphics etc, basically everything on the motherboard or in a slot

Lazarus2.0

Planxty wrote: »

Basically it was because I simply wasn't reformatting the drive, I was just reinstalling.. DUH, i know!

It's only "...DUH " if you do it again . The first time is how must of us learn not to do it again

Planxty

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Now you need drivers for all the devices in your pc, network card, graphics etc, basically everything on the motherboard or in a slot

I'm ok for the drivers, I didn't lose those discs luckily!

@nessguin: I feel so proficient now, having successfully completed the process!