Erasing my hardrive

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Shermit

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#1 Shermit
Member since 2007 • 74 Posts
Backed up all my important files.  All I want is to revert my computer back to the state it was in out-of-the box.  Any suggestions would be helpful.
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DirkVDV01

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#2 DirkVDV01
Member since 2004 • 20155 Posts
Just put the Windows XP setup CD/DVD in the CD/DVD-ROM drive, reboot your PC, go to the BIOS, make sure your CD/DVD-ROM drive is selected as the first boot device, exit BIOS, reboot and let the PC load the data from the Windows XP setup disc. Then just follow the instructions in the menu screens. Select your drive and partition where your OS should be installed. The setup will format the selected drive and the selected partition. After that, it installs WinXP and then you just have to answer questions (license key, keyboard map, location, date/time, etc.)
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Shermit

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#3 Shermit
Member since 2007 • 74 Posts

Just put the Windows XP setup CD/DVD in the CD/DVD-ROM drive, reboot your PC, go to the BIOS, make sure your CD/DVD-ROM drive is selected as the first boot device, exit BIOS, reboot and let the PC load the data from the Windows XP setup disc. Then just follow the instructions in the menu screens. Select your drive and partition where your OS should be installed. The setup will format the selected drive and the selected partition. After that, it installs WinXP and then you just have to answer questions (license key, keyboard map, location, date/time, etc.)DirkVDV01

And if I no longer have the XP setup disc?

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j3ninja10

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#4 j3ninja10
Member since 2007 • 1434 Posts

s.o.l

what brand computer do you have? companies usually will allow you to buy a setup disk from them.  or you can purchase a new copy of windows xp, the first is the cheaper way to go.   

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DirkVDV01

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#5 DirkVDV01
Member since 2004 • 20155 Posts
And if I no longer have the XP setup disc?Shermit
Then you will need to buy a new one
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Shermit

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#6 Shermit
Member since 2007 • 74 Posts

[QUOTE="Shermit"]And if I no longer have the XP setup disc?DirkVDV01
Then you will need to buy a new one

I have the recovery Partition though, can I use that instead?

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DirkVDV01

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#7 DirkVDV01
Member since 2004 • 20155 Posts
Yes, you normally don't need to pop the CD in, as long as the MBR isn't destroyed and you can still mount the recovery partition through a bootloader.