Step by Step Guide to Clean XP Install

[Amber]

This Guide is out of date. Please see the updated guide located as a sticky on the dell forum:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=42340

Thanks,
SG

[drumfu]

very nice...

the only thing i would add is under license agreement, you might want to mention that the user has to scroll down the bottom, then press f8... it sounds obvious, but might as well make it idiot proof

[Amber]

k, will add...i didn't know that. Thanks

[LuckMC11]

nice reformatting guide!!!!!1

[azntiger1000]

haha nice. pretty good to help for people that are especially new to formatting. also when you added in the partition thing, its good for people who never heard of it.

[ZaZ]

very nice...

the only thing i would add is under license agreement, you might want to mention that the user has to scroll down the bottom, then press f8... it sounds obvious, but might as well make it idiot proof

Never have had to scroll down on mine. Nice job SG.

[LuckMC11]

also when you added in the partition thing, its good for people who never heard of it.

lol...like meeeee

[Amber]

thanks guys...i was worried that it was too long, but at least it covers everything

[Andrew Baxter]

Thanks for posting this SG, it's a great resource, should help people that are nervous to do the the reformat thing a little more confident...and now you don't have to answer the same question over and over and just point them here. Now that's efficiency.

[openingup]

thanks for this info on reformatting.

i have a couple questions.
i'm getting a inspiron xps system in about a week.
can i do this reformat befor i even go into the part of windows xp pro to register?
if so, is there any additional or other steps involved?
i'm going to call dell now and ask them what software cd come with the laptop.

when you talked about: To create a partition
1.) select the unpartition space and press C
2.) Enter the size (in MB) that you would like the partition to be and press enter (if you want maximum size, press enter) (Example 30,000mb is 30gb)
3.) repeat if you want to create additional partitions,

will the xp cd automatically take me to the place to add/delete the partitions?

The restore partition will restore your system back to factory condition and will include all junk software (press ctrl + F11 when you see the Dell logo). This partition takes about 5gb of your hard drive.
when i'm in the add/delete partition part will i be able to delete this restore partition?

what size would you recommend making the new partition(s)
do i need to make just 1 partition?

i like your idea of (what i think your saying) having a partition for data and a partition for applications. is that what your suggesting?
if so, will each partition show up as a different harddrive in my windows explorer?
sorry if what i'm saying doesn't make any sense. i'm trying to understand.
perhaps when i have the system in front of me some of what you said will be obvious.

thanks.