So this computer is full of viri and I get popups galore. I'd like to do a clean install...I've done it before, but when windows boots, it asks me which installation I'd lke to run---even ater formatting the drive. So, how do I get a clean install? It's XP home edition on a fairly recent Dell unit. I don't mind if I loose everything on the drive---that's why I formatted last time, but I still ended up wth the new install and the oldAny help would be appreciated!
Greg

 

Buy Noton System works first,that should clean it up.

Other thing I do is I have a 2nd drive installed(80gig) and I keep all my programs stored on it,so if I have to reinstall there all right there.

Pav

 

Does it boot in to both of them? or just your new install?

 

Step away from Norton! The most expensive piece of crud ever to come on the computer!

Greg, look up free software that would reformat your hard-drive.

Also do a complete install. You can also call Dell and get a format disk. Pop it in, read the warnings and then it restores your computer like the day it first arrived.

 

Thanks fellas. I have the option to boot to whatever install I want. There are 3 available I'd like to not see that anymore, as that implies that the previous poorly running installs are still on the system....

 

Have a wander to www.cyberwalker.com/topic/45 It has a step by step method of wiping and reinstalling XP......Havn't tried it...but looks simple enough............

 

Boot from cd... accept license agreement.. when prompted for where you would like to install, instead of hitting enter hit D to delete the partition. do this for every partition until it says unallocated or unpartitioned i dont remember which. then hit enter and setup windows..

it really is self explanatory through the setup procedure, it asks you to keep the partitions or not, then even after that it asks to format or not..

two chances to completely erase it.

 

Thanks for the link--that got me going in the right direction. All better now