How do you completly erase everything from your computer and start over new?

My friend just gave me her computer, Windows XP Home Edition, and it has at least a million files on it. I would like to just start over completly new.


I have high speed DSL, but the computer still runs very slowly. Is there like a fast/safe way to just delete everything with out doing it one by one? Thank you!

How do you completly erase everything from your computer and start over new?
It's tough, but if you have your windows CD, you can do it.


-Insert the disk.


-Restart the computer


-Hit any key when prompted.


-A blue screen will come up. Let it load for a minute.


-Select Install Fresh Copy of Windows XP.


-Delete the Partitioned space.(Format)


-Create a Partitioned Space.


-Install on the New Partitioned Space.


-Let it load, enter information.


BAM!


Average time is between 45min-1hour.


After that, you will have to download everything you want on the computer.


-Enjoy!
Reply:Yes you can by a way called formating the hard drive but this is not something to be done unless you know what you are doing. I have done it many times on several different computers and all had different things that needed to be done.





1) It may not be the large file clutter that is slowing down the computer but possibly the CPU or a low amount of RAM.


2) When you perform a system wipe many times you erase system drivers such as the chipset driver, to the LAN driver, or sound driver. These must all be downloaded and saved to a disk and installed once windows is up and running.


3) You will lose all programs installed on the computer such as Microsoft office or any anti virus software and you may not have access to the disks that are required to reinstall them. You will also lose any important files, pictures, etc... so make sure to save these to a disk or flash drive before performing the wipe.


4) You need the Windows XP disk and the system key. If you dont have these the format can not be performed. If you install windows but do not have the system key it will continue to ask for it for 30 days and after the 30 days all access will be cut of until it is entered.





So all in all make sure you have somebody do it that is qualified if you decide to do it at all.
Reply:You can just use the XP home install diskette if the computer has a partition with the xp install on it on the boot you will see the press some button to boot into the install menu. But if its running slow I would check on the amount of memory/ram it has aswell. If it only has 256-512mb I would look into getting atleast 768mb-1gb of memory total for XP home just to help speed things up. Thanks
Reply:Yes xx, do a complete re-install. Put the disks that should have come with the pc into the tray and do the complete thing. You'll have a brand new machine.

sim cards