How to Take XP Off from a Computer & Reload It

The Windows XP installation disc lets you reinstall the operating system.

Any number of unfortunate problems can occur during the course of your computer's life, such as spyware infections or major software conflicts. If you are having trouble getting Windows XP to load, or it crashes at every opportunity, you may find that removing the operating system is the best option. The installation disc that came with your system will let you remove Windows XP and then reload it, which resets your computer back to its original condition.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation CD

Instructions

1. Use a rewritable disc or external USB hard drive to save backup copies of any files that need to be saved from your computer. Remove the storage device from the computer and then unplug any peripheral devices or Ethernet cables.

2. Place the Windows XP installation disc in your computer's CD or DVD drive. Turn off the Windows XP operating system and then power on your computer.

3. Tap the Space bar, or any other key, when the "Press any key" text appears at the bottom of the screen. Press "Enter" when the blue "Welcome to Setup" screen appears.

4. Tap "F8" at the Windows license agreement screen. Highlight the hard drive partition containing your Windows XP installation, which will typically read "C: Partition 1." Select the appropriate partition if you have Windows XP installed somewhere else.

5. Tap "D" and then "Enter." Press "L" to confirm you want to completely delete the current Windows XP installation. Choose the "Unpartitioned Space" entry after the partition is finished deleting and press "Enter."

6. Tap the down arrow key to highlight "Format the partition using the NTFS file system." Tap "Enter" and wait for the hard drive to format.

7. Click "Next" and then type in the name and organization name you want to associate with your computer in the text fields. Hit "Next" again and then type in the 25 character Windows XP product key. The key is located on the installation disc's packaging.

8. Follow the prompts on the installation wizard to set your computer's Internet and network settings. Click "Finish" to complete the Windows XP installation procedure.

9. Return the data you saved previously back to your computer's hard drive. Install any device drivers you need for your printer, router or other equipment.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use free security software such as an anti-virus or firewall tool, you may want to download the software's installation file before reinstalling Windows XP. Save the installation file to an external source and then transfer it back to the computer after Windows XP is installed.

References

• Microsoft: Windows XP Installation
• Windows Reinstall: XP Professional reinstall

Resources

• Microsoft: Windows XP Solution Center