how to erase hard drive

lundstromd,

Most "retail" computers (Dell, Gateway, etc) come with a "restore" CD which allows you to do exactly what it sounds like you want to do: reinstall the operating system and applications as if it were just being unpacked from the box.

*** WARNING ***
Doing this will erase all files on the computer so make sure you have a backup of your personal files and document.

If your computer did not come with a restore CD, you can still get back to this "pristine" state by reinstalling a new copy of Windows XP.

The legal XP distribution disk is a bootable CD. Make sure that your BIOS is set to boot from CD as its first choice and then allow the computer to boot up with the XP CD in the CD/ROM drive. You'll be prompted to start the setup process and when you get to the place where it asks you where you want to install the OS, you can delete/recreate the current partitions on the drive. You can then format the new partition and continue with the installation of XP.

This will give you a clean installation of XP, but XP is all you will have - every application you own will have to be reinstalled, etc.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to post them.

Take care,
Ric

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