How to erase a hard drive

How do I erase a hard drive completely to install another operating
system? From Windows ME to Windows XP Pro. The problem is that as soon
as I turn the computer on it shows me a meassage that says, "the files
on this drive have been corrupted" and it does not let me in to the
operating system. How do I erase this hard drive?

Boot with your Windows XP cd and you will be offered the option to
format the drive before you install. Pay close attention and read the
on screen information, you can't miss it. Do you know of the NTFS file
system for Windows XP (as opposed to FAT32)?

John



MJKB wrote:
How do I erase a hard drive completely to install another operating
system? From Windows ME to Windows XP Pro. The problem is that as soon
as I turn the computer on it shows me a meassage that says, "the files
on this drive have been corrupted" and it does not let me in to the
operating system. How do I erase this hard drive?

You need to fix the cause of the problem first, then wipe the hard drive.
--
Jonny
"MJKB" wrote in message
ups.com...
How do I erase a hard drive completely to install another operating
system? From Windows ME to Windows XP Pro. The problem is that as soon
as I turn the computer on it shows me a meassage that says, "the files
on this drive have been corrupted" and it does not let me in to the
operating system. How do I erase this hard drive?

MJKB voiced his/her/it's humble opinion in microsoft.public.win98.setup
on Tue 05 Dec 2006 05:49:55p:

How do I erase a hard drive completely to install another operating
system? From Windows ME to Windows XP Pro. The problem is that as soon
as I turn the computer on it shows me a meassage that says, "the files
on this drive have been corrupted" and it does not let me in to the
operating system. How do I erase this hard drive?


Do what John John says. Boot from your XP CD and re-format the drive.
If you have a Win 98 start disk you can boot from that and re-format
from fdisk.

The Xp CD will still want to re-format when it begins the install
anyway.

See your computers documentation to setup your BIOS to boot from CD and
then move the multitude of questions you'll have next to one of the XP
forums.

Thank you very much.


Later......

LabRat...... |:^{)

LabRat wrote:


Do what John John says. Boot from your XP CD and re-format the drive.
If you have a Win 98 start disk you can boot from that and re-format
from fdisk.


Not quite correct. FDISK and FORMAT are two entirely different
programs that do different tasks.

FDISK is used to create or delete partitions on a hard drive. Every
hard drive must have at least one partition, which can occupy the
entire drive if desired.

FORMAT is used to prepare a partition for use, or to remove the
existing content of a partition and leave it empty, ready for use.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

"MJKB" wrote:

How do I erase a hard drive completely to install another operating
system? From Windows ME to Windows XP Pro. The problem is that as soon
as I turn the computer on it shows me a meassage that says, "the files
on this drive have been corrupted" and it does not let me in to the
operating system. How do I erase this hard drive?

Your best procedure would be to:

1. Boot the computer with a WindowsMe startup disk and run FDISK to
delete the existing partition.
2. Reboot with the Windows XP installation CD and let the Windows XP
setup procedure create a new partition (preferably using NTFS for
Windows XP), format it, and then install XP onto the newly formatted
drive.

You might, as a preliminary step, go to the hard drive manufacturer's
website and download their free diagnostic utility and run it to check
out the drive functionality so as to ensure that the file corruption
is just a data structure problem and not a hardware malfunction with
the drive itself.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."