deep do-do

[pomm001]

I think i have just killed my dell desktop, its a long story but gremlins had got in and i thought that i would reinstall windows again, this has been done a couple of times before.
But something went amiss when re-installing it just just stuck on the screen that says 'dont do anything until it competes install' well it didnt so i now have 3 layers of windows XP
I am not able to use the restore to factory facility, I have tried F11 as suggested in the manual but it wont work so i am looking for some guidence on how to 'flatten it' and start again getting rid of all previous installations and start again with a 'clean; machine, i have the XP discs and drivers that came with he machine when new.
Its not the end of the world but be nice to start again
any suggestions would be welcome

thanks

 

[Fanum]

Here ya go....step by step instructions

When it's done (IE windows installed again), load your AV software FIRST......Avast! is good and it's free, but all av progs like being installed first and it can save grief.

then patch everything from the MS update site

If there are any important files that you haven't got backups of yet, there's a pretty good chance you can get them off before you do this, but You'll need a linux cd......free and easily available on t'interweb.

 

[jailon]

did you install it on different drives when ot gave you the option to install windows? This could be the cause of 3 versions of xp.

All I would suggest is, re install (again) and make sure you format the drives (using NTFS format) before the install begins.

You could try using the "R" option and once its loaded the dos commands up, format your hard drive to make it nice and clean ready for the install.

As a last resoort, buy another hard drive, I assume its a SATA drive? these aren't too expensive... Install windows on this drive then use your old drive as a slave (once you format it)

 

[pomm001]

Here ya go....step by step instructions

When it's done (IE windows installed again), load your AV software FIRST......Avast! is good and it's free, but all av progs like being installed first and it can save grief.

then patch everything from the MS update site

If there are any important files that you haven't got backups of yet, there's a pretty good chance you can get them off before you do this, but You'll need a linux cd......free and easily available on t'interweb.

Thanks for the above, tried AV software and it works very well, agree AVG got to be very pushy.
I just love your avatar !!!!
thanks