Re-installing XP... HELP

[PIGGLET]

I've bought a second hand HP laptop which has all the original software including the operating system CD. I want to format the hard drive to basically take the PC back to it's as new un messed with state.
When i did this on my desk top I set it to boot from disk then ran the XP disk which did everything.
When i tried this with the laptop it just seemed to try and install another copy of XP alongside the current operating system
When i tried to format the hard drive it said it was not possible and to exit all windows programs although none were running
Any ideas how i can erase everything and start afresh?

All sugestions gratefully recieved

 

[Noel]

I'm not sure, but usually you you have to go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence and make the drive from which your boot disk is in priority, then when it boots from the XP cd it comes up with a blue screen and from there it has some options and one will be to format and reinstall the OS, deleteing the partition will stop you from installing two OS systems aswell.
Now watch someone come along and say I'm talking complete B*&locks

 

[Dickieboy]

I've bought a second hand HP laptop which has all the original software including the operating system CD. I want to format the hard drive to basically take the PC back to it's as new un messed with state.
When i did this on my desk top I set it to boot from disk then ran the XP disk which did everything.
When i tried this with the laptop it just seemed to try and install another copy of XP alongside the current operating system
When i tried to format the hard drive it said it was not possible and to exit all windows programs although none were running
Any ideas how i can erase everything and start afresh?

All sugestions gratefully recieved

Piglet, put the original Hp disc in and load the system. after wich you can then put the XP disc in if it's a genuine copy it will ask if you want to upgrade to XP, click on the menu arrow and there will be an option to install a new installation select this and away to go. When the choice presents itself select NTFS Format (quick)

 

[PIGGLET]

Cheers fellas

Booted it from disk and this time it let me erase the current partition which it wouldn't let me do before and format using NTFS
I't formatting now so hopefully the rest of the install should go smoothly