WinXP clean install?

[Hoop]

I would like to do a clean install of WinXP home edition on a Dell Dimension2350 series PC. This is my daughters computer that she has with her from school. She had numerous virus problems that some of her classmates tried to reslove resulting in a total mess. I have all of the original CDs that were shipped with the computer, but don't really know where to start. Can someone give me a step by step guide, in simple terms, as how to format and reinstall WinXP? The 30G hard drive is now in 1 partition which is how I would like to keep that. There are very few files on the HD that she cares to keep.
Thanks,
Hoop

[david eaton]

First step, if you really want to start from scratch, is to wipe the drive clean.

One way is to go to the drive makers website, and download the utilities they provide. One of them will be a "zero-fill" or "low level formatter" (not really a LL formatter but that's another story.) Follow their instructions for running it.

Alternatively, download diskwipe from here (http://www.roadkil.net/diskwipe.html) and run it.

That will give you an empty ddisk ready for installation of the software.

Change the boot order in the BIOS to boot from CD first.
(hit the delete key as the computer boots. usually there is a message "click del to enter setup" If another key is specified, use that.)

Boot up with the Windows CD, and follow the prompts to reinstall.

[classicsoftware]

If you have a Dell, you may NOT want to wipe the drive clean. The install software on a hidden partition of the drive. If they have a restore cd, the restore CD will wipe out everything except a boot sector virus and while that is possible, it is unusual.

If the system has a restore CD, use that, if it has a regular Windows CD follow David's instructions.

[Paul Komski]

In my experience the Dell CD for WinXP is just an OEM version of WinXP customised and with embedded activation (and possibly product key too). Also the Dell partition is a small hidden diagnostics partition not one that contains restore files or images and can usually be accessed during boot-up from the F12 (or other indicated) key. It is not a disaster to delete this small partition and some people regularly delete it willy nilly.

First boot to the Windows XP installation CD and choose new installation and then when it gets to the part where it should detect the original installation just delete that partition and choose that space for the new clean installation. Just read any prompts carefully and report back if you are unsure of how to proceed.

After the installation completes you will need to use another of the CDs (probably maked utilities or drivers) and install all the drivers for your hardware. Finally use the other CDs for the various applications and install all the ones that you want to use.

PS If you have any difficulty booting to the CD try the F12 (or other relevant key indicated at boot time at the bottom of the screen) key which should allow you to choose to boot up the CD as well as other options. Alternatively you may need to change the boot order in the BIOS (F2 at startup if I remember correctly).

[classicsoftware]

I have not done dell for a while, but most of the restore CD's have ghost type image file for that particular PC. That's how it can restore the PC to it's exact state just out of the box. If you have a restore CD, you usually DO NOT have a Windows CD and vice versa. At least that's my experience.

[Paul Komski]

I have restored two fairly new (1 to 2 years old) Dells (one desktop and one laptop) in the past week and both of them had a Dell-OEM WinXP Installation CD.

[jlreich]

I have restored two laptops (one 4 months old and one a year). Both have Dell-OEM WinXP Installation CD. One nice thing about the OEM CD, no key, and no activation required, as Paul indicated . :) Installing the drivers from the driver and utilities CD was a pain in the butt the first time I did it. Good thing about it though, you don't have to install all the crap back on the computer that Dell puts on it at the factory. :)

Not having to activate would lead me to believe there is still either a hidden partition, or something in the bios. I did not zero fill the HDD, only deleted the only partition, but my hunch is the bios. But, that's just a hunch. :p :)

[classicsoftware]

I stand corrected. I have not a Dell in a while as I indicated. All I said was if it came with a restore CD and NO Windows CD, use the Restore CD and if it comes with the Windows CD, it is obviously better to use that.

[Paul Komski]

The wpa file just needs to be copied into position at the appropriate time to prevent having to reactivate after a reinstallation. This does assumes one is still using the original factory hardware - otherwise you would be prompted to reactivate if it was different enough to trigger the "this installation could be installed onto a new PC routine" such that reactivation becomes mandatory. BTW simply changing or replacing an IDE HDD is one thing that never affects reactivation whereas changing a NIC nearly always does so.

The OEMs can do this as part of their customised installation from a cusomised CD and we can all do it if we have a copy of the wpa file and then replace it (from safe mode) after a clean reinstallation.

The product key is even easier to deal with being embedded in the CD akin to a sif file on an unattended installation CD.

[Donn]

Since the man said the PC was loaded with viruses, and we can assume malware, is there, at this point, a distinct disadvantage in having him:

1. do an online scan
2. run AV and remedies in safe mode for what the scan picks
3. download, update and run SpyBot and Adaware in safemode

then see if it really needs to be restored.

[Paul Komski]

It's up to every individual. Restoring a system has pluses and minuses. Most obviously the difficulty in restoring data and programs and personalised settings versus the difficulty in cleaning-up and particularly knowing you have cleaned everything up.

Funnily enough it has reached the stage when spyware is much harder to clean-up than most viruses. I recently spent a lot of time getting a system "clean" and then threw the towel in - not because it was impossible - but because that user had nearly nothing but a few pics to backup onto CD and very little else - not even an email account!!! (for a family with three teenagers!!!). It was going to be quicker for me and cheaper for them to just restore everything - so that's what I did.

I think that the time it is worth tinkering to get a system right is so that the cause can be determined and the problem avoided the next time. With spyware we know the answer to both the cause and how to avoid such infections.

PS
It should almost go without saying but after you have clean installed the os and installed your must have programs and customised your settings - that is the time to make an image file. A "clean install" can then be a snitch - especially if you have partitioned your drive and have your data NOT on C.

[Hoop]

Gee, thanks for all of the quick replies. I have a disk that came with the computer that is labled "Reinstallation CD Windows XP Home Edition including Service Pack 1" It also says for the reinstallation of the OS on a Dell computer only. Should I be able to boot up to this CD? I am a little confused when you say to delete the partition of the HD where the original installation was. Will the prompts tell me how I do this? I have done a clean install of Win98 a few times without any problems but this sounds like it is quite different. Sorry for all of the questions but I am very new to this and don't want to screw up my daughters computer as she will be going back to school in about a week and needs to take it with her.
Thanks,
Hoop

[Paul Komski]

Couldnt find some nice screenshots of a normal installation but http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993 is the support link for repairing a dell installation. Follow the same steps up to number 6. but dont select repair - press esc to carry on with a nomal installation.

You will continue to get blue screens with similar prompts including one to select where you want to do the installation. You could install into the same partition but you would then have two parallel installations so it is better to delete the existing partition and then to choose the deleted area as the area for the installation.

Try it and see - I anticipate that it should be quite straighforward as long as you read and understand the various prompts. If anything is strange or incomprehensible then back out and ask back here.

PS
Yes - boot to the that CD and also you do realise that all existing files will be erased by such an installation?

[Hoop]

Paul,
Thanks so much, thats what I was looking for. I'm going to give it a try.
Hoop

[Hoop]

Paul,
I hope your still out there. I came to the screen which showed the drive broken into 3 segments & I got hesitant.
1. Partition 1 (fat) 31 mb (24 mb free)
2. Partition 2 (new Raw) 28569mb (28568 mb free)
unpartitioned space 8 mb

My choices are
Format the partition using ntfs file system (quick)
Format the partition using fat file system (quick)
Format the partition using ntfs file system
Format the partition using fat file system
I'm not sure of which choice I am supposed to make.
Thanks,
Hoop

[Paul Komski]

You would choose Partition 2 since Partition 1 is the small 'hidden' Dell Diagnostic Partition. It would be much too small on its own for the operating system but could be deleted if you didnt want it.

I suggest leaving Partition 1 it as is.

Any of the four fomats would work fine. Full formats make "undeletion" of any existing files much more difficult and take a bit longer to do but a quick format should work just fine. NTFS would be my choice of format type unless I was also wanting to dual boot with a second OS such as Win98 that can only read FAT partitions.

I suggest formatting Partition 2 using ntfs (quick).

[Hoop]

Thanks again, I got everything up and running but I still have a couple of questions. When I went back into my bios after the install i was going to put the A drive back as 1st boot etc. the system has 1 HD, a 48x/24x/48xCD-RW drive, a regular CD Rom, and a regular floppy drive. In the bios the floppy drive has been replaced with LAN??????? Although it is regognised in my computer and does function. Also when I access the internet there is not the usual modem noise an AOL loads really really slow. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Hoop

[Paul Komski]

Check the Device Manager (RClick MyComputer -- Properties -- Hardware -- Device Manager) for any conflicts or yellow exclamation or question marks.

Did you run the Dell CD with the additonal drivers on it?

You should be able to change boot order of the BIOS setup to your own choosing.

[Hoop]

Paul,
Yes, I ran the Dell CD with the drivers on it. There are no yellow flags in the device manager after I installed a few drivers from the Dell CD. The A or floppy drive isn't a choice in the bios anymore. It has been replaced by the LAN, listing it as a drive. There is a Lan card installed as thats how most schools access the internet.

[Paleo Pete]

Check the BIOS boot options again, how to change the boot option depends on the BIOS brans. With Award, the [Page Up] and [Page Down] keys change values, arrow keys to select. I think AMI still makes [Enter] to activate the menu, arrow keys select the option then [Enter] again should de-activate the options menu.

LAN is a common boot option, it allows the computer to boot from a command by the server on a network. If the computer will not be using that option, change it to Floppy or whatever you want and disable Network Boot if that is a separate option.

[Hoop]

Paleo Pete,
You were right on the money with the bios options. I don't fool around in the bios and never realized there were options available. The enter key was the solution. I got everything back to normal and the system is running well thanks to you, Paul and the rest of the people who replied. A really great site.
Thanks again,
Hoop

[Paleo Pete]

Yowzah!! Coolness has been achieved. :D