wipe hard drive

L

LAZYKEV

1
hello
looking for some imformation i have xp pro on system i have done a clean install but i have noticed that it has left all my program files in the folder ,i know it has not installed them but i thought my system would be completly clean .i did not use the file trnsfer wizard so why .iam asking this as i would like to completly wipe hard drive to get space back .a pal has just said u need to soft format hard drive to completely clean ,is this try .i would be very grateful if some one could give me instructions on how to wipe clean .
cheers
 
Shadey

Shadey

1
LAZYKEV

when you performed your "clean install" - didnt you software format your harddrive (or delete the active partition) beforehand?

In which case you wouldnt see any of your old program files. If you only want to regain your previously used harddisk space - all thats required is a software format and not a low level format (as it does much more than help you regain your space).
 
rlb245

rlb245

1
clean install

If you are replaceing win9x insert a startup disk for win9x and run Fdisk and delete the Patition you wont to install XP too witch in most cases is the primary patition. Then shut down and start the system useing a bootable XP cdrom or a XP boot floppy. After the system starts it should promt you to repatition your hard drive and format. Unless you used a third party patitioning software to start with.
 
L

LAZYKEV

1
clean

thanks for the input . i would like to say that im on xp now and want to get a clean hard drive now so do i still use old , me boot floppy to get to dos .also idid opt for the remove partion and reinstall when i put xp on but it still kept program files ,strange i know .i wonder if anyone else has found this out .

cheers
 
Shadey

Shadey

1
Re: clean

LAZYKEV said:
i would like to say that im on xp now and want to get a clean hard drive now so do i still use old , me boot floppy to get to dos
Click to expand...
Yup, you will need to use DOS to either use the (software) FORMAT or FDISK command. Can you get to DOS with WinME setup boot disk (anyone, please)?

LAZYKEV said:
idid opt for the remove partion and reinstall when i put xp on but it still kept program files
Click to expand...
So how did you delete the partition? During the WinXP Setup Process (white text on blue background section)?

But WinXP will also create its own "program files" directory to house some programs anyway? Are you sure you're not mistaking the newly created "program files" directory for the old directory you had in ME? Because if like you said you did opt to remove the partition - you definately wont see your old "program files" as it was in WinME.
 
rlb245

rlb245

1
If the drive has only been used with XP or 2K NTFS then a XP NTFS formating is all thats needed. But if the drive has had other operating systems installed pryer!!! to XP or 2K and you are not!!!
NTFS there could be other problem
 
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