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How do I format my C: drive to do a clean install of Windows?

I'm trying to format my C: drive so I can do a completely clean install of Windows XP, but, of course, it won't let me because that's the boot drive. Tried booting to DOS from a floppy with the format.com program on it, but it says it won't run in DOS...tried booting with an older version of DOS with format.com on it, but then it won't recognize my C: drive (I think because it's formatted to NTSC)....HELP?

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Here, this only works with the Windows CD/DVDs. Start up your computer, load your CD/DVD Drive by pressing the programmed button (should show up when your computer starts [the button you push]), then after you select the partition or hard drive you want to install it on, you can choose to format it and do a clean installation :). If that didn't work, e-mail me at ugadawg852@yahoo.com.

    Source(s): Experience Programmer
  • 1 decade ago

    You can format the drive from the Windows installer. Its one of the first things it asks you.

    Incidentally, its NTFS, not NTSC.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    why dont you just boot from disk and then reinstall it over your old one

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