How to format a computer without buying expensive disks?

Download the Windows 8 Beta Download from Microsoft's website and burn it into a CD or DVD. Run it and use their format option.

Download and burn a Windows XP SP3 disc from Microsoft.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/e/9/ee9d0...

Burn this to a CD. Its already been slipstreamed for service pack 3.

Use the key on the label outside of your computer chassis.

Best Regards,

Steve Kline - MCITP, RHCSA

Edit: James, torrenting the potentially hacked version of Windows XP is not advised at all. Microsoft now currently has ISO media available via Digital River.

Is it a new computer? Then you need to buy Windows or install Linux

Is it an existing computer that came with Windows originally?

Do you want to wipe it clean and reinstall Windows ?

Then look for the disks that came with it, look for a Factory Restore partition hiddenon the hard drive (Sometimes Drive D:) or contact the manufacturer to order some replacement factory restore disks (usually $25 - $40)

http://www.computer-answers.ca/2012/computer-quest...

Do you want to wipe the hard drive before selling it? Then get Derik's Boot-n-Nuke http://www.dban.org/ it will wipe the drive and Not install Windows or anything.

It is a homebuilt machine or a machine that did not come with Windows originally?

You could borrow a Windows CD to boot and reformat the hard drive but it would not be legal to proceed with installing Windows onto it.

if you have no copy of windows and don't have money to pay for replacements you can try an alternative. Try Ubuntu. Its linux OS and its open source so its free and works well.

ubuntu.com

You could always ask around your friends to see if they have any and if they dont then you could always turn to the illegal way of torrenting it and putting it onto an iso file and doing it like that, that way its free but not advised.