How to format pc,

Note: This guide is strictly for PCs,
not Macs, and is geared toward PCs
with the Windows XP operating
system. It may work or be helpful
with other versions of Windows,
but is not guaranteed to.
1. Make sure you have all the
necessary CDs to restore your
system. DO NOT format your hard
drive if you do not have these discs.
2. “Back Up” your personal files (e.g.
My Documents folder). All files will
be lost once your hard drive is
formatted. You will need to reload
any files from your back up disc
that you want on your newly
formatted computer.
3. Put your operating system
installation CD (Windows XP) into
your CD-Rom drive.
4. Restart your computer and
rapidly press F2 to get to the boot
priority screen.
5. Use the arrow keys to move to
the “Boot” tab.
6. Set first boot device to the CD-
Rom drive with the Windows XP CD
in it.
7. Save and Exit (F10, I think)
8. When prompted, quickly press
any key to boot from the CD.
9. Wait while it loads…
10. Hit ENTER to set up Windows.
11. Continue installing…
12. Press “D” to delete the main
partition.
13. Confirm delete.
14. Yes to set up Windows XP on
new partition.
15. Press ENTER to format the
partition.
16. Wait while it formats the hard
drive (takes about 30 minutes or
more).
17. The rest of the Windows
installation process should start
automatically, be easy to follow, and
self-explanatory.
2nd technique
Follow these steps exactly:
Start computer. At the beep sound,
or just before windows starts, tap
which ever key (F1 thru F12 or esc)
your computer requires you to hit
in order to go into your BIOS. You
may have to do this several times
before you discover which key it is.
Don't worry if you accidently hit the
wrong key, nothing devastating will
happen. If you inadvertenly start up
in Safe Mode, simply exit windows
and restart and use a different key.
Once you are in your BIOS, use the
arrow keys to arrow over to the tab
that list your Boot Sequence.
Change the order to: First - CD ROM,
Second - Hard Drive, Third - Floppy.
(Before Windows XP came out, if
you wanted to reformat your
computer, you had to select your
floppy to boot first.) Ok, after you
change your boot order, exit your
BIOS making sure to choose Exit
and SAVE changes. Allow your
computer to start. Put your XP cd in
the cd rom and shut down your
computer. Restart the computer.
Now, your screen should be black
and a message will read, "To boot
from cd, hit any key", do it. I hit
enter. Windows will run like a
system check and then it will give
you an option of repairing an
existing copy of XP, installing
another copy of XP, or deleting a
copy of XP. Choose to delete. It will
go thru all the typical warnings of
how you will no longer have access
to files, that everything will be
deleted etc. Go for it. After it deletes
the old, it will then tell you that your
computer is without an Operating
System and it will ask you if you'd
like to install a copy of XP. Click yes.
The rest is pretty basic. Just follow
the instructions on the screen.
Choose not to partician if asked and
install on a NTFS not a FAT or
FAT32. Why? Because it's better,
trust me. If you have any problems,
email me. I'll check it more often
than usual over the next few days
just in case. Good Luck. When your
done, go back into your BIOS and
change back your boot order,
although you don't HAVE to.