how do i delete windows from my pc?

dezz99

Hi i want to delete windows xp from my computer completely....but how do i do it?

i have windows xp on another disk so i can re-install no problem, but want to get rid of the one on my hard drive first?

i have read a guide that says go into ...control panel, add remove programs but i cant see to see an option to remove it?

can anyone help please?

thanks

TakeThis

Why do you want to do this?

You can use your other XP disc. Pop it in, re-boot, boot from CD, format.

movilogo

You can't delete Windows from Windows!

Boot up your PC with a Linux (either via CD or USB) and then you can physically delete windows file system from Linux.

santer_2

Depends how you want to delete the data on there now, securely or otherwise

Not so securely, you can set the boot order to CD ROM drive then hard drive, start the PC with the XP CD in and choose to install a fresh copy then use the long format option

More securely, you could use dban or similar to wipe the drive, then install from the XP CD

dezz99

thanks for the quick replies guys

i should have said its actually my freind who wants to do this.....he just called me in a panic!

ok so basically his computer is running slow for a long time, it wont even let him get into control panel or even get in via safe mode.....i think he has alot of virus's on there...

he just wants to get rid of everything and start again basically.

so if he puts in the windows xp cd, and boots from cd, he should just be able to install a new windows over the old one (lose all his old data) but get the computer back up and running properly again?

thanks once again.....

davetrousers

Buy a new hard drive, and start afresh on that.

TakeThis

dezz99 wrote: »

thanks for the quick replies guys

i should have said its actually my freind who wants to do this.....he just called me in a panic!

ok so basically his computer is running slow for a long time, it wont even let him get into control panel or even get in via safe mode.....i think he has alot of virus's on there...

he just wants to get rid of everything and start again basically.

so if he puts in the windows xp cd, and boots from cd, he should just be able to install a new windows over the old one (lose all his old data) but get the computer back up and running properly again?

thanks once again.....

But he has to choose to Format(NTFS) the old partition.

TakeThis

But he can save his important data beforehand by using a Live CD, say Ubuntu. He can possibly also clean the PC in the same way by using the Kaspersky Rescue Disc. So perhaps hold off on formatting if their is important data on the hard drive.

dezz99

i dont think he has any important data, i told him what to do (as per the advice above) so i will see how he gets on and lte you know if there is any problems

thanks for all the help, much appreciated!

bridlestile

Hi,

Echoing TakeThis's point - as long as he's backed up any data, there's no point reinstalling unless he reformats which will wipe any undesirables on the hard drive.

Hope that helps,
Richard

patman99

Why don't you point him to the sticky on cleaning-up your PC?. Much better to fix what you already have than to start-again.

I picked-up an email on my local Freegle group asking for the number of the local PC Doctor. Without visiting the guy, I have given him enough clear instructions that his Windows XP is now running considerably faster than it was.