7/23/2019 Formatting - How to Format Windows XP Without CD_ - Super User

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How to format Windows XP without CD?

1. I have only one partition called , that drive holds the operating system and all the

documents.

C

2. I don't have a CD-ROM hence I can't use the installation CD.

Is there any way to format the drive or otherwise completely wipe off everything on it?

windows-xp formatting

edited Dec 15 '14 at 14:55

Kevin Panko

4,459 9 27 44

asked Mar 14 '11 at 8:47

Click Upvote

1,727 9 25 33

Do you just want to format or are you going to reinstall Windows XP again on the same drive? MartMar

14 '11 at 8:57

@mart format completely, then sell it, new owners may reinstall Click Upvote Mar 14 '11 at 10:28

4 Answers

It's unclear from your question whether you mean that you don't have the installation CD, or if

your computer simply doesn't have a CD drive at all. It's also not clear if you just want to wipe the

drive, or also want to reinstall Windows.

If you just want to wipe the disk, you can download a tool for free that will let you securelydelete everything on the hard drive. (DBAN) works best for this. It

can also be set up to run from a flash drive if you don't have a CD-ROM drive.

Darik's Boot and Nuke

If you need to actually the drive (DBAN will completely wipe it blank), then you can

use a tool like the (which again, can be installed to a flash drive) to format

the drive with any of a wide variety of file systems.

format

Gparted live CD

If you want to reinstall Windows, have an installation disk, and don't have a CD-ROM drive,

you can .install from a flash drive

If you want to reinstall Windows but don't have an installation disk, you will have to find a

friend who owns one, or else try to buy one somewhere. If your Windows installation came

with the computer (i.e. is an OEM installation) you may be able to get restore media by

contacting the manufacturer.

answered Mar 14 '11 at 9:13

nhinkle 24.9k 1 9 97 146

+1 You've articulated all the options clearly. ta.speot.is Mar 14 '11 at 9:24

thanks, it was #1 Click Upvote Mar 14 '11 at 10:45

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7/23/2019 Formatting - How to Format Windows XP Without CD_ - Super User

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8/20/2015 formatting - How to format W indows XP without CD? - Super User

http://superuser.com/questions/257349/how-to-format-windows-xp-without-cd

If you want to format drive C:, just install Windows 7 (or XP) on another drive (eg D:) then boot

into Windows 7, go to 'My Computer' and right click on drive where XP is installed, then click on

'Format' and click 'Start'. Drive will be formatted!

edited Nov 11 '12 at 9:33

Akshat Mitt al

1,716 13 40

answered Nov 11 '12 at 6:40

danish

21 1

You should get a bootable USB flash Windows XP installation.

You can create it on another PC with CD-ROMhttp://www.ocia.net/articles/xpflashdrive/page1.shtml

Do not forget to backup useful information before formatting.

answered Mar 14 '11 at 9:07

RubyWedge

76 2 2 10

If you want to just format it but don't want to reinstall another Windows, you can do the following

(there are other ways) :

1) In some other machine (unless you have yet active your Windows, would be better there)

make a bootable CD or DVD. You can do it with many tools, one that comes to mind is

(there are many other solutions, like )CDBurnerxp BartPE

2) Ideally copy the needed console commands to that CD. That is, the files for format, and

probably fdisk. They're found at your /system32 folder of your windows. If not possible, copy

them to some device you will be able to read from console. (those great old floppy disks...)

3) from the device where you have these files, type format c:

You have a list of console commands in Windows .here

If you have a sort of not totally devastated installation, you yet might have the ability to hit F8 key

when starting the machine(hit it several times once you here the "bip" of your machine when

booting). There you can choose to boot in console mode (can't remember exactly how it calls it) .

If you had copied the format etc files to some device (ie, floppy, usb stick if booted that way and

have it available at your bios) you can type that unit (ie, a: , intro) , then type format c: and follow

instructions.

With just a windows CD is a matter of boot in repair mode and use the command...

edit: sorry, crossposted with RubyWedge.

edited Mar 14 '11 at 9:15 answered Mar 14 '11 at 9:09

S.gfx

1,515 8 14

byprotected MokubaiDec 11 '14 at 21:34

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