Formating...

[A-F]

My pc is full of junk, after reading some stuff i decided a format is the best thing i can do now, but i want to know how can I do this? i need an application or something?
Actually i want to do this on a Windows 98 machine and an XP Pro machine if you wanted to know.

Also i have another doubt... after a reformat when I Turn on my machine whats exactly what i will see? MS-Dos or what?
And to install windows i just have to put a normal retail win xp or ME cd and it will recognize and install it without any code?

Thanks for your help

[Shades Coolray]

I don't think you need to format. You said your computers are full of junk, so formatting is probably unneccessary. There's a ton of stuff you can do to get rid of junk on your hard drive. There are three programs that I use a lot to get rid of junk: Cleandisk 2002, Ad-Aware, and AVG antivirus. Also, using msconfig should help too.

(by the way, anyone will tell you that Windows ME is horrible, so XP would be the one to use if you really do need to format it, and I don't think you'll have to do anything in MSDOS with XP.) Hope that helps.

[A-F]

I use the same apps as companion with Window Washer (but Cleandisk 2002...wich i will try tommorrow to see it if helps) though i still think a nice formatting will save me of some problems that the machine gets with use so many software i install and stuff.
Thank you for your comments...still i need some info

1. How do you start the formatting procedure?
2. When its done, what do you see when you turn on your machine?
3. Will the machine "auto-run" a retail win xp cd?

[Shades Coolray]

1. Well, to start the formatting procedure, you're going to need to backup all your important files somehow, for example to a CDR(W) disc. Also, you will need your driver CD's so all your hardware works (sound card, video card, and other stuff) although XP has a ton of drivers already on the CD usually, but just incase make sure you have everything. For formatting, you need a boot disk, you can download or make one yourself by going to control panel, add\remove programs, and startup disk tab.
2. Then restart the computer and once you're in MSDOS type 'fdisk', choose option 3 to delete the hard drive, press ctrl+alt+del to restart. Go back to fdisk and create primary partition, then ctrl+alt+del again.
3. Once thats done with you can put the Windows XP CD in, eject the floppy and type ctrl+alt+del again and you should be all set to format the hard drive with the CD and install everything.

[LPDad]

you can format your drive several ways.

1. The EASIEST. Use the Disk Utilities that came with your harddrive to make a floppy/or boot from the disk itself. Then simple choose the option to set up a new drive. If you do not have the disc utilities CD then go to the website of the mnfr of your harddrive and download their utilities...which you can use to make a floppy and then use the floppy to boot your computer.
This is by far the easiest, FASTEST, and most flexible way to format/partition a drive.

2. If you have a bootable windowsXP disc (as opposed to a stupid restore disc) you can choose to do a new install of windowsXP and at the beginning of the install, when you are asked where you want to install the new version of windowsXP you can delete the existing partition and then create a partition/format with FAT32 or NTFS. This method is also Very easy and FAST. you simply BOOT your computer from your windowsXP disc.

in DOS via the method previously mentioned-- however you must boot your WinXP machine from a Bootable Floppy to get to a usable DOS prompt.

If you need help locating DiscUtilities for your harddrive let me know the make/model of your harddrive(s)