Originally Posted By: tanstaafl.
* You cannot format a disk or partition that is currently in use, including the partition that contains Windows.


Windows installation disks are bootable. You configure the computer's BIOS so that it will boot from the CD-ROM drive. At that point, you simply follow the instructions. It will show you that drive C: already has windows on it, and you use a nice GUI interface (all built-in to the CD setup program) to wipe that disk and put fresh Windows on it.

The fun part starts as soon as Windows XP is booted and there are a billion unrecognized pieces of hardware on the system, and you're now into the trawl-for-drivers-for-three-days mode.
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Tony Fabris