This is a follow up to several of my postings about problems connecting to the internet with a desk top that runs W2K. I don't have the time to review all the attempts I have made to find the problem,but have come to the conclusion that it is a software problem with the operating system. I would like to reformat the hard drive and remove W2K and install XP Home. I have an installation disk for XP Home. I am not sure about how to format the hard drive. I found instructions on microsoft support on using the W2K CD to start the computer and go to the Recovery Console. Thne according to the instructions I will end up at a command prompt and enter "format C" and hit enter. When format is complete, I type exit at the command prompt and press enter to restart my computer. Does this make sense? Any better ideas? Again, my goal is to format my hard drive so I can insall XP Home as an operating system. I am hoping this will fix my internet access problem. If it doesn't work, I haven't lost anything since this computer is only used for email and internet access in a vacation home.

Artlayton,

If you have not installed XP yet you can format the drive in the windows set up when installing.

When I try to upgrade from W2K to XP, I get a message stating that I can't upgrade to XP home. I don't remember seeing a choice to format the hard drive.

You need to change to the first boot device in BIOS to CD drive. Insert Windows XP disc and when prompted press any key to boot from CD. When you get to the first screen you have a number of options > Press Enter to install Windows now. Press F8 to accept the license agreement. You will now have an option to delete the selected partition - Hit D to delete it, you will have to confirm that you want to delete it by pressing L. Once you have deleted the partition press Enter to install Windows - it will then prompt you to partition the available space and format it - i recommend you don't choose the quick option - especially if you had problems previously. After Windows has finished creating the new partition and formatting it - it will start the install automatically.

Please post back if you have problems.