Hi

Just wondering if anyone can help


I have a PC (laptop) with a genuine Windows XP installed


I want to sell the laptop but don't want all my stuff on....


I have deleted most but know stuff can be kept on there without me knowing....


I want to get the PC back to how it was (or as close to) when I first got it
Re-install the operating system .....



I think the best way I can explain is "TO START FROM SCRATCH" and make it look like a new computer to someone else.....


Any help would be greatfully appreciatted


Cheers

Hello and welcome to PCHelpForum.

You can reformat the laptop and update software and drivers.Any setup or files will be gone.

Deleting files realy is not a great idea as a system restore can be done and many would be back were they were on the laptop.

thanks Jelly Bean

silly question coming ..... how do I reformat the laptop ?

I have the original OS disc ... or will I need something else?

thanks again

Nope you need nothing else to format.

This is what you do:

Restart the laptop and on the black screen you will see "Press ? to enter setup" this could be Del or F1 or F2 it depends on the model or make of laptop.

So restart and hit the relevent key on your keyboard.Once in setup wich is also called BIOS.Locate boot tab or boot order tab,set first boot device to CD rom second to hard drive.You can select items usaly via the up and down keys.

Ok now set first boot to your CD rom put in XP install disk and save and exit this could be press F10 to do this or maybe press enter and a Y or N will showup use up and down keys ot press Y on your keynoard and maybe also enter.

BIOS,s do slightly vairy on there commands or operations.

The laptop will restart and black screen will appear on the screen will say "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" then press any key or hit enter.

Now "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" will appear again during install proccess,do NOT press any key to boot from CD/DVD again or the install proccess will restart all over again,you only do this once at the start.

Then follow this link:How to partition and format a hard disk in Windows XP

I hope this helps,if you get a little stuck I am here to help.