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Oct 21st, 2003, 08:01 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Lively Member
 How to Install Windows XP [RESOLVED]
I want to install Windows XP to my computer and I wanted to format my machine first. Here are my questions:
1. How do I format (low level) my computer?
2. After format, what do I need to do to be able to access my CD drive to run the installation CD?
3. For Windows XP installation, is it just simply running the Setup to install?
These are basic questions but unfortunately I dont know how  .Please help, thanks.
Last edited by norden; Oct 22nd, 2003 at 01:46 AM.
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Oct 21st, 2003, 09:45 PM
#2
Put CD in drive, reboot and follow directions
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Oct 21st, 2003, 09:57 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Lively Member
I want to format it first (low level if there is such) and I dont know how to do that. Second, I dont think I would be able to access the CD drive after format. Hence; inserting the installation CD in my CD drive wont work.
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Oct 21st, 2003, 10:03 PM
#4
Originally posted by norden
I want to format it first (low level if there is such) and I dont know how to do that. Second, I dont think I would be able to access the CD drive after format. Hence; inserting the installation CD in my CD drive wont work.
ugh, put the CD in and reboot, you'll see.
Your BIOS should automatically boot OFF the CD, you can't install windows within windows.
It will also give you the option to format to install XP
Just put the CD in, restart the machine. If it loads windows and not the CD, reboot again and go into your BIOS and change the floppy boot device to CD or however you want and reboot again, though you probably won't have to do that.
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Oct 21st, 2003, 10:34 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Lively Member
Ohhhh! Now I see what you mean... OK, I will do that, thanks. Two more questions, will that perform a low level format and what is a low level format anyway?
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Oct 21st, 2003, 10:36 PM
#6
Originally posted by norden
Ohhhh! Now I see what you mean... OK, I will do that, thanks. Two more questions, will that perform a low level format and what is a low level format anyway?
No it won't do a "low level" and you don't need too unless you work for the government or have extremely sensative material on your hard drive.
Depending on it's size, when you do a low level format it would take hours to days and most Hard drive manufacturers recommend NOT doing it as it could decrease the life span on the drive.
Just do either a full or quick format (you probably want full) when it asks you and go for it.
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Oct 21st, 2003, 10:52 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Lively Member
What is the difference between a full format and a low level format?
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Oct 21st, 2003, 11:07 PM
#8
Stuck in the 80s
Originally posted by kasracer
you can't install windows within windows.
It was awhile ago, but I swear I did. I know in older versions you can't, and I didn't format or anything...but I stuck the XP Install CD in while I was in Windows Me, and it installed XP.
Maybe it just booted while I wasn't looking. Call me crazy, but me knees tell me I'm right. 
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Oct 21st, 2003, 11:27 PM
#9
Originally posted by norden
What is the difference between a full format and a low level format?
I already said, low level can take ALOT longer and can shorten the life of your hard drive. It formats as if it's taking a layer off each cylinder.
A full format deletes everything off the partition you want to format and a quick format just basically says "this partition is empty"
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Oct 21st, 2003, 11:30 PM
#10
Originally posted by The Hobo
It was awhile ago, but I swear I did. I know in older versions you can't, and I didn't format or anything...but I stuck the XP Install CD in while I was in Windows Me, and it installed XP.
Maybe it just booted while I wasn't looking. Call me crazy, but me knees tell me I'm right.
Okay, I'll call you crazy.
It had to boot
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Oct 21st, 2003, 11:50 PM
#11
Thread Starter
Lively Member
so, a low level format removes all files from the hard disk; a full format removes all files from the hard disk; a quick format removes all files from the hard disk.
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 12:00 AM
#12
Lol.
Yes, but the methods uses are different.
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 12:18 AM
#13
Frenzied Member
a regular format leaves the contents of the files on the hard drive but marks them as deleted and thus later on they are written over
a low level format will write data (usually all 0s) to every sector of the hard drive and will typically remove the partition tables
microsoft's format includes an argument for low level formatting
format /u
this format will not save any un-format information, and wont delete the partition tables
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 12:46 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Lively Member
Thanks for all the replys guys.
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 07:45 AM
#15
Fanatic Member
Originally posted by dis1411
a regular format leaves the contents of the files on the hard drive but marks them as deleted and thus later on they are written over
a low level format will write data (usually all 0s) to every sector of the hard drive and will typically remove the partition tables
microsoft's format includes an argument for low level formatting
format /u
this format will not save any un-format information, and wont delete the partition tables
The "/u" string isn't a low-level formatter!!! It's just an unconditional format used to 'auto-sweep' though bad sectors and alike.
Low level formatters don't discrease the overall life of a hard drive at all! It's just a more secure, lengthy method to ensure all data is not only removed, but cannot be recovered. KillDisC is a good one, and it's free! It low-levels to USD 4110-M (US Defence Standard - 3/4 Pass) and also uses the Gutmann theory which wipes it an incredible 35 times! It takes bl**dy hours though! 
It formats as if it's taking a layer off each cylinder.
Sorry... but I have to laugh at that! 
Why has nobody answered nordon's question anyway? All the other posts are vague to say the least!!!
How do I format (low level) my computer?
You need specialist software to properly perform a low-level format. Microsoft WON'T provide it! As I said earlier... KillDisC is great. Microscope SD 11 is another good piece, but it's well over a £1000. Some quality branded manufacturer's provide low-level formatting utilities, but I still prefer apps which show you the contents of ANY drive in RAW form.
After format, what do I need to do to be able to access my CD drive to run the installation CD?
If your BIOS supports 'boot to CD', then it should just be a case of changing your boot priority to CD/HD0/FLOPPY. If it doesn't support auto boot, then you'll need to add an ATAPI device manually in the Standard CMOS options. Providing the CD-ROM/DVD/CD-R is detected in a cold boot, it should boot to a bootable CD.
For Windows XP installation, is it just simply running the Setup to install?
Simply, yes. But there are other options you may need to select when setup starts. Pressing 'F6' allows you to install 3rd party SCSI/RAID drivers, which most new motherboard now come with. If you don't install them prior to windows, it can conflict and even crash some systems. If you have SCSI/RAID, but don't use it... switch it off in the BIOS. Windows will not detect a disabled card which is PNP2.x compatible.
Make sure you service pack XP, and install every update (apart from the GFX/SOUND/LAN updates, cause they are often way out-of-date) before installing ANY drivers! Installing IDE/Miniport drivers before an update can drastically reduce system speed, and can give you IRQ problems in the future!
Hope this helps.
 
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 08:05 AM
#16
Thread Starter
Lively Member
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 01:30 PM
#17
Frenzied Member
oops typo on format /u, meant to present it as an alternative to a low level format and getting a 3rd party prog
Low level formatters don't discrease the overall life of a hard drive at all!
sooo erasing the entire contents 35 times on say a 100gb hard drive, having it run full speed non stop for days on end, wont take any life away from it?!?
Last edited by dis1411; Oct 22nd, 2003 at 01:35 PM.
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:17 PM
#18
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 02:19 PM
#19
Fanatic Member
Just spotted my typo...
!!!!????!!!! descrease !!!!????!!!!
It made sense to me! 
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 03:49 PM
#20
Member
It all has to do with how storing data works. The way the harddrive is accessed is through a collection of indexes. Format essentially blows away those indexes, but the actual 1's and 0's remain. Theoretically, you could use complex tools to reconstruct those files and pull information off still.
A low level format will actually replace the magnetic state of the drive down to its unmagnetized state (making every character a 0 I believe). Note that a low level format at the operating system is completely useless. It will not improve your speed in any way, since there is still the same mathematical chance (50%) that it will have to change the magnetic state of each of these bits anyways.
As someone pointed out, there are also programs that randomly change the magnetic states a number of times before finally leaving them all 0's. This is from the fact that theoretically (and I doubt anyone would go through this) you can determine the last several magnetic states of a sector. This ensures that everything is wiped.
So long story short, low level formats won't decrease the lifetime of your drive anymore then reading/writing normally does. But that said, they are for all intense purposes, useless, unless you were storing nucleur prototype plans or something on them.
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 04:09 PM
#21
Fanatic Member
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Oct 22nd, 2003, 05:02 PM
#22
Originally posted by VisionIT
Sorry... but I have to laugh at that!
Easest way to explain it. Not exactly true but not exactly false either (since I didn't say it physically does it, it just seems that way)
Originally posted by VisionIT
Why has nobody answered nordon's question anyway?
I did.....
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Oct 23rd, 2003, 02:12 AM
#23
Lively Member
People seem to have some odd ideas of what the term "low level format" really means. Here's some info and here's some more.
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