Reformat Windows XP?
 

Does anyone know of a program that can reformat Windows XP like it was a new and fresh install, removing every other file on the hard drive except the operating system?

I bought a new computer a few days ago, and found out i'd lost my WinXP CD. I'm thinking of cloning my current hard drive onto the new one and then just getting a new activation key from microsoft, but i'd really like to make it a 'clean' install without any personal files or programs, since my current hard drive is cluttered up with all kinds of crap.

Is there any program orway to do that without the original WinXP installation CD?

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

Probably not.

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

If you have your activation key for xp windows, just borrow another copy of Xp from someone else. Its not illegal, as your using your own activation key to unlock it. As for cleaning it up, do you have restore points on your old system. If so check how far back they go. Also, there is a files and settings transfer wizard on xp, will allow you to transfer whatever you want from one pc to another. Its under settings.

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

Yes but he'll need the CD key as well and something tells me there will be a conflict with the same CD key being used on 2 machines. The activiation code only proves that you didn't steal the CD....yep it's stupid but then that's old news


Go to newegg.com can you get WinXP Home SP2 OEM for about $90US. Or bittorrent yourself a copy of WinXP Pro Corp Edition.

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

Or, if the original lost xp copy was your own, contact

Microsoft Customer Service
Monday through Friday, from 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Pacific
time.

Microsoft Customer Service, US phone 1-800-426-9400.
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 326246

Licensing Center. Call US 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4),
Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) Ask to speak directly to a
Microsoft licensing specialist.

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

I hadn't thought about the system restore feature. Could that work if I had a really old restore point saved on the machine? Would it reset the entire registry, startup, installed programs, etc to what it was at the restore point?

Will microsoft send a replacement CD for free since the original was lost? I wasn't aware of that. That's a good secondary option if that's true. I'm guessing it would be weeks before it arrived though if so. I requested a copy of SP2 to be sent by snail mail back when I still had dial-up, and it took almost 3 weeks to arrive.

Re: Reformat Windows XP?
 

Microsoft will send it, but probably expect you to pay for postage. They will also want proof of purchase from your original. See below.
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...KB;en-us;326246

As for system restore, it depends on when you set your first restore point. Some pc makes, HP for example, offer a factory reset on their recovery disk.
Also, if your planning on buying any new hardware, some suppliers might sell you a generic copy of xp cheaply with the purchase, if ya haggle with them.
But to do anything, your gonna need a disc.