Dimension 8300 Reformatting Problems

Question

I followed these instructions on how to reformat my HD, http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1080607#ATA . Now after Step #5 on Standard ATA HD, it takes me to a screen that says: CAUTION: A \WINDOWS folder already exists that may contain a Windows installation. If you continue, the esisting Windows installation will be overwritten. All files, subfolders, user accounts, applications, security and desktop settings for that WIndows installation will be deleted. The 'My Documents' folder may also be deleted. Then it gives me 3 options. 1. To use the folder and delete the exisitng Windows installation in it, press L. 2. To use a different folder, press ESC. 3. To quit Setup, press F3.  Now I want to reformat my HD  and reinstall XP. If I hit L will that reformat my HD and reinstall or do something else?

volcano11 · Answer

This question really has nothing to do with the Dimension BIOS, the topic of this forum, and should thus be posted in the Software - Windows XP forum. In the instructions that you linked, did you follow the instructions in step 6 to delete the existing NTFS partition? If you did this, then created the new partition, you would then format the new partition and their would be nothing on the new partition that would have any part of Windows on it.

Steve

NegativeCreep · Answer

Well someone posted somewhere else about formatting, and a mod told them to post here, so I figured I'd post here for my format problem. Anyway, no I didn't get to step 6, it took me to a different page where it said what I wrote in the first post.

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Dimension 8300 Reformatting Problems

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