Insert your XP disk into the drive. Restart the computer at the Dell splash screen tap the F12 key to access the boot menu. Once at the boot menu select the option to boot from the on board CD Rom. Press enter then any key when prompted. The disk will be accessed and just follow the prompts. It will give you the option to format the drive.
Once the OS is installed you will need to reload your drivers and such as per the steps HERE
Yes with a clean install you will lose everything. That is what you mentioned in your first post. So that is the instructions I gave you for. A clean install is just that wipe the drive clean and start fresh. If you are wanting to try and save the content on your drive than perhaps a Repair reinstall is the what you should try.
I can only do what your saying up to a point, like boot the CD rom, but as far as the drivers are concered, my removable disk drive is disabled and I'm useing a external one. It works for the XP disk but not the reinstall programs on my puter disk that came with it. Plus if I do as you say with the formating, will I loose everything that I have on the puter?
Davet50
4 Operator
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14.4K Posts
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July 5th, 2009 07:00
Insert your XP disk into the drive. Restart the computer at the Dell splash screen tap the F12 key to access the boot menu. Once at the boot menu select the option to boot from the on board CD Rom. Press enter then any key when prompted. The disk will be accessed and just follow the prompts. It will give you the option to format the drive.
Once the OS is installed you will need to reload your drivers and such as per the steps HERE
Davet50
4 Operator
•
14.4K Posts
0
January 7th, 2010 05:00
Yes with a clean install you will lose everything. That is what you mentioned in your first post. So that is the instructions I gave you for. A clean install is just that wipe the drive clean and start fresh. If you are wanting to try and save the content on your drive than perhaps a Repair reinstall is the what you should try.
Link to steps..
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
usma41
9 Posts
0
January 7th, 2010 05:00
I can only do what your saying up to a point, like boot the CD rom, but as far as the drivers are concered, my removable disk drive is disabled and I'm useing a external one. It works for the XP disk but not the reinstall programs on my puter disk that came with it. Plus if I do as you say with the formating, will I loose everything that I have on the puter?