This is a great guide for reinstalling on a Dell:  http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm

Jeep23,

You apparently want to format your hard drive, then do a clean install of XP. Reformatting is not necessary nor recommended, especially if your Dell was manufactured in the last year or so. 

 

Reformatting a Windows XP drive, reinstalling Windows XP, installing chipset, audio, video, network card and modem drivers can be a daunting task.  Much safer to Repair, or Reinstall Windows per instructions given in links given by SIMPSWR and Maxd.

 

Windows XP and Windows 2000 are based on the Windows NT platform.  The NT file system has built in safeguards to maintain drive stability, including automatic relocation of data to good sectors if a failing sector is detected.  If you suspect your hard drive is getting flaky, click on Start|Run. Type cmd  and  press Enter. At the command prompt, type chkdsk /f and press Enter.  Restart your computer.

 

Tony