Need help to reformat drive & install windows xp pro

My laptop (purchased secondhand) has a pirate version of xp
professional and a load of junk on the hard drive. I would like to wipe
the hard drive clean and install an authentic version of xp pro. I
haven't done this before so would be grateful for advise. I do have
recovery cd's that came with the laptop but they won't work (probably
due to the pirate xp), I also have the drivers disk which i haven't
checked yet. I have backed up any data that needs to be saved........so
I'm ready to wipe clean and start afresh!!

Hi Julie,

Have you purchased the full retail version of XP Pro or are you wanting to
get the Recovery CDs to work, if possible? What happens when you try to use
the Recovery CDs that has led you to the conclusion that they won't work?
Error messages?

If you are planning to purchase XP Pro and then perform the clean install,
the information here might be very helpful to you:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html



Regards,

--
Patti MacLeod
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

"Julie" wrote in message

> My laptop (purchased secondhand) has a pirate version of xp
> professional and a load of junk on the hard drive. I would like to wipe
> the hard drive clean and install an authentic version of xp pro. I
> haven't done this before so would be grateful for advise. I do have
> recovery cd's that came with the laptop but they won't work (probably
> due to the pirate xp), I also have the drivers disk which i haven't
> checked yet. I have backed up any data that needs to be saved........so
> I'm ready to wipe clean and start afresh!!
>