How to Install a Fresh Copy of Windows XP

1. Back up all of your personal files and data onto an external hard drive before you start the install. Connect the external drive to the computer via USB connection and just drag and drop all of the files you want to back up. When you install a fresh copy of Windows XP, all of your personal data will be erased.
2. Insert your Windows XP installation disk into your computer.
3. Reboot your computer. When you see a message from the installation CD asking if you want to boot up, just follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
4. Press 'Enter' when you are on the 'Welcome to Setup' screen and then press 'F8' on the licensing screen to proceed. Press 'D' on the partitioning screen to delete the partition.
5. Press 'L' to confirm that you want to delete the partition for a fresh install. Press 'Enter' on the next screen to install Windows XP.
6. Use the up and down arrow keys to select a new file system for the partition on the next screen. Choose 'format the partition using the NTFS file system
' and press 'Enter' when you have that option highlighted.
7. Watch the progress bar on the screen as setup is formatting the partition and copying the files. When it finishes, you will get a message alerting you that the computer is going to reboot and you need to remove the disk. Remove the disk before it reboots.
8. Follow the on-screen installation prompts when your computer reboots. You will have to enter in the product key for Windows XP, which is on the packaging of the installation disk. When you get to the 'Thank You' screen, click 'Next' one last time to finish the fresh install of Windows XP.