Reformat Windows XP

Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup boot disk into the floppy disk drive if you are starting from Setup boot disks, and then restart the computer.

NOTE: To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM or from the Setup boot disk, your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive or the floppy disk drive.

In some cases, you may have to modify your computer's BIOS settings to do this. The BIOS contains the boot-up sequence. Normally, computers are configured to boot from a hard drive. You will need to boot from a CD or DVD. It might be called Boot Order, instead of Boot Sequence.

If you are starting from the Windows XP Setup boot disks, insert each of the additional disks when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after inserting each disk.

At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER to continue.

Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.

If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. Press ESC (do not repair).

All existing partitions and unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk. Use the arrow keys to select the partition or space where you want to create a new partition, and then press D to delete an existing partition or press C to create a new partition using unpartitioned space.

If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this process for each of the existing partitions that you want to use for the new partition.

When all the partitions are deleted, you can then select the resulting unpartitioned space and then press C to create the new partition.

Type the size (in megabytes, or MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition using the maximum size.

If you want to install Windows XP, use the arrow keys to select the partition you want to install Windows XP on, and then press ENTER.

Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then press ENTER. The options are:

• Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick) [I would usually pick this]
• Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick)
• Format the partition by using the NTFS file system
• Format the partition by using the FAT file system

Empty Your Desktop

Create a Safely Remove Hardware shortcut
I just reformated my computer once again, and as usual I prefer an empty desktop with no icons and no taskbar, just ObjectDock Pro shown. One very important shortcut on the taskbar will be hidden too if I want to empty them all and that is Safely Remove Hardware shortcut located at the System Tray. If I hide everything, I wont be able to disconnect my removable hard drive properly. I have to put this shortcut onto ObjectDock. So, to create the shortcut:

Right-click on the desktop, select 'New' and then 'Shortcut'. For the item location, copy and paste the following:

RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL HotPlug.dll

Then click 'Next'. Call the shortcut 'Safely Remove Hardware', and you are done. If you want to make it look better, right-click the icon, choose 'Properties' and then the 'Shortcut' tab, click on 'Change Icon' and in the 'Look for icons' box type:

%windir%\system32\HotPlug.dll

The first icon in this file matches the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon so you'll be able to recognise it.

Remove Recycle Bin

Go to START > RUN and copy and paste the following:

GPEDIT.MSC

Navagate to USER CONFIGURATION > ADMINISTRATIVE TEMPLATES > Click on DESKTOP,

On the right hand pane find "Remove Recycle Bin icon on the desktop" , double left click on it and ENABLE it.
That's it!