Restart your computer with the Windows cd in the drive (assuming your boot order includes the cd drive, if it doesn't you must add it before your hard drive by entering bios by pressing
delete or
ctrl+alt+esc when the reboot first starts, or the equivalent for your motherboard)
When prompted to boot from cd press a key to do so.
Windows will begin installation and after loading the setup files will give you choices:
repair, install, etc
You want to install. You will likely be given a warning about another copy of Windows being on the drive, and this will be your last chance to change your mind.
You will be given a list of all of your partitions, now select the partition which has your windows on it, and not the partition with all of your saved data on it!
You may again be given a warning about Windows being installed, accept it yet again.
depending on your prefrence you will want to choose either the quick or full format. This will ensure no conflicts when installing your Windows with the previous version, and give you the
Clean Install.
As far as the boot cd is conserned, both of these options are recoverable, but full takes a heck of a lot longer, so i suggest using the quick format.
once that is done, and you have agreed to the license agreement, by pressing F8. You are on your way, you will be prompted along the way to name your computer, and other trivial things, and your computer will restart at least a couple times, as well as your screen flickering during video driver installation, do not worry these are all normal.
*
NOTE do not press to run from cd after the setup restarts your computer, otherwise you will have to start the installation process over again.
After a final restart, windows has been installed!!
I suggest at this time you go over to the
Secure Your Computer for Free page to protect yourself from the issues that likely initiated this clean install in the first place.
Now you can return your files to their correct places and work on downloading and installing the lists you made of drivers and programs.
*If you wish to remove this partition (though i advise against it for reasons mentioned earlier) install Partition Magic again and resize your
partitions by making the bottom counter as high as it will go then increasing the middle to use all of the space. Returning your drive into a single partition.
You may also choose the option to delete this partition.
Enjoy your Newly Installed Windows!
Questions/Comments:
[email protected]
-William. (marvin_gohan)