How to wipe windows xp.

[ACharacter]

I recently found a old window xp computer at the tip but sadly it was a ex-school computer so it is stuck on the "ctrl alt del" screen. Is there anyway I can bypass or delete the ctrl alt del screen or reset the computer? because now all the computer is doing is collecting dust.

[_I_]

if you can log into it, you can change its login from domain to local
and change its password in control panel -> users

or install another os or clean xp and format the drive if there is nothign on it you need

[ACharacter]

how do I format the drive? Also I cant login as it is hooked up to school networing thing.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You have a hard copy of WinXP? As that will be the only way.

If so, boot from the XP media disc, then wipe the drive, then install the OS clean.

Please ensure you have the XP OS Product Key / COA backed up.

[ACharacter]

I don't have a disk:/ is there enyway I can wipe the drive but not the OS?

[_I_]

you can downlaod an xp home or 7 iso and burn it
but you will need a cd key

[Fluffy]

no there is no way to wipe the drive without destroying the os.. you can however format it and use another windows.. but since you said you dont have windows u should look into linux ubuntu/mint (as there are one of the closest to windows) can put that on a bootable cd/usb and it will format and walk you through install just as windows does

[AussieBobby]

Publicado originalmente por ACharacter:

how do I format the drive? Also I cant login as it is hooked up to school networing thing.

You can use a Linux os to do that.
http://distrowatch.com/

Being an old PC a lightweight Linux would be best
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix

Once you burn the iso or make a bootable USB,you can then boot from disc/usb and have a sniff around the XP files.ie: My documents
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

[Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc]

what are you expecting to use the pc for anyway? due to it being a school computer i wouldnt expect anything more than a old pentium or celeron

[The Giving One]

You cannot necessarily run a newer OS on that computer. You must be sure there are drivers for the hardware in it. It could be "possible" that it may run Vista or maaaayyybe Windows 7 but that is highly unlikely I would say. No drivers equals no way for a newer OS to function without issues almost surely.

EDIT..I read over 2 years ago that you are six times more likely to get an attack if using XP since support for that OS is gone.

[Fluffy]

thats why i recommended linux (one of the reasons anyways) like a user friendly easy to use linux such as ubuntu.. also pretty much every distro has the lightweight versions for older hardware

[AussieBobby]

Publicado originalmente por Fluffy:

thats why i recommended linux (one of the reasons anyways) like a user friendly easy to use linux such as ubuntu.. also pretty much every distro has the lightweight versions for older hardware

I had friend of a friend ask me if I could look at their laptop.its slow
So I had a look to see what I could do
10 yld laptop,XP,518Mb ram,1.8ghz cpu.
I gave them three choices.
1)Throw it out
2)See above
3) Install a lightweight linux

I made three usb linux for them to try.
Lubuntu,antiX and Puppy

[vadim]

Can you enter BIOS Setup? Or is it password protected?

[Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc]

Publicado originalmente por vadim:

Can you enter BIOS Setup? Or is it password protected?

normally its like delete or f8/f12 (i think) before windows loads up

[vadim]

Publicado originalmente por Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc:

normally its like delete or f8/f12 (i think) before windows loads up

Normally BIOS is locked in school computers.

[Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc]

Publicado originalmente por vadim:

Publicado originalmente por Alexalmighty502 Sup Acc:

normally its like delete or f8/f12 (i think) before windows loads up

Normally BIOS is locked in school computers.

really i never had the problem of getting into bios's in my school (i even slightly overclocked one :p)