reformatting help

[MX45]

I wanted to reformat my harddrive and reinstal windows. I did this once before on my brother's computer, with no problems.

I booted from my windows xp cd (an origional copy that came with my computer), and it give me 3 options. One is to reinstal windows, another is to repair, and the 3rd to quit the setup. I thought I should get a dos command promt up? I know I did when I did it on my bro's comp. Anyway, I went ahead and chose the option to reinstal windows completely. The instal completed, restarted my computer, and everything for windows was new, but everything else that was on my hdd was still there. Never durring the instalation did I see an option to format the hdd.
I guess my question is, how do I reformat and reinstal windows properly?

two_four, Simon, and a few google searches all said I should get a command prompt when booting from the XP cd, but I didnt.

[VRT_RIDEBLUE]

http://www.umt.edu/reslife/Reformat.htm

[MX45]

I found that page earlier.

6) Now, start up the computer with the boot disk and your Windows installation CD in and wait until you get a c:\ prompt in DOS.  Once there type this in exactly: "format c: /q".

that's the part I am unable to get to. It should come right up, but it doesnt, nor is there any option to use dos commands.

[VMX_101]

Hmmmmm I'm wondering what order your boot sequence is, is the cd-rom booting 1st? That may cause the problem, you have to change that in your bios.

Hit delete on start up I think lol, been awhile hahaha.

[Bunny]

I think what you need to do is choose "Repair Windows Xp" and then you'll get a command prompt that asks you for a password.  If there is none that you know of, just hit enter, then you should get the actual command prompt you are looking for if I remember correctly.

[MX45]

thanks guys, I got it.

now I just can't find my mcm cd 

edit: found it

[Bunny]

Glad you got it, sorry about your misplacement though.