Starting MS-DOS from laptop

[-Swo0p]

Hello everyone   :-/

I have a laptop, and want to format my C and D drive and install Windows XP again.  However, a year ago some Russian friends of mine installed a different version of XP, so the version I have on cd is not the same.  

Firstly I need to whipe this present version from my drives...how do I even get to DOS?  Im not the brightest person with laptops but I can figure out how to reinstall XP from cd.   When I tried to boot from cd I was able to install xp on my C/D drives BUT it didnt give the option of formatting the drives first  ...only by installing another version on a drive...which it then suggested not to do (ofc).  

So Im kinda stuck and I think the only way I can do it now is to format everything first and install from scratch.
I couldnt find any instructions on google so any help would be appreciated
thnx

[uli_glueck]

 Boot with a DOS -  BootCD (if you donīt have a Floppy.)

type fdisk/mbr
start fdisk and delete the partitions.
create a new partition with fdisk.
restart and type:
format c: /u

Now you should have a clean hd. (data will be lost, so make sure to make a backup)

hope that helps
uli
     

[Gustaaf]

A standrd XP Can delete partitions. If the CD is customized, then it might not as it might follow an answer file inbedded in it.