SPEARHEAD; TYMPOO is advising to reinstall the operating system. You want to format hard drive right, while your computer running XP operating system, you can not format your hard dirve like you did with 95,98 and 2000. Before you format your hard drive , make sure your important files are saved in floppy disk / zip or external hard drive. Then, How you do. Insert you Xp operaing system and go to setup and double click it. Some where it will ask you or give you a choice 1) repair 2) re-install. IF it does not give you choice, you seek the 2nd choice (reinstall), choose to reformat. Then it will format your hard drive as well it will reinstall xp operating system. Dude, do not open emails that is not known to you specially with attachmant. 2nd inportant things, if you save your impoartant documents in hard drive, and you will have hard time to retrive it. Better have a Zip or 3-4 gb USB . You may use 98 to format your hard drive and reinstall xp. Is it clear to you?