For multiple reasons I've finally decided it's time to absolutely terminate my C: Drive, wipe it clean, re-install XP and start fresh.

However, after spending the entire day backing up my files, collecting my Driver CD's and then reading up on how to format my C: Drive, it absolutely refuses to do it.

* I put in my Windows XP CD, and boot windows FROM that CD (AKA Windows Setup, not Windows XP Home Edition i.e.. Drive).
* I enter the option of a Windows INSTALL, not a Windows REPAIR.
* I come to the screen displaying the partitions and am shown my C: Drive, and an unpartitioned space of 8MB.
* I attempt to delete the C: Partition and it claims I cannot do so because the "Drive contains temporary files needed for the Windows Installation".

I've looked on so many sites all listing how you just delete the partitions, re-create them, wham bam it's all dandy, but none of them highlight what to do in cases where it whinges about there being temporary files in-place that dissalow deletion.

Any site that DOES give info about these claim you either need to:

*Create Boot Floppy Diskettes (I do not have floppy disks, so I'm going to be pretty against any solution regarding these - I've never used one in years, had no use for any in the past, and the PC did not come with Boot Diskettes - Just the CD).

*Go into DOS and try a format command there.

I'm tired and frustrated with this entire thing - I just want to nuke everything on the drive, re-install my Windows XP and dig into the imminent hours of work that entails after a fresh install (ie. Install all my drivers / software etc).

Can someone please suggest how I can work around this aggravating problem preferably without requiring more than my Boot CD?

Thanks.

Trying to reformat your system drive while your system is running is itself impossible. The computer won't allow you to reformat any drive where there are system files. If you are trying to format your computer and start anew with a clean installation of Windows 2000 or XP, the best approach is to insert the CD, reboot the computer, boot off the CD and reformat using the utilities in the Windows installer.

Here is a link for dban - nuke and wipe - you boot system from floppy or usb if your PC supports booting from usb
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect

Darik's Boot and Nuke (Hard Drive Disk Wipe)