Windows Questions about the HDD and formatting...

I just put my brothers pc together today, using parts from his old dell (hdd, cd-rom, etc) and after I put it up, it goes to his main wallpaper and main 'login' screen and i pick his name and it tells me it needs to be activated. well, i dont want this screen, i want it to tell me to insert a os disk (which i have) so i can cleanly install xp pro, but it doesnt let me. do i need to format his hdd in a another pc (like mine?) or something? i dont know what to do with formatting or know what formatting is.

Please help a n00b out in software. Thanks.

 

It's ok.
you need to set the boot order in the Bios to boot the cd drive befor the hard drive. then put the xp cd in the cd drive and restart the pc. It will boot the install programm thats on the cd and never load whats on tha hard drive. it's part of the XP install to formate the drive so you'll loose all data on teh drive

 

Ah, thats where I made my mistake, i set the boot order to the hdd, so i make it to cd-rom, install the cd, and were good? anything else?

 

In th Bios you should find
"First Boot Device" and set it to cdrom
then reboot with the xp cd in the drive.

 

Yeah, ok. Thanks for the quick reply!

 

oh and make sure u do a full formatt not a quick one!