PC Support

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. PC Support

How to Perform a Clean Installation of Windows XP - Part 2 of 4

By Tim Fisher, About.com

3 of 10

Choose a File System to Format the Partition

Clean Install Windows XP

Windows XP Clean Install - Step 13 of 34

For Windows XP to install on a partition on a hard drive, it has to be formatted to use a particular file system - either the FAT file system format or the NTFS file system format. NTFS is more stable and secure than FAT and is always the recommended choice for a new Windows XP installation.

Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the line that says Format the partition using the NTFS file system and press Enter.

Explore PC Support

About.com Special Features

PC Support

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. PC Support
  4. Installations
  5. Operating Systems
  6. Clean Install Windows XP - Choose a File System to Format the Partition

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.