Problem formatting PC with XP

Set the system BIOS to boot off of the CD ROM drive, put the XP disk into the drive and reboot the system (a hard reboot - not a "restart").

XP will start up and run it's install routine.

that's what he's done.. and on the blue screen trying to delete the partition and he doesn't want to re-install xp but to format it..

thanks for your answer

Ummm.. You've lost me. If he reformats the disc what does he think will be left on it when he's done? If he's reformatting the disc XP is on right now he'll have nothing.

You need to boot here from an XP boot disk and not the XP CD and delete your partition to avoid copying the installation files, then insert your XP CD and re-boot and install XP again.
You can get the XP boot disk from here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Just pick correctly your SP.

Though a Windows boot floppy does include apps to recreate & format partitions, there should be no need at all to use one if you have a bootable Windows installation CD (which all WinXP CDs should be).

Now, if for some reason you want to use a boot floppy rather than the CD to accomplish those tasks, do not use a WinXP boot floppy set, use a Win98 or ME boot floppy. The XP boot floppy set (5 floppies) offers no advantages over the single Win98 or ME boot floppy for your friends situation...it'll just take much more time to load them.

Thanks, I'll have him try that