Wonder how long before the question is asked how to install Window Vista?
"jane0601" <jane0601@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4636A0A2-7621-4C56-B78A-862503A3F829@microsoft.com...
> Well, I thought the fact that the option was there, albeit greyed out (and
> I
> was following the instructions from Vista on how to format the hard drive)
> that you *could* format from within Vista! I have done it before on a
> previous operating system, but that might have been 98.
>
> I will try with the installation CD. I have heard that there are problems
> with trying to do this when downgrading from Vista to XP (and
> specificially
> on Dell machines) so trying to cover all the bases before going ahead 
>
>
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "jane0601" <jane0601@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
>> > I'm trying to format my hard drive (Vista Home Premium) so that I can
>> > reinstall Windows XP. However, when I follow the instructions, the
>> > 'format'
>> > option is greyed out.
>>
>> You can't format drive that has Vista installed on it from within Vista.
>> Think about it. You couldn't do this in XP either. The proper way to
>> remove Vista and install XP is boot from the XP installation CD and do a
>> clean install. It has all the tools needed to partition, format and
>> install. Here is a link with info on how to do a clean install.
>>
>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>>
>> --
>> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>>
>>