I want to reformat and reinstall Windows XP, cause I've attempted a few repairs and two inplace upgrades and it's a bit glitchy and prone to stop errors now.

Is this guide okay? http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/honeycutt_02october07.mspx  

Our file system is NTFS, we have the original installation cd and can even load Windows (for the moment anyway). So I think I'm ready to go...

This guide looks ok to me, but it doesn't go well into detail or anything... I'm going to give you the link to a document I personally used to reformat... http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWARE/MICROSOF/7509594/Installs/750959408.shtml ... Follow all of these steps, with exception to steps 34-37. Those are extra steps that are only for Gateway users. Hope this helps!  

[glb]Flame[/glb]Thanks!  No problem! Let us know if you have any more questions, etc.!  

[glb]Flame[/glb]Okay! I have a question...it's telling me that I already have a copy of Windows in that partitioned space, and it's dangerous to install two copies of Windows in one partition, so I think I need to WIPE my hard drive first or something?Wipe the hard-drive, re-partition with the XP SP2 CD and FULL format the first partition before installing. Other PARTITIONS can be made and formatted using XP's Disk Mangement.

I would run the drive MANUFACTURER's diagnostic diskette over the drive and run a test on the RAM modules as a MATTER of course. If the RAM modules need to be re-seated now is the time and then all duxst and debris can be cleaned out of the casing and all fans, etc. checked.

See link below for more info.In that guide it tells you how to format/reformat a partition. Follow those instructions and use them to reformat your old partition.

[glb]Flame[/glb]Man, I feel like I'm in over my head... Read the guide that Flame put up, step by step, it's very good. Maybe even print it out.  There are only a few major steps:

1. Set first boot device to CD-ROM
2. Insert Windows XP CD-ROM
3. Boot computer
4. Choose F6 to install, the INSTALLER will tell you a previous copy is installed. Ignore this message.
5. Repartition and reformat. Instructions are provided by Microsoft on disk.

What steps do you need help with?It's okay, just that intensive instruction page scared me off a bit. We've done everything listed above and right now its formating the new partition for us. Looks like everything's going well.

Thanks so much for the help.  

If anything goes wrong, you'll hear me scream for help...Don't hesitate to scream  

[glb]Flame[/glb]Okay, itty bitty problem...

It now says "WARNING: Dell's disk Monitoring System has detected that drive 0 on the Primary EIDE Controller is operating outside of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace your hard disk drive by calling your support desk or dell computer coorporation.

Strike F1 to continue, strike F2 to run the setup utility."

when we start it up. I need to replace my hard drive? WTH?

But it starts and all.  

Do I really need to replace my hard drive?  It seems that warning would be there for a reason???