Block,

There’s tons of step-by-step information and free advice on the Internet on stuff like formatting HDDs, handling partitions etc. Why not check out http://www.downloads.com and Dell’s User Forums.

I suggest you:

1) Do back-up all user data/settings/e-mails on the external HDDs (and maybe even burn a few discs, just in case). May I recommend “SyncToy” http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/prophoto/synctoy.mspx and many CD-burner programs have easy backup tools too.

2) Clean up your partitions (unless the Dell partition, if you have one of those). I suggest using the default Dell layout, unless you know what you’re doing. Use eg. Partition Magic, Acronis Migrate which can be used for free for trial periods.

3) Use the Dell CD-ROMs/partition to format the HDD (except the Dell partition) and reinstall Win XP. Do NOT under any circumstance FDISK/DOS-format the entire physical Dell HDD if you plan to reinstall Win XP from the Dell discs/partition as you’ll delete the Dell Master Boot Record, leaving you …. well, seriously screwed… trust me, you don’t want to go there….)

4) Expect to use ½-1 day of reinstalling everything.

Good luck. Nik “The Geek” Geekapopulos