formating/reinstalling windows xp

[Arno]

I think ive completely screwed my computer.
I was trying to format the c: to perform a clean installation of xp, but xp wont let me format the drive. For some reason it doesnt let me boot from the cd-rom it gives me an "error code 5" or something. As well as this i tried earlier to start the setup of the xp whilst still in windows and now i cant load up the os at all. Does anyone know where i can get fdisk for windows xp, because i have a version of it but when i try to load it up with a ms-dos boot disk it says that its the wrong version of ms-dos, and as i said before the format c: command doesnt allow me to format c:

Any help would be hugely appreciated
thanks

[EagleTalon]

You can use a windows ME bootdisk if you have one laying around. If not, you can download one from windows website. Ill post the link as soon as I find it again, LOL! Use that disk to enter dos, then use the format command. Also, are you using fat32 or ntfs? If you using ntfs, youll have to repartition it first back to fat32, But dont format it. Instead, after you repartition it, insert windows disk, and do a clean install. It will tell you that you need to format your drive, and choose ntfs 4k clusters. That will give you peak performance. If you need any more help, PM me and Ill talk you through it.

[NorthViking]

You can get XP boot disks here - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994

[Inquisitor]

You can do a Low Level Format all you have to do is go online to the manafacturer of your HDD and download the LLF program