Since you have the CDs from Compaq, I would use whatever
instructions they give you with them.
If all the data on the old drive is expendable, just start and see how things go...

It might be the ~same~ as the instructions from Dell, but I doubt if
they would be identical...
I have had trouble with older Compaq (or HP?) computers if I did not
use their restore CDs.  Some of them put part of the computer BIOS code
(or something?) on the HD, and the computer has problems booting without that.

Like I said in another (pending?) post, save any data from the HD you
want before you start. If you need help with that ask on the list, otherwise
we "might" consider all the contents of "that" drive expendable...

                                                Rick Glazier

From: <CSThomas
> I want to format the compaq which is not working and they don't  use.  I 
> know how to do it on this computer but wanted to know if there was  a 
> difference in the formatting of XP on different computers.  They would  have their own 
> XP cds.   Harriet

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