Reformatting Computer, Best Procedure?

I’m planning on reformatting my windows XP… currently using a guide that I found online but it’s a little bit confusing. Anyone have a really good step by step thing that I could print out for advice? This is not something to mess up!
Currently, I have backed up all my important files (in fact, I backed up my entire C drive, but also have a double copy of important stuff) and checked that I have all my software CDs. I made a list of other programs that I will need to download later as well (like itunes).
I have a list of things to do asap after reformatting, which are install my security software, do windows updates and put up my firewall — THEN replug and connect to the internet.
Am I missing anything major? I also made sure to save a copy of minor things like bookmarks, and double checked that everyone knows or can figure out their passwords for websites and such. (And I put backed this up).
I also, do not have a Windows XP cd… my ‘recovery’ partition is in my D drive… So do I just reboot the computer and reformat it from the boot menu with no worries? (I’m not quite sure if that’s what you call it, but I know where to find it…. during the loading screen you press F8 or something like that and you get your menu…)
ALSO… I’ve read that I need to something with my device drivers? What is this and what do I need to do?
Thank you! If anyone has a really good/clear step by step that would be nice!

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One Response to “Reformatting Computer, Best Procedure?”

1. Indoor Tropical Plants says:

   May 6, 2009 at 4:44 am

   if you are restoring from the recovery partition doing a restore to factory settings then you will not need to find the drivers they will load automatically from the recovery partition.
   you seem to have done everything right so go ahead and do your destructive recovery.
   ?