Formatting Help

[Matty323]

Im gonna formatt my Computer Because i have a vires/My computer is acting weird.
This is gonna be the first time im formatting by myself, because the last 2 times, a computer Tech (same guy both times) has done it for me because i was getting a comp upgrade and i asked him to do it, well he dosnt work at a Comp store no-more and he is never on MSN.So, i was wondering, how do i do it? do i just insert the XP disc and install? or do i HAVE to go into a menu before the comp starts and do it that way (thats what he did both times, he pressed F2 Repeatedly and this menu came up and he did something and i dont know what he did)

I have backed up what i want after i format, and i have the XP disc next to me
I am wanting to do it soon, so i can re-install what i need, if somone can give me a tut on how to do it i would help me a hell of alot

THANK YOU!!!

[peekaboo]

insert the disc and boot the computer. when given the option to format, choose it.
what that guy may have done is change the boot sequence so that the computer boots from the cd drive instead of from the hard drive.

[glc]

Let's be a bit more detailed. Boot with the XP CD. Choose Setup. It's going to find an existing copy of XP, and ask if you want to set up a new install or repair the existing one. Choose new install. It will then ask you whether you want to reformat or not. Reformat it using the full option, not the quick option.