I own a Gateway 800 computer...Pentium III 800 mghz, 384 ram. dvd,
cdrw, 40 gig hard drive, Nvidia video card, soundblaster, tv tuner,
and ATI video card for XP's requirement for 2nd monitor.  Software
includes Office Pro 2000, Adobe photo, Arts and Letters, MS Publisher,
Encarta, Greetings, Quicken, Turbo Tax, some Kazaan, and the BIG
DISASTER Norton Internet Security 2003 that I bot in October of 02. 
Here's the rub... I updated to Norton's Internet Security 2003, having
used their anti-virus in 01, updating anti-virus and adding Firewall
in 02.  I was running ME which I bot @ SAMS to update WINDOWS 98 2nd
edition
that came with the Gateway original purchase.  When I installed the
upgrade of 2003 Nortons I received constant error messages telling me
there was a conflict with existing software "that I was to uninstall
Nortons Internet Security 2003 and to reinstall it".  I tried this 5
or 6 times getting the same error messages.  My cable internet
connection became fragile and would shut down without notice. I
contacted Norton and they said they were aware of the problem, but had
no more help to offer.  After talking to people that I consider "in
the know", I decided to change OS  to XP after deleteing all I could
of NORTON through the hard drive.  And it worked!  Internet worked
without fail.  No failures, I did have to add a new ATI pci card for
my 2nd monitor, and have not updated ROXIO.  Since things were going
so well I decided
to make my next BIG MISTAKE.  I tried to reinstall Norton Internet
Security 2003.  BIG, Big mistake.  Internet now is disconnected so
that the 'puter will work...I have had to move all email and interent
dealings to my wife's computer.  Norton will NOT UNINSTALL...says I
must be a supervisor, but supervisor is inaccessable.  SO I called
Gateway with my problem.  Supposedly, I have LIFETIME FREE TECH
SUPPORT. They say (and I used several different scenarios) since I did
not buy ME from them, they can't help me...next time, since I did not
buy Norton 2003 from them they can't help me unless I pay them for
help.  What I asked of them, is how do I format hard drive so I can
start fresh with Windows XP.  I am told that Gateway has some kind of
code or key that is specific to Gateway (but not so with DELL) that
will format the hard drive.  I do not want to format and restore the
original Windows 98.  I just want a clean drive to do with as I
wish... Gateway adamantly feels I should pay them for this... I feel I
paid them for their computer when I bot it.  It's mine, and if I wish
to format the hard drive they should tell me how. However, if I must
pay, let me pay you. Thank you, WRG

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Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 31 Dec 2002 02:51 PST

What kind of help do you seek? Is it how to make a clean install of
Windows XP? Sorry I have to ask because I'm a bit confused with the
details and I want to be sure about this so as to avoid giving you the
wrong instructions/info. It would be great if you'll be clear about
it.

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Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 31 Dec 2002 02:59 PST

If it's a clean install you want, please tell me if it would be okay
for you to totally erase whatever files you have in the drive. Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by vinods-ga on 31 Dec 2002 04:48 PST

Hi, 

If you have any data on your machine, you can copy it off to CD
easily.
It it is just a format of the hard drive that is required, the
following process will work:

1. Download Disk Manager to a fresh floppy disk. 
2. Boot from the Disk Manager Floppy and follow instructions to format
and re-install the hard drive.

If this procedure seems okay by you, I can provide fuller details.

Warm regards and a Happy New Year!
Vinods-ga

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Clarification of Question by wrg-ga on 31 Dec 2002 05:42 PST

I want a totally clean drive to install XP.  I am told that Gateway
has a special code or key that is particular or specific to their
drive...and without it you cannot get a clean format-install.  I have
copied all I want to keep except old emails and my address book.  I
want those, just have not figured out how to do so.

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Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 31 Dec 2002 05:50 PST

Can you tell me the name of the hard drive (Seagate, Maxtor, IBM,
etc.) and also the software you are using for your email (Eudora,
outlook, etc.)?

Windows XP Home installation CD includes a method to format your drive
AS your are installing the software. Simply read and follow the
prompts -- it is VERY obvious where to do it from! It will ask you
which partition you'd like to install the software to, and it will
give you the option of DELETING the partition. It will then ask how
you wish to REFORMAT it? I would HIGHLY recommend you select NTFS
filesystem.

There is a step-by-step procedure for doing so on techtv.com

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Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 31 Dec 2002 10:55 PST

argh... I hit the wrong button.. please bear with me as I continue
your answer! :) It will not be too long..

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Clarification of Answer by legolas-ga on 31 Dec 2002 10:59 PST

Windows XP Home installation CD includes a method to format your drive
AS your are installing the software. Simply read and follow the 
prompts -- it is VERY obvious where to do it from! It will ask you 
which partition you'd like to install the software to, and it will 
give you the option of DELETING the partition. It will then ask how 
you wish to REFORMAT it? I would HIGHLY recommend you select NTFS 
filesystem. 
 
There is a step-by-step procedure for doing so on techtv.com:
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/windowstips/jump/0,24331,3356336,00.html

Another more detailed step-by-step procedure for a clean install of XP
can be found here:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
This site also explains how to boot from disks if you are unable to
boot directly from the Windows XP CD.

From my research, there is no special key to reformat a Gateway
computer: however, Windows ME conveniently removed the 'format'
command from the bootup disk. That omission is probably why you
thought you needed a "key".

Following the directions on the site above will let you cleanly
reformat your drive while you install Windows XP. It's a very simple
thing!

Thanks,

Legolas-ga

Google search:

clean install xp
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=clean+install+xp

Hi, 

regarding the backup of your mail and addresses, if it is Outlook it
is different and if it is any other mail client, it is different. as
feilong-ga asks, it is important to know which mail client you are
using. the procedure may be simple, but differs from mail client to
mail client.

after you get your mail and addresses transferred to a safe location,
the format can take place.

warm regards and a happy new year!
vinods-ga

I use Outlook that comes with Office PRO...not outlook express