Windows XP is actually a product line of operating systems created by Microsoft for home and business desktop computers, media centers and notebook computers. The letters "XP" stands for eXPerience. The Windows XP Home edition is designed for home users while the Windows XP Professional is created for use by business clients and power users. This operating system is widely recognized as more stable and more efficient compared to the earlier nine versions of Microsoft Windows.

It is also observed to be more user-friendly compared to its previous versions. It is also the first Windows version with product activation feature to circumvent software piracy. Some of the new features introduced with Windows XP that are not available in the earlier Windows versions are faster hibernation and start-up sequence, more user-friendly desktop interface, faster user switch ability, remote desktop functionality as well as its ability to support wireless network connections and modems.

Despite the widespread popularity of this Microsoft product, it is also heavily criticized for its security vulnerability as well as its tendency to succumb to glitches and other time-wasting processes. Some of the Windows XP irritations identified by frustrated PC users are turtle-pace Windows boot process, unavailability of a back-up utility, and inability to get rid of temporary files that may ultimately clog the Temp folder. In addition, some security setbacks are also commonly encountered by Windows XP users such as the need to reinstall software due to a hard drive crash and to made changes in some user account settings. Those who find these snafus bothersome are now switching to Mac and Linux. Moreover, these people are advocating the superiority of these Windows alternatives.

If you want to use an entirely new operating system other than Windows XP, there is a need to reformat the hard drive. This process will prepare the disk storage utility to accept and store new data. In addition, this can be undertaken to remove errors or viruses that compromise overall computer efficiency. However, there might be a need to make use of certain applications like WipeDrive to permanently get rid of unnecessary Windows XP data. A simple hard drive reformat does not guarantee permanent deletion of data. In fact, the deleted files can be recovered even after reformatting.

The need to wipe Windows XP before doing a reformat on a hard drive is also proven to be an effective way for a PC owner to protect himself against identity theft. Reformatting merely erases the address tables of your data. This makes the deleted data and information still prone to serious hacking by the experienced infiltrators all over the web. There are actually a lot of disk wipe programs that you can choose from in the market right now. For the most part, these programs are also available for purchase and download online. This makes access all the more easier for the many computer users who are in need of such programs. By performing a disk wipe before installing a new operating system, you can guarantee complete and efficient deletion of all files and folders that were once in your possession.