I'm looking for some easy step by step instructions on how to reformat my computer.....without blowing it up. Where should I start?

 

when you got to install the opperating system it will give you the option. you delete the partition and then create another one and everything will be wiped out.

 

1. Place the Windows XP CD into your CD drive while in Windows. Note: If a window appears after putting in the CD, close it. Reboot your computer with the CD in the drive.



2. You now need to boot from the Windows XP CD. After restarting, you should see a screen that says "Press any key to boot from CD...". Press a key to start the reformatting process and continue to step 3 below. If you do not see this screen and boot into Windows XP normally, you may need to try the following:

a. Reboot and when starting your computer before the Windows XP screen appears, press a key that allows you to choose your Boot Options (usually displayed somewhere on the screen while first starting up). For instance, Dell computers use F12. You should be prompted for booting options and should choose the CD Drive (or DVD drive). If this isn't available, try the next option-

b. You may need to enter your computer's BIOS and change the boot order to allow the CD drive to boot before the hard drive. Changing this varies by manufacturer and should be accessible by contacting your computer manufacture's support site.



3. Your computer will now boot up using the CD. When asked what you wish to do, you wish to Install Windows. Note: If ResNet has required you to reformat your computer to get rid of a virus, you MUST completely reformat since running the "repair" or "re-install" will not get the virus off your computer.




4. You will be asked if you wish to create a new partition. First, select the partition that you already have, and press D to delete your existing partition, and then L to confirm that you wish to do this. This will completely erase all documents and programs (and viruses!) off of your computer.


5. You then need to create a new partition. To do, this select C.




6. When asked what size you wish to make your new partition, just press Enter to make your partition the maximum size.



7. Select the partition that you have created to install Windows XP on by pressing Enter.

8. Your computer will prompt you asking if you wish to do a quick installation or a regular installation. Either will work fine, but "quick" goes faster.



9. Now you need to select Format the partition by using the NTFS file system.
10. Windows XP will now be installed. This may take some time and then your computer will reboot. From now on all the screens during the installation process will look like the Windows XP screens you are used to.


11. Make sure you properly enter your product key. This is either on the CD that came with your version of Windows XP or on your computer's case.


12. Make sure you select the "typical" network settings.


13. Windows will now complete the installation. XP will likely detect the drivers for all of your hardware, but you may need to use the disks that came with your hardware to install some of your hardware. You will now also need to install any software you need. Most importantly, RUN WINDOWS UPDATE IMMEADIATELY TO PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER!!!

 

jake00,

EXCELLENT instructions!!!!

Scott

 

DO NOT format it with DOS.

DOS was designed for smaller drives than we have these days.

DOS = Disc Operating System, and can only be used on drives of less than one gig in size.

Also be aware that if you format with LINUX - it cannot be reversed.

 

grey, ive formated with linux and redone it with xp later on.

 

You forgot 1 major step..

Backup any data files, documents, pictures,....Etc.. that you want to keep. If you format then all is lost..

 

i shouldove mentioned that, but i would hope thats a given.

 

Yep...if one needs to be told to back up data prior to reformatting...they probably should leave the entire task to someone with some experience.

And as for DOS...I don't know why anyone (especially someone who doesn't know how to reformat a HDD) would even consider it...

 

Could you explain the partition part in laymans terms? I have heard it talked about before, but don't know anything about it. How would you know what to do at that part of the formatting?

 

I personally use a partition of about 10% of my HD space for the C: drive; so the C: partition is about 25GB. That way, if I want to wipe out windows by formatting that partition I only lose the windows installation and any programs stored on C:. I save all personal files on the other partition; D: or another physical drive. If you ever want to install another OS such as Linux, it's probably a good idea to make a partition for it now, when you are wiping everything off the disk. If installing a new HD along with a new installation of Windows, the HD will need to be partitioned and formatted before installing anything on the disk, this will come up in the process of installing the OS. Whether you use all available space for the partition or a portion of it, it is a matter of personal choice.

 

partitioning is just splitting up the hard drive, to make other drives so when you need to start over you dont lose it all. like on mine, i have a 20 split into 2 10 gig sections, one for xp, one for linux, then i have a 200 and an 80 both split in half.

 

Computers is how I make my living, I am a Network Admin, and Programmer. Also a very avid online gamer.

A couple of tips here that may help you.

Most computers (Dell, Compaq/HP) come with a recovery disk. You boot from this disk, and it will restore it to the original condition it was purchased in. This will include all the drivers for you components.(excluding upgrades) Problem is, all previous files are now gone.

Portioning the Drive is a good way to safeguard your files if you only have one drive. Install the operating system in the smaller partition, then install all programs and or saved files onto the second partition. (as was suggested before)

One good program I do recommend is Ghost by Symantics. This will make a exact copy of your system. With a recordable CD_ROM you can use Ghost to burn a Bootable CD that is an exact copy of your drive. You can choose to only backup the main partition, or all partitions. For disaster recovery, all you do is insert the CD into your drive, boot the computer, click on a couple quick steps, and in 30 minutes or less, your system is 100% back to the time you made the CD. Each computer I build, as soon as I install all the patches, and drivers, I make a ghost CD.

For those that have a large drive, and un-used space, there is a program called Partition Tools that will resize your current partition, then move all the files into this partition. Then you can make the now extra space a partition, and use it for file storage. This program is very small and is free at most download software sights.

One last tip. Should you ever format your drive and or delete your partition, there are programs out there that will still recover the biggest share of the files even if you reload the computer. R_Studio is the one I use. Cost around $30. Even after deleting a partition, reloading 2K, and Microsoft Office, I was able to go back and recover files. As a matter of fact, even if the drives has been partitioned and formated several times, this program will still show you every partition ever made on this drive, and allow you access to the files as long as the data sector where they were stored is not over written. Good argument for destroying a drive when a company is done with the computer. The only way to safe guard past partitions is do a Goverment grade Wipe which is a bootable disk, that will write to every data block on the drive a "00".

 

Actually, I just used my disc that I got with my computer and it worked fined.
This procedure cleaned out everything so I did replace all of it with no issuses.
The main reason for this is to take out viruses that may have been there and it worked.