Reformatting a Comp.

[GaMbLeZ]

I was just wondering if anybody knows how to....reformat i guess, a computer so there's nothing stored on the computer at all. If there's a way so the registry stays, I'd like that too. My computer is a piece of crap but I don't have enough money to buy/build my own computer right now. Any help will be appreciated.

[Obfuscate]

Put your Windows cd in the cd drive. Restart your computer. hit F2 or delete to enter the BIOS setup. Go to where the start up settings are and tell it to boot from you cd drive. After that just follow the prompts.

[TyKe]

how much money u got, i might be able to sell u one, i know its better than the one u got.

[Silent_killers]

My computer didn't come with the Windows CD (Who knows why), Is it possible to reformat?

My computer does have about a 10 GB thing that's called "System Restore." I tried doing that, but I'm not sure what it did. I was thinking all it did was re-install Windows, but I remember it asking, "Are you sure you want to return to factory settings?"

I would like a little help reformatting my comp too. By the way, my computer is an HP.

[skidude]

My computer didn't come with the Windows CD (Who knows why), Is it possible to reformat?

My computer does have about a 10 GB thing that's called "System Restore." I tried doing that, but I'm not sure what it did. I was thinking all it did was re-install Windows, but I remember it asking, "Are you sure you want to return to factory settings?"

I would like a little help reformatting my comp too. By the way, my computer is an HP.

the only way i know about you have to have the windows cd to reformat

[Obfuscate]

Well there is no sense in telling you how to reformat if you dont have an OS to install in its place. If you can not afford windows look into gettin mandrake or Fedora or Redhat. Those would be the most windowish linux builds that are both easy to use and setup.

[JesseDS]

I have an HP, it also came with no windows disc.

[Silent_killers]

Those damn HP bastards...

[GaMbLeZ]

thx for the tip sinner. it kinda worked...i only got my drives repaired cause i didn't know what the startup settings were...

[Hurly91]

HP doesn't come with a windows disc......I got HP me2

but you can re-format anyways.....I just did it a month ago

Step1: Put your HP cd in cd drive
Step2: re-start the computer
Step3: follow instructions on screen

( Credits to mom ..... lol )


hope that helps you

[Silent_killers]

It would have helped me, except I got a windows disc from a...source.

[A|fzZz]

I do not haev any disc at all...

Hurly how u rf ur comp without the disc?

[Hurly91]

you need HP disc or WINDOWS disc.......


If you got HP:

1) put cd in drive
2) restart comp
3) follow instructions on screen

If you got windows:

1) click on START, EXECUTE, cmd.exe
2) format c:
3) follow instructions
( you will need windows cd and all to reinstall windows and all programs )

Without disc, I don't know.........:eek:

[Vilestyle]

I must format my computer 29 times a year...

What I do, is I have a safety disc. It's something promted to make on installation of Windows (i think). Anyway, I pop that in, restart my computer (it'll boot up in DOS when that floppy is in it) and make it restart with CD support. Then go to your c: and type format c:. it'll give you some prompts, and press y to all of them. Once it's cleaned, go to your cd drive and start installing.
Hope I helped

--Vilestyle--

[GaMbLeZ]

now that sounds easy to follow, i think i'll try that right now

do you have a back-up disk?

[JesseDS]

For HP users, there is a recovery parttition in your disc drive. For my computer, you just push F10 when it boots and then the system restore menu comes up. From then on, you just follow the on screen instructions.

[CheshireCat]

If you got windows:

1) click on START, EXECUTE, cmd.exe
2) format c:
3) follow instructions
( you will need windows cd and all to reinstall windows and all programs )

Without disc, I don't know.........:eek:

That won't work. Windows "Locks" the hard drive while its running so you can't format it while windows is running, you have to run it through DOS or with a bootable CD that you can get from most HDD manufacturer websites.

Just find out what kind of HDD you have and go to the website, i.e. Maxtor uses a program called MaxBlast 3. You should be able to get it from them or driverguide.com. Pop the disc in and reboot. Most commercially built PCs will bring up a boot list if you hit F8 while its booting. If it doesnt, try hitting delete, F2, or esc to go into the BIOS, then change the boot order.

In most cases, you just highlight the option and hit pageup or pagedown. If you use a windows XP Disc, you dont even need to worry about formatting, it will do it for you.

[Hurly91]

That's because I habitually go on MS-DOS but I tought it'd work with CMD.EXE...........anyways

[GaMbLeZ]

well, i was wondering....when you pop in the XP cd, i remember 2 options:
Install Windows XP
Repair Windows XP
i'm very unsure at what to do at this point because my brother reformatted my comp a couple months ago but after it was done *reformatting*, the same files were still on the hard drive. im not sure if he installed from the cd menu or from the computer reboot but i just wanna make sure which option would be reformatting

[CheshireCat]

You can choose either option, but when the menu comes up to format, select "Leave file system intact (no changes)"