Process to reformat hard drive?

Magrus · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 03:35 PM

I know, incredibly simple.

However...I'm technically challenged, and to prevent my being stuck without a computer again for a lengthy time....would someone be kind enough to give me a basic rundown of how to reformat my PC properly? I'm in the process of backing up important files and plan to reformat my hard drive as it's been close to 2 years and I miss having a nice, clean system.

Siberys · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 06:42 PM

Not sure in directions, but you seem to be back as you made a post recently.

The format go alright I take it?

Magrus · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 07:09 PM

No, still waiting to find info on how to do it and I'm having trouble burning cd's to back my stuff up.

The cd's are fine, but they all error whenever I use the program I'm using, which has NEVER happened before with this program.

Ugh. I may just ditch everything. I'm just worried I'll do the reformat wrong and get stuck with a blank hard drive and not be able to use my system. It's been two years since I've done it, and I can't remember the entire process.

Denethorn · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magrus

I'm just worried I'll do the reformat wrong and get stuck with a blank hard drive and not be able to use my system.

Well do you want to reformat so you have a blank harddrive, whereupon you can install Windows and everything all over again (clean system).

Or are you thinking more along the factory default settings? (Which some manufacturers provide but I can't help you with).

If you're looking to reformat (I'll assume you're using Windows XP for now):

Once everything's backed up, insert Windows XP disc and reboot
Enter your BIOS (delete key usually) and find how to set your CD drive as the first boot device (it's normally the floppy drive). Save and exit.
As the machine boots up there should be a little message like "Press any key to boot from ATAPI CDROM or suchlike, press any key
You're then on the Windows installer screen; I believe there should be an option to Manage Partitions or something along those lines - instructions are given on screen so you should be able to figure it out, and don't worry about destorying your machine by pressing the wrong key, it confirms actions several times
You basically want to delete your existing partition, format a new one over the top of it, then proceed to install XP

That was off the top of my head, someone else might be able to correct it.

Don't know why I bothered writing that out actually

here should help you best.