How do I reformat my hard drive?

Question

I recently installed an "ActiveX" control on my computer. And ever since, the Desktop shortcuts have been highlighted with grey. I have removed the "ActiveX" Controls and it is still highlighted. Thank you for any help. I have been told to reformat my hard drive.

Answer 1

To format your harddrive you will need to get a recovery disc or a Windows CD.
No boot disc is necessary unless you are trying to install Windows 95.
The recovery disc will usually come with your computer, if you dont have one, you will need to call your computer manufacturing company and order one.
The recovery disc and the windows CD will partition your harddrive and it will wipe out your memory and start from fresh.

I think in your case, a system restore would work better. Before you do a complete reformat and reinstall, make sure you backup everything. I would go to Start Menu, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and use the System Restore program first before I try to reformat. Just restore your computer to the day before you had this problem.

Answer 2

If you want to reformat your HD and re-install Windows, that's your choice...Depending on your version of Windows, whether 95/98/98se/ME/2000/XP, etc, you can change those settings by clicking Start-> Control Panel -> Display, then clicking the Appearance tab at the top. Or by changing your theme if your running an older version of Windows. But to reformat, restart your computer, and after the BIOS does it's thing, start hitting F8 and boot into safe mode command prompt and then type the format c: /s to completely format it. Then reboot (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) and have your OS installation disc in the drive and re-install. You should note that re-installing means re-installing all your programs, settings, drivers for monitors, display cards, printers, NIC cards, etc, etc. Also, after formatting your HD, if you run more than a single boot system, you may need to type fdisk /mbr ...The reason you would have to do this is because if you run a dual boot system, i.e. Linux/XP, the boot loader usually installs itself into the Master Boot Record, and if you pop in your Windows installation CD, it will not boot it. I had to find that out the hard way. The other thing you may want to do is go to http://www.allbootdisks.com and get a ISO image of your boot disc for your particular OS to format your HD.

Answer 3

You mean you want to reinstall your windows. cause thats what it means to reformat your main HD. if using xp you will need your xp os CD
insert the disk, restart the comp, press F11 to go to boot device and select cd. when it has loaded follow the instructions to delete the main partition and creat a new one. install on this one and choose NTFS(not quick) format.

this will delete EVERYTHING off your comp.
It is better to use system restore. click stare, run type msconfig and hit enter.

if using win 98/me create a boot floppy and foot the computer from that with cd support. type fdisk and delete and create a new partition,
exit fdisk, restart the comp from the floppy, type format c: /q /s and hit enter. when done type e:\ and hit enter
then type cd\setup.

Answer 4

Create a startup disk and then restart with it...

And the Format your drive by typing:

format c:/s/q

the /s is to clear the system files and the /q is to Quick Format.

You can or not use it ...its your choice... I am just making it a bit faster to ...do

And then after it formats that drive You can insert your OS CD and then install your Windows (whatever) in the drive back...

If u need any help...feel...free to contact me.. at:

id ; designursite
email: [e-mail]

bye///

Answer 5

put your windows xp installation cd you bought or that went with your computer in
and reboot then when the screen appears press install
then agree to the license agreement
then you can choose to repair or reformat
in your case i would do repair because you would lose all your data over something small like that