i want to clean my hard drive and install a fresh copy of windows xp init... need help on how to clean it..
thanks
2006-07-31 07:50:20 · 9 answers · asked by leo4life786 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
a)download a floppy or cd-rom version of dban ( http://dban.sourceforge.net/ ), and copy to appropriate media disc
b)insert disk in pc
c)reboot pc, follow prompts. even the quickest erase is very thorough for most purposes (it fills the drive with zeros).
d) remove the Dban cd or floppy, CLEARLY and Descriptively label it so you or someone else never accidently boot the pc with it in there (or erase it and just re-download if ever needed again).
Some may say this is overkill since the windows reinstallation process itself formats the hard drive, but theres no such thing as 'to clean'. This will remove all traces of everything.
2006-07-31 08:33:19 · answer #1 · answered by DU|U 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. put your windows xp cd in your cd-rom
2. Restart your computer
3. If it doens't start with your CD, restart your computer again.
4. Press F8 just before the windows loading screen pop up.
5. There should be a bios pop up that would let you start with your cd-rom drive.
6. If that doesn't happen, restart, and go into the bios menu.
You can go into bios normally by pressing whatever button the first initial screen/picture tells you, which comes up right after you boot the computer.
7. Go into bios menu, try to navigate it but.. try not to change anything. There should be a place to change the order of the boot sequence.. just change the first one to cd-rom. save it and your ready to go.
8. So if everything went good... which is loading from your CD-rom, there should be a message that asks you to
"Press Anybutton to Load from CD" ..or something similar.
Press the button..
Blue windows install application will run.
9. Delete the original C:
and Make a New one.
10. Configure it so that your window will be installed to your new c:
11. If everything went well, it will start to format your c: and automatically start to install your windows.
good luck
2006-07-31 07:59:28 · answer #2 · answered by Air 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to wipe out your drive and start fresh with the disc, simply put the disc into the drive and restart your computer. It will ask you to install and if you click yes/ok, it will wipe out the drive contents while installing your fresh copy. No need to format before doing so.
2006-07-31 08:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by jim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have the windows XP cd. Then simply instert CD. Restart the computer and let it boot from the disk. It will then ask you if you want to Install windows or repair. Click install. It will then ask you to format and if you want any partions added or deleted. Good luck.
2006-07-31 07:54:07 · answer #4 · answered by w@rio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to bootdisk.com, get a boot disk (floppy)for whatever version of windows. Boot with the floppy and then use the fdisk command to delete the partition. Don't forget to create a new partition with fdisk otherwise windows won't have anywhere to install.
2006-07-31 07:56:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet is to take it to your local computer repair store. They'll wipe everything, then reinstall it with the latest updates. They mite evenn catch viruses or such things on your comp.
2006-07-31 07:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by tictacman100 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
right click on the harddrive you want formatted, and select format
else, reinstall windows fully, and that will automatically format your hard drives
2006-07-31 07:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by mommy_mommy_crappypants 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can get your restore discs from your computer manuf's web site. they're usually about $20, and then delete every thing on your computer, and install windows and the original software on your computer.
2006-07-31 07:52:23 · answer #8 · answered by Mike-Q 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
format it, go to the dos or command prompt format C:
2006-07-31 07:52:48 · answer #9 · answered by MrPurrfect 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋