How can I completly format my computer so it is like new, like from the beginning?

Question

I need to format my computer because I'm giving it away. Does anyone know how to?

Answer 1

use your windows startup disk in floppy drive a:
in your a: drive punch in format c:
it should look like this
A: format c:
you will then be asked if you want to do this and choose yes

Answer 2

I do it frequently but it is a long process. I don't have a system restore disk so I have to put in all my drivers after I format and put in an operating system. If you don't have a way to put in your drivers you are going to be in trouble.
Anyway what I do to format is to put a disk in drive A that has fdisk and format on it, also it will ask if I want to be able to use my CD drive, the disk in A has a generic driver for the CD. Once you get a prompt that says A:/ type fdisk C:/ You want to delete the partitions and make a new one. Once you have deleted it you want to make a new partition, I tell it I want to use the whole disk C. Once you have made the new partition then you can format C:/ After all of this you can put the operating system back in. But you do need a start up disk. Make one before you start anything. Make it on a 3 1/2 floppy for drive A. If your old computer has Win 95 the start up disk will not have a driver on it for the CD drive. You need a Win 98 or later. A Win 98 start up disk will work if you have Win 95.

Answer 3

When reformatting a computer for resale or a gift, PLEASE follow the below:

1. After saving all your data on another drive, wipe the old disk clean with an DoD industrial strength disk erase program. This will ensure all personal data (your business) is removed from any part of the hard drive (it's easy to read disks that aren't wiped like this and get personal information about you). There's free utilities from major download sites to do this feat.

2. If you don't have a restore disk from an OEM manufacturer (major proprietary computer companies usually include one to make reinstalling the OS and apps easier), insert your OS disk and follow the instructions in installation (press the F5 key when rebooting to access the Windows installation). With XP it's very straight forward just go step by step, and enter generic values.

3. When finished with installing, and adding additional/updated drivers for the video card, sound card (or inboard sound), be nice and update the OS with the latest patches, and install a free anti-virus (AVG is easy to install and doesn't conflict with most applications. Set it to auto update).

Answer 4

There are few ways you can do that.

1. Use windows installation disk. When it is done formatting, eject the disk. Otherwise, it will continue installing win OS

2. Use a MS DOS boot disk. Start you PC with boot disk.
Type Format c: then hit enter
It will look like: A:\format c:
To confirm it type Y then hit enter again

3. Connect this drive to another PC as slave and formate it

4. If you want to install all sofware this computer came with when you bought it,
you should use "Recovery CD" that came with your PC. You can also call the PC
manufacturer to send this CD for free.

Answer 5

Check your hdd vendor site and find a tool that helps you do a low-level format.

Answer 6

use windows system rstore cd or windows XP or any windows OS cd you have

put it in your computer
restar it should say press any key to boot from cd
then it would tell you what to do from then on

If your computer is old you may have to enable booting from cds
by pressing F5 or del or Esc etc and startup then select boot from CD first

Answer 7

The instructions on how to do that depend completely on which version of Windows you have installed on it.