I need to clear a hardrive but want to keep my windows.
2006-09-21 02:25:40 · 14 answers · asked by Quintus T 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Normally Windows is installed on your C:\ drive, so consider:
1)Backing up your data (inside My Documents) to another drive or CDs/DVDs
2)Make sure you have the Drivers for ALL your devices (LAN, Fax/Modem, Audio, Graphics Card, etc) WITH your backup
3)Make sure you have those drivers/patches/servicepacks in ".zip" format or uncompressed, because fresh Windows installations don't understand other compression tools.
4)Good luck!
2006-09-21 02:40:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume this has to do with Windows XP. It is much easier to reformat the drive and reinstall windows than try to keep the operating system (OS) on the drive and wipe all the other data. If you have the OS CD then just reinstall the OS and have it format the drive before it reinstalls the files.
If you are really stuck on keeping the operating system, you can uninstall all the programs from "Add/Remove Programs" option under "Control Panel".
2006-09-21 02:34:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, if you have your windows installed under C drive.
You best check how many physical hard drives you have (e.g. you may have many drive letters, c, d, e, f, g, but all are partitions from the same physcial drive. Best check it out before you "clear a hard drive".
Make sure you have backup of data that you need. Once you format the drive you should consider all data is lost. (unless you go through the unformat process that's not 100% reliable...)
2006-09-21 02:30:19 · answer #3 · answered by ~_~ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you are most likely to be left with just dos, but in some special circumstances there are manafactures who keep a certain part of the hard drive saf from formating thus leaving windows intact. You could always try system restore to earliest date or use a system disk to restore to defaults while leaving windows intact still.
2006-09-21 03:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tiger 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Formatting a partition will destroy any information on it. C: is usually the hard-drive that windows will be installed on, so you will most likely lose your windows installation.
Buy a second hard-drive, or get somebody to help you repartition your hard-drive.
2006-09-21 02:45:26 · answer #5 · answered by Out of Africa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have installed windows on c: drive then yes it would be removed, normally windows is installed on c:. you could check by going to my computer > c: > and there should be a folder called windows.
if its there, and if u format the drive, it will be removed and you would need a windows CD to boot up again. and make sure you have backup of all the data ;)
Peace.
2006-09-21 02:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by .imz_ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely because most people have WIndows on their C drive. Consider buying a second hard drive.
2006-09-21 02:27:56 · answer #7 · answered by IT Pro 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mr X, You won't even be left with DOS.
Well the answer is yes & no.
If it's a quick format, it will just wipe your FAT or NTFS index, and in these cases it's still actually possible to restore.
Even if it's not a quick format, in some cases it's still possible to restore the information with special tools.
2006-09-21 02:32:39 · answer #8 · answered by Keith J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your windows is installed on the C: Drive then you will lose it along with everything else on your c drive
2006-09-21 02:29:52 · answer #9 · answered by Hannie S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you installed Windows on the c: drive then yes if it was installed on d: drive (if you have it) then no.
2006-09-21 02:27:06 · answer #10 · answered by Darian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋