2006-09-30 04:42:37 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Are you having real problems or do you just want to do a quick erase? If you just want to erase do the format thing others mentioned.
If your hard drive is acting up I know of this awesome software:
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Boot & Nuke rocks. It formats and fixes bad sectors better than a regular Windoze format. Download this file and copy it to a CD - make sure you turn it into a bootable CD. When you are ready to format, restart your computer and let the CD boot up. If it asks any questions, just select default answers. It might take an hour to go through the entire HDD depending on how slow or fast it is. When it is done you are now ready for a fresh operating system install.
Boot&Nuke is great if your HDD is dying and you can't get an OS to load. 9 out of 10 times I have been able to save the disk (and money for my company) and get an older computer up and running again with no problems to date.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-01 03:07:26 · answer #1 · answered by gowanstl24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this first on your friend's computer!! ha ha!!
With a click of a button, but i am not gonna tell you because tomorrow if you delet everything and want everything back, you won't be able to get to yahoo!answers...
here are the steps, use them at your own risk...
1. Do a full backup of your hard disk, if not, backup the files you will want such as your mp3/music files, pictures etc.
2. Before you format, think about how your computer will boot if the entire hard disk is gone. If your computer comes with a System Restore CDs, use that instead.
3. Now read this http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html
2006-10-02 16:38:59 · answer #2 · answered by bhupen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are starting over fresh with windows. just put in the windows install disk in driver then restart computer. Hit F8 key as computer is just starting up. There will be a list of somthing rather about were to boot your computer from. With a keyboard select your cd rom drive with the windows disk in it. a few screens will pop up... bla bla bla... When you get asked something about "If you would you like to install Windows press enter". It then will give you an option to partishion your hard drive. It will give you a few options about which partishion you would like to install windows on. Just click what ever it is that deletes the partishions. Then after that create a partishion and reformate your hard drive. Just fallow the onscreen options and make sure you read everything before doing something. And dont worry about braking your computer. If you really screw it up it is easy to fix by a profeshional.
Sorry about the spelling.
2006-09-30 04:53:21 · answer #3 · answered by Zachariah M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
formatting will erase the data on the disk but there is software that could still actually retrieve that information...even after formatting.
You could get "shredding" software that does permanaently erase data or if you dont want to spend money on that you just format the disc a couple of times.
Its great to see that people are so security conscious nowadays
2006-09-30 04:51:49 · answer #4 · answered by alexincolorado 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just did that last week but it wasn't intended. this is how you can loose everything. Go to restore, and begin the process and then cut the power completly just pull the plug you will need the tech help from the company to help you bring back your computer it will be like day one no files nothing. I have a Dell and they worked with me for 5 days getting it back
2006-09-30 04:54:45 · answer #5 · answered by g-day mate 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To remove all the data from your hard drive, the easiest way is to format it, though it will not completely remove everything. Traces of your files may be recovered through special software. If you want to totally wipe out all of your data from the hard drive and leave no chances for recovery, you can use a special software like DriveScrubber ( http://www.iolo.com/ds/ ).
2006-09-30 04:52:53 · answer #6 · answered by papyrus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depending on what you are going to do. formating will erase the disk, but if this is for disposal there are a few more precautions you should take, including destroying the disk.
2006-09-30 04:46:00 · answer #7 · answered by rocketman33 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By formating the hard disk
2006-09-30 04:46:03 · answer #8 · answered by vakayil k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1> double click on MY COMPUTER
2> right click on the particular Drive
3> find and click on the word FORMAT..
"i hope this is the answer to your question. goodnight... and may GOD bless you"
2006-09-30 05:26:02 · answer #9 · answered by hm. 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
easy get a startup disk then select c: and then C: format and there ya go
2006-09-30 04:45:59 · answer #10 · answered by Branden W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋