2006-10-12 04:57:44 · 8 answers · asked by Alfred R 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
To erase your hard drive completely first reformat it and then load the operating system. If you just reload without formating first you will not completely erase the hard drive.
Use c:format command but remember this will permanently erase everything.
2006-10-12 05:06:29 · answer #1 · answered by mukherd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you want apparently is to format your hard drive. This removes everything on it. After that, you can install either the same operating system you had on it, or install some other type of operating system. The hard drive has to have an operating system installed on it for it to work - if it has no operating system, it can only be used to store things on, like a big ol' floppy disk [if you connect it to a computer that has an operating system that will send data to it].
Since formatting the hard drive erases everything on it, be sure that this is really what you want to do, and before formatting, be sure to save any data that you want to keep on cd or other media like a flash drive.
Generally, if you are thinking of this over some kind of problem operating the computer, be sure any problem is not something that can be fixed in some other way - sometimes programs installed don't work because of one issue or another and there is nothing wrong with the os, and sometimes something goes amiss with the os that requires only a Restore operation from System Restore or a Repair operation from XP's installation disk.
It is easier and shorter to fix, restore, or repair than to format and reinstall, but sometimes it is in fact just as well or better to format.
2006-10-12 05:09:00 · answer #2 · answered by sonyack 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You could format your hard disk. In that you could erase all the contents of your computer. Ofcourse you need to backup your important files first before you format your pc. After you formatted it, then you should install an operating system first before you could install other software that you like. If you do not want to erase all the contents of your computer but you want to erase some files, you could do that by clicking the windows explorer and try to find the file that you want to delete. If you want to delete a software that you have just installed, then you must uninstall it for you to be able to delete it. I'm talking here as if you are using windows environment/operating system. I hope this could help you :)
2006-10-12 05:05:53 · answer #3 · answered by foolish heart 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes,you can google "erase hard drive" and obtain what is called a kill disc.This will completely do just that.This will remove all the extras that are installed by the manufacture also.You then can reinstall your operating system and then add the software and programs you want.You might try the source for more info.Be sure to back up any important data on cd before doing this other wise you will lose everything ie. pic,music,programs you may ant to keep.It makes reinstalling much easier. You will need a floppy to make the kill disc.
2006-10-12 05:19:04 · answer #4 · answered by Sk8rmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure you can. Why? Did anyone say no? You can erase your computer as much as you like it and load new softwares.
Well, that sometimes depends on the quality of the Hard-drive you have.
2006-10-12 05:07:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can, however are you meaning new operating system instead of software. If yes, yes you can unistall windows and just have dos on there. Then you can instal an operating system such as Linux. Good Luck.
2006-10-12 05:03:08 · answer #6 · answered by drkblueangel14 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes if,you have the recovery cds..Just place cd 1 into the rom ,restart your computer follow on screen instructions
2006-10-12 05:00:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you reformat, you'll lose everything and have to reload every application and all your saved files. Make sure you back up everything onto a CD before you start.
2006-10-12 05:06:26 · answer #8 · answered by parsonsel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋