2006-10-14 10:04:03 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
You could use a hard drive cleaning software such as StompSoft's Drive Washer. This will throughly eliminate any data that may reside on your computer. Once you've done that all you have to do is reinstall your OS from your Windows CDs
2006-10-17 05:22:56 · answer #1 · answered by the_green_grass_horse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you read this. Also go to the link provided in the resource section of this and gather any other necessary information. Good luck to you.
Q. How can I back up before reformatting?
A. It's a good idea to backup all the data you can't replace - like word files, spreadsheets, pictures and other data files. Reformatting will destroy them all. But backing up is a headache so create a storage area on the web using CarboniteClick here to learn more
Q. Do I really have to wipe my hard drive and reinstall Windows?
A. Maybe not. There are a few options. First try scanning your system for bugs with PC Bug Doctor. It'll find stuff that makes your system crash and clean it out (caution: the scan is free, the fix is not, but it's a useful diagnostic tool at least). Click to download the free scanner
We also highly recommending cleaning your Windows registry as this is the filing cabinet that keeps track of what's in Windows and when it gets messy, you computer crashes and becomes unstable -- Click here to scan your registry for free (the scanner is free, the fix is not on this one too, but also a useful diagnostic tool).
Try cleaning up up your Windows startup process -- it will immediately speed up your PC. Learn step by step with our how-to video.
Finally, try SpeedUpMyPC. It has a variety of great utilities to speed up Windows, make the Internet load faster, cleanse memory and generally enhance the performance of your desktop. Read our review.
There's also lots of advice on this page to scrub your drive and start fresh afterwards. Be sure to come back!
2006-10-14 10:08:46 · answer #2 · answered by Andrew B. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
backup your files needed later, turn off your computer, reboot , press DEL during boot up, choose first boot up device as CDROM, save and exit, it will reboot, put XP CD in your CD tray.
It will start to install, follow instructions, when it comes to choose which drive to install you'll see "delete drive partition" choose it and be sure you chose C: drive, when it finished you'll see it blank, now you can reboot or go on and choose blank drive, now it will format, and will continue to install windows XP
2006-10-14 10:14:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boot to your XP CD, reformat and reinstall.
2006-10-14 10:08:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
format it, then restart with your XP disc in the drive
2006-10-14 10:05:30 · answer #5 · answered by andygos 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋