2006-12-11 05:24:59 · 14 answers · asked by Katintransit 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Dban (http://dban.sourceforge.net/) to wipe your computer. Formatting is *not good enough*. Dban or some other wiping tool will complete take out your computer data.
To see what XP cd price is like: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/538514/ref=br_bx_c_2_1/103-9340057-3065405 which is a good baseline.
2006-12-11 05:28:46 · answer #1 · answered by csanon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that is what you really want to do before you format the hard drive. I had to do this recently to get rid of a virus and had trouble when it came to it reading off the CD ROM drive. You can start at the DOS Prompt and type in FORMAT at the C: prompt but again, make sure this is what you really want to do. I got a copy of XP from a friend so mine was free, make sure you get the code / key number if you get a copy from someone. What ever you do, make sure you are getting a full version of XP and not an update disc; if you are going to buy one online, read the fine print because there are a LOT of people that are out there scamming.
Loading XP can take a while, mine was just under three hours so make sure you have the time to kill while it is loading. You could go to a computer store and buy a cheap hard drive and swap out the new one with the old one, that way if something does happen during the install, you can reswap the drives and still salvage your computer.
Good luck!
2006-12-11 05:38:05 · answer #2 · answered by freak369xxx 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your worried about someone recovering the deleted content of your Hard drive, I would go to Best Buy or a computer store and just buy a new one. Hard drives are cheap enough these days anyways where its no big deal to change out a drive.
At that point, to wipe the informaion off the old one just take it outside and beat it with a hammer into a hundred little pieces
Of if your having problems with the operating system, you can take the old hard drive and install at as a secondary drive so you can still access the files on it.
As far as Windows XP, you can buy it at any computer store for a few hundred dollars. Or call the manufacture of your computer and for a small fee they can send you out the recovery disk.
The only thing that you will need from there is the windows registration number which is usually on a sticker on the side of your computer.
2006-12-11 05:41:52 · answer #3 · answered by metrodish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can run a format (NOT quick format) of the drive which should erase anything that is on it, but some skilled people may still be able to get data off the disks if they are knowledgable in this area.
Another way is to download or buy a utility program that writes junk data to every track and sector on the disk.
As for Windows XP CDs, most of the CDROM and CDRW media that you buy in Best Buy or elsewhere can be formatted to be read on a PC using Windows XP.
It usually depends on the actual hardware that you have, not the operating system. For example, if your CD burner can read and write CD-RW media, then you can purchase that.
Look at the information on your particular burner and use media that is compatible with it.
(By the way, if you just meant "How much is Windows XP if I buy it on CD in the stores, it depends on the home edition or professional edition, and if you are entitled to the upgrade version or not...)
2006-12-11 05:32:06 · answer #4 · answered by SteveN 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The XP CD is less than $200 at Staples. Do an Internet search for discount software and when you find the price that suits you buy it.
Set your computer to boot from the CD and insert the CD and restart your computer. When it boots from the CD you will be given lots of options on what to do. Select reformat and Install and everything that was there will be gone and Windows XP will be there.
2006-12-11 05:37:31 · answer #5 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
XP is NOT $500. Where are you folks getting that from? Windows 2003 Server can cost $500, but not XP. XP Professional only costs about $350 and the Home Edition is even cheaper at a little over $100. If you are going to install XP on your existing drive, don't bother formatting it as XP will allow you to blow away any old partitions and create a new NTFS or FAT partition, effectively removing any old data on the drive.
2006-12-11 05:36:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are programs you can buy to remove everything from your computer. Just insert the CD and run the program. It sometimes helps to run the CD more than once, just to ensure everything was removed. If your computer did not come with recovery Cd's, then you can purchase Windows XP Home Edition for less than 100 dollars from www.outpost.com which is Fry's Electronics.
2006-12-11 05:37:43 · answer #7 · answered by irishnd71 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you have the recovery cds? They have windows on them already. You just put the cd in and reboot. Follow the on-screen prompts and wipe the partition when you get the option
2006-12-11 05:27:18 · answer #8 · answered by Mama R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just right click the drive and format. If you are unable to do it from Windows, you have to do it from safemode Command Prompt. Hit F8 while booting. You will be presented with a lot of options. Select safemode command prompt. Once you get to the dos window... Type format D:
2016-05-23 05:47:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your vendor to wipe out the Windows now in your PC,the cost of XP is Just $ 500.00 only.
2006-12-11 05:30:22 · answer #10 · answered by SKG R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋